It's been 8 years since I've set foot on the Longs Peak trail, and I decided it was time to go back. I haven't been on a long hike for quite a while, and my excuses were running out. I settled on Mt Lady Washington as a easy hike with a great view of Longs, but still a workout for my lazy self.

Started out at the trailhead at 07:45 - I was the first one there (how often does that happen?). It was nice to see the trail in the daytime for a change. I brought snowshoes, but they remained strapped to my pack the entire way. The trail below treeline was packed snow with a little ice, and much of the trail above treeline was dry.

Heading up the east slopes of MLW, I occasionally came across some unconsolidated snow. I took this part of the climb slowly, as I haven't been to altitude in some time and my legs were feeling a little rubbery. The wind that was constant from treeline to the base of MLW slacked off as I made my climb, and conditions were pleasant.

This is one mountain that keeps getting higher as you climb it - not like false summits, but a gradual curve that doesn't allow you to see the summit until you're only a few hundred feet from it. I summited at 11:45, signed the register, and took some pictures of Longs' incredible east face. It was really cool to be there, identifying all the eastern features of Longs and seeing Meeker up close. When I climbed Longs in 1996 I didn't know much about the area at all.

The wind was nearly still for a while on the summit, which surprised me - I was expecting gale force winds and below zero windchills. It wasn't exactly balmy, but it wasn't bad for a winter hike. After gnawing on a frozen Clif bar I started down the northwest face, ending up in the boulder field. I hooked up with the trail and made my way to Granite Pass, then continued down the trail making for a nice Tour d' Lady Washington. I reached the parking lot at 14:15, after passing a few groups of hikers and snowshoers out for an afternoon walk. I only saw one other person above treeline, I think he/she continued up to Granite Pass while I was climbing MLW.