In 2006 I made a single-day run on the summit of Longs which didn't go so well. Though we made the top, we missed the view, and during the descent I was more wet and cold than I ever wanted to be. It's been pretty clear to me ever since that this mountain deserves a rematch, and after two years under 14,000 feet I had the chance to make it happen.

My roommate Ryan secured a camping permit for the Boulderfield as one of his many National Park weekends, and invited me along. This helped break up what's otherwise a really long day. To keep things interesting, Christine and I attempted to make the top by dawn. We crawled out of the tent at 3:30 and were on top right after sunrise at 6:45, the first people to summit that day.