Replying to Failed Summit Attempt!

I set out shortly before 3 am last night to go climb Longs Peak out here in Colorado. It is a pretty good hike, 16 miles with a ton (not exactly sure) of elevation change, probably close to 5,000 verticle feet. You have to start way early so that you are below the treeline once the afternoon thunderstorms start rolling in. So everything is going well and I break above the treeline at about 4:15, at which point the wind really started to pick up. I thought nothing of it for a while, but then at about 4:30ish it started to sleet/snow...in freaking August. At this point I was probalby just above 12,000 feet in elevation, and the wind got even stronger. I put on some gloves and a waterproof shell and at this point come to the sad realization that I had no long pants which really sucked because it was easily below freezing. As I neared a ridge that was closing in on 13,000 feet, the wind REALLY picked up. It was gusting at least 70 miles per hour. Absolutely freaking rediculouse. After waiting a little while and seeing the sunrise, I had no choice but to give up on the summit attempt. Crossing the last section called "The Narrows" in 70+ mile per hour winds is not an option, especially when the summit is in the clouds (guess I didn't mention that part of the story). So I came within 1,500 verticle feet of completing my summit attempt, but sadly I had to turn around, along with all the other people who were trying to climb it today.




To love the times we have
To like what makes us sad
To live when others die
To lose and say goodbye
To last until our moment comes