The Trough is a familiar part of the Keyhole Route. However, this very long gully actually begins from Glacier Gorge, and curves up and right beneath the west face of Longs Peak for about 2000 vertical feet to a high notch on the southwest ridge. The Trough holds snow for most of its length until late summer, and is completely snow-filled in winter and spring. It is non-technical (although in the spring it can have a short ice step near the base). From Glacier Gorge Trailhead, an ascent of Longs Peak via the Trough is almost a 15-mile day with about 5000 feet of elevation gain and loss.

At this point I had climbed several routes to the summit of Longs, but I had not yet climbed Longs via The Trough starting from Glacier Gorge. This was a route I defintely wanted to do when The Trough was snow-filled. So I snatched this sunny and calmish spring Sunday, when snow conditions were super stable, to do so.

My car to car time was just under 10 hours, which seemed pretty good considering that the entire 2000-foot vertical length of the Trough was knee-deep snow. I wore crampons the entire route and I brought two axes, but only ended up using one.

Below are some photos from my day out. Another spring Longs Peak ascent and a new route (for me)!