How hard is it to climb Longs Peak?
Depends on the route. There are over 175 routes on Longs. The Keyhole route is the most popular by far. You gain almost 5,000′ from trailhead to summit and walk 15 miles round-trip. The Loft route is an excellent alternative to the crowded Keyhole. The North Face or Cables route offers an easy 5.4 technical climb to the summit. In the winter, every route to the summit requires crampons and an ice axe (the base definition of “technical”). Many years at least one or two people lose their life on this climb mostly due to lightning or falls above the Keyhole.
