105: A Tragedy on Longs Peak

Mountain climbing was an unusual pastime in the 1920s. It was particularly unusual among women. But Agnes Vaille made a name for herself as a tough, formidable climber. Soon, she found herself setting records. In 1925, she and fellow climber Walter Kiener decided to make history as the first people to climb Longs Peak’s east face in the wintertime. Their friends warned them against the dangerous climb. But Walter and Agnes couldn’t be dissuaded.

Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from:

Alexander, Ruth M. “The Agnes Vaille Tragedy of 1925: A Turning Point in the History of Longs Peak.” In People and Nature on the Mountaintop: A Resource and Impact Study of Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado State University, 2010.

American Alpine Institute. “Route Profile: Kiener’s Route.” November 4, 2019. https://www.alpineinstitute.com/route-profile-kiener-s-route/.

Fort Collins Coloradoan. “Sortland’s Body Found Near Hotel.” February 26, 1925.

Jessen, Kenneth. “Tragedy Haunted Longs Peak Climber Walter Kiener.” Loveland Reporter Herald, June 18, 2015. https://archive.is/Im3f1.

Las Vegas Optic. “Many Visit Museum.” June 3, 1914.

“Longs Peak | Colorado Encyclopedia.” https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/longs-peak.

Robertson, Janet. The Magnificent Mountain Women: Adventures in the Colorado Rockies. With Arlene Blum. Bison Books, 2020.

“Roger Wolcott Toll | Colorado Encyclopedia.” https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/roger-wolcott-toll.

Sherman, John Dickinson. “Kiener’s Lookout.” Ashland Pioneer Press, September 18, 1925.

The Houston Chronicle. “Shelter Cabin 13,200 Feet Up on High Peak Is Memorial to Girl.” September 19, 1926.

The Keota News. “Colorado News Notes.” July 5, 1918.

The Orange County Plain Dealer. “Two Girls First to Climb High Peak.” July 31, 1922.

The Record. “Society Personal.” April 22, 1913.

Vaille, Howard T. “Early Years of the Telephone in Colorado.” The Colorado Magazine, August 1928.

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