1. Nesbit, Paul W.: "Longs Peak, Its Story and a Climbing Guide," 8th Edition, 1972, and 10th Edition 1995. 

I purchased a copy of the 8th Edition (1969) of this book on my first visit to Longs in 1978. I still have it, and when I pick it up these days the pages automatically open to the trail map on page 29. This is the best quick primer I've ever found on Longs. The 10th Edition (1995) was out by my third attempt to summit in 1998. It has six more pages than the 8th Ed., and includes revisions and updates supplied by Stan Adamson that refer to the north face cable route in the past tense, and adds a few more quips about the geology, flora and fauna on the trail to the summit. 

Although this book is out of print, used copies are available on-line.

2. Donahue, Mike: "The Longs Peak Experience and Trail Guide," 1992.

Mike Donahue is a fourth generation Colorado mountaineer, who first climbed Longs Peak in 1954 at the age of 7. Since the mid-1960's, he regularly climbs Longs Peak 6 to 18 times a year, summer and winter. His grandfather built the north Longs Peak trail in the 1920's and 1930's. His mother climbed Longs Peak in 1927, when she was six, and again in 1987 when she was 66. His book contains insights that come from deep within the heart of an experienced mountaineer. He describes the Longs Peak experience in the words of one who has been there many times. When reading his words, I recognized some of my own thoughts, repeated on Donahue's pages. Mike directs Colorado Mountain School, the mountain climbing guide service for Longs Peak and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Donahue's book is published by Colorado Mountain School. 

3. Dawson, Louis W. II: "To Colorado's Fourteeners, Vol I, The Northern Peaks," 1994. 

Louis W. Dawson was the first person in history to ski down all of Colorado's fourteeners. He's climbed all at least once and many several times. Among his accomplishments are four ascents up the Diamond face of Longs Peak, so it is no surprise that Longs Peak figures prominently in this text. Dawson began climbing at an early age, and has written several other guide books for hikers in Colorado. His illustrations are excellent, and his narratives are brief enough to keep your interest and meaty enough to provide the information most are looking for.

4. Wickwire, Chester: "Longs Peak," 1998. Poems.

Chester Wickwire is, we would say, an elderly man in his 80's. He looks back on his life as a climb toward a summit, and he chose to title that summit Longs Peak. Wickwire is a poet, and this 78-page book is a book of poems. Poems about life, its goodness, and its trials. Do not buy this book to read about the three-dimensional Longs Peak. Obtain it, instead, to see beyond three dimensions into the complicated forests of the human mind.

5. Randell, Glenn: "Longs Peak Tales." 1981.

Longs Peak is more than a rock, rising up in the midst of the Rockies. It has a history, and Randell documents part of that history in his book by presenting ten stories of special repute. He begins with the story of Old Man Gun, an Arapaho warrior who set an eagle trap on top of Longs Peak using a stuffed coyote. Next he tells the story of how Lamb's Slide got its name. He proceeds from there to the story of how Rocky Mountain Jim wooed Isabella Bird at the place we now call Jim's Grove. There are seven more, all well written. You will enjoy reading them.

6. Trimble, Stephen: "Longs Peak, A Rocky Mountain Chronicle," 1984.

On the back cover of this book is a quote from Harold Dunning, 1930: "To tell all that one can see from the top of Longs Peak would be telling too much, so you must climb it yourself..." That is true. Yet even those who have climbed Longs Peak, or attempted to do so, love to read about it. To such people, this book was dedicated. Trimble writes with passion and understanding about a subject he obviously loves.

All who have an interest in the Rocky Mountain National Park and its highest mountain, Longs Peak should acquire as many books on them as you can. Read them, and keep them on your bookshelf for others to read. You  never know what spark you might ignite in another person's mind, or what noble conflagrations such a spark may cause to flare among the synapses...  

Acknowledgements ... Longs Peak Menu ... Bugsinthenews