Screenshot from the new webcam. Click to see current camera view.
Interesting note here for those who enjoy webcams. The National Park Service has repositioned one of my favorites, the Longs Peak webcam in Rocky Mountain National Park. The previous view was from quite a distance, with pine trees in the foreground, etc. A nice mountain vista, but it didn’t really show off Longs. Now it offers a good, close view of the mountain’s East Face, featuring “The Diamond,” a sheer diamond-shaped wall that experienced technical climbers (including my brother) love to challenge.
At 14,259″ Longs is the highest peak in the park. Luckily it measured “only” 14,255″ when I climbed it back in 1979. That extra four feet probably would have been four feet too far. No, I didn’t go up The Diamond. I took the Keyhole route, which goes around the mountain’s north (right) flank, clear across the back side, and finally up to the summit from the south side above that conspicuous notch.)
To fully appreciate the East Face in relation to the surrounding terrain, zoom in on the panoramic photo here.
AH! Now that’s a gorgeous view. Nice the camera has been repositioned. Impressed you got up there!
Posted by philosophermouseofthehedge | January 4, 2013, 2:02 pm MDTDelighted the Park Service finally let this mountain put her best face forward.
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 3:32 pm MDTWow, what a gorgeous view! I commend you on the climb too. The 70s is about how far I’d have to go back just to find the energy to even think about doing something like that!
BTW, you link goes to the image. I’m assuming you meant it to go to the webcam?
Posted by IzaakMak | January 4, 2013, 2:29 pm MDTThe image links to my file image. (I should probably change that.) The link in the text goes to the webcam view, which would be very similar if you looked at it soon after I posted this. If you check it again, the lighting should be different (and you should see a little bar at the top with current time, temp, etc.). For best viewing, you need to look in the morning, while the sun is on the face.
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 3:38 pm MDTFixed it. The image now links to the webcam.
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 4:06 pm MDTUh… Not so sure ’bout that PT…
Posted by IzaakMak | January 4, 2013, 4:09 pm MDTHmm. by every indication on this end, the links are working correctly ..
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 4:27 pm MDTSorry PT, but both the image and the text link still bring up the larger version of the JPG image shown. I even cleared my browser cache just to make sure I was seeing the modified page!
Posted by IzaakMak | January 4, 2013, 4:39 pm MDTI cleared my cache too. And double-checked the URL I entered. I’ll go try it on my other computer …
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 4:51 pm MDTLooks okay on the other computer too. I don’t know what the problem is, Mak. Anyone else having trouble with the links?
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 5:02 pm MDTLongs Peak is beautiful from any angle, but this is so much better. Can’t wait to catch climbers on The Diamond… and the Alpenglow. Sometime, would you write about your climb, please? Making the summit is still a dream of mine! (boulderfield twice & winds too strong to go on)
Posted by karen waller | January 4, 2013, 2:36 pm MDTI’d love to bore you with the story sometime, as best I can recall it. You know how memory works; things tend to get changed or forgotten. I know I’ve mentioned it here a couple of times in passing, but I don’t think I ever tried to retell the whole story. Figured I’d bore everyone.
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 3:50 pm MDTFantastic, PT! Modern technology has its uses
Thanks.
Posted by kateshrewsday | January 4, 2013, 2:48 pm MDTI do so love my webcams! I still miss the old controllable Tundra Cam that Colo. Univ. had up in the high country. The website is still up but the camera hasn’t been operational for several years. I used to use it to watch storms and sunsets, hikers and wildlife.
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 4:05 pm MDTGreat news! The TundraCam is up and running! I hadn’t realized it because the website has changed and, more important, I’ve been using my laptop with a broken Flash app. It works on my other computer. The URL for the cam is http://instaar.colorado.edu/tundracam/view.php
Posted by PiedType | January 4, 2013, 5:06 pm MDTNice!!!!
Posted by IzaakMak | January 4, 2013, 5:25 pm MDTOff to check it out. Thanks!
Posted by kateshrewsday | January 5, 2013, 12:31 am MDTMuch better view now. Thanks for the heads up.
Posted by Webcam World | January 15, 2013, 10:51 pm MDT