re: Watching "The Summit" on Netflix. Anyone else like high altitude climbing?

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even Rainier at 14,410 kills folks every year. It killed six in one swoop last year. That mountain has over 100 fatalities for being just a speed bump compared to other peaks. 

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I suspect only the elite consider Rainier a speed bump. It has some serious routes on that mountain. Very glaciated and lots of deep crevasses.

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Did you do the keyhole route or the loft route?

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I used the keyhole for my 3 climbs. They used to have a cable route that was shorter (maybe the loft route?) but they took the cables out after my uncle did it that way back in the 60's. The people that climb Long's via the east face are incredible. It's not that hard via the keyhole, just very long and you'd best be in pretty good shape and used to altitude. And not scared of heights, the narrows section has a spot where you need to step on a metal rod and there could be a very long drop if you screw that up. But it's not difficult to do it, just a bit nerve-wracking.

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I used the keyhole for my 3 climbs. They used to have a cable route that was shorter (maybe the loft route?)

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Gotcha. No the loft goes up the same ridge as Mt. Meeker to the backside of Longs peak. It way less crowded than the keyhole and still technically a class III route. I think the old cable route is now used by climbing schools to teach technical climbing. If I can find a good photo of the route I will post it here.

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I'm not sure a one or two week visit to Colorado each year would be enough time to get into it.

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It can be. There are plenty of summits that are just long hikes. Wait a few days at a place like Estes Park and then head on up. My family used to go there every summer for a week, for at least 40 years. You learn the ropes. One thing for sure - hit the trail very early. For Longs take a flashlight and hit the trail well before sunrise. The night view of the front range cities from above timberline is great and the stars will blow you away. We did it once on the night of a meteor shower, just amazing.

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Thanks to this thread I watched this last night. We really enjoyed it. I have read a lot about high altitude climbing, but it was cool to see what it might be like.

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If you want more you can watch Everest: Beyond the Limit on Netflix. I found the first couple of seasons pretty interesting. It's not K2 climbing but it certainly is high altitude.

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Is Mt. Hood as easy as I have heard? I only ask because I heard a story about some chick in high heels going up it. But then again I have also heard of people dying on it too, so I can't decide .

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that happened on the dog route, south route or old chute route. It isn't hard if you're in shape but it's possible to die on that route. Hood has many other routes and none are easy unless you're good.

Fantastic. Thanks

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