Pagoda Peak and the Keyboards, Rocky Mountain National Park - 9 September 2013
I didn't realize September 9 would be my last visit to the east side of the park for what will probably be a long time. It was easy to underappreciate the Big Thompson Canyon until now.
The best thing about visiting Pagoda Peak via its standard route, and as a bonus, a couple of the easier spires that are the Keyboard of the Winds, is they afford great views of Glacier Basin. Spearhead, McHenry's Peak, Arrowhead and the south-southwest side of Long's Peak.
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| McHenrys and Arrowhead in the morning |
The worst thing about the trip is the talus pile that has to be climbed and then descended on the way to the Pagoda-Keyboard saddle. It's a tedious climb, and can be treacherous on the way down, but it's worth at least one visit, for such an amazing panorama of Glacier Basin and one of the more the obscure perspectives of Long's Peak.
That and the fact that the first Keyboard spire has a first rate drop off and a nice view of the Africa Flake.
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| The Second Keyboard's Africa Flake. No cams, please. |
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| Spearhead and Friends |
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| Long's south side including the routes from the Loft |
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| Alice, behinds the flanks of Chief's Head. |
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| Wild Basin |
