Climb Longs Peak! The Cables Route with Lisa Foster and KT DeSantis, April 2026 - RMNP

The Cables Route on the North Face of Longs Peak is one of my preferred routes up the mountain in winter conditions for several reasons--it's shorter than the Keyhole Route (and shorter than almost any route on the peak), it provides a short section (about 60 meters) of technical climbing that adds a lot of fun and excitement to the day, and the North Face can often be in more optimal conditions than the West and South Faces when snow is present. Though I sometimes solo this route (rated 5.4, AI2, M2-) in the summer, I always bring a partner and a rope when the route has ice and snow present. The route also provides exciting (normally unroped) climbing on the lower North Face below the technical section and the upper North Face. As a winter mountaineering objective, this route is a grand adventure that can be spicy, and is always exposed. For this ascent in April, I believed conditions would be easier, but in reality, it was a tricky lead with soft snow over ice and rock, requiring delicate footwork in crampons and focus to find reliable pick placements with the ice tools. Because the rock slab underneath is relatively low angle, the ascent is a calf-pumper, and it takes precise balance to stay attached to the route. I hope you enjoy the video and can get a feel for what the technical climbing is like through the helmet-cam perspective! Subscribe to this channel for more great content including a weekly trail condition report and more adventures on my favorite mountain--Longs Peak! :) Buy my book on my website https://lisasadventurechannel.com/my-... ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: The Complete Hiking Guide Viewers have been asking in the comments about what gear I use, especially which brand of hiking boots and microspikes I prefer. I have now started using "Amazon Affiliate Links" in my gear links below. The links allow me to make a tiny commission on any sales. It costs you nothing extra, but it helps me out a bunch and will let me continue making videos of my adventures. All of the gear listed below is gear I use and feel comfortable recommending to my viewers. Thanks for your support! 😊 The poles I use are the BLACK DIAMOND Distance Z Trekking Poles https://amzn.to/4coRu9b The microspikes I use and recommend are Katoola Microspikes Footwear Traction . They are available in many sizes and three colors: Black, Red & Green. Follow the Amazon link below to learn more. https://amzn.to/4bz367S Although I didn't use snowshoes for this video, people also ask about which snowshoes I use when needed. I have been using MSR Evo Trail Snowshoes for many years and can certainly recommend them. These are also available in different colors. Here's an Amazon link to the Black pair: https://amzn.to/3NaJeA3 Here's an Amazon link to the "Ranger Green" and "Iron" pair: https://amzn.to/4lHwrls Probably the most common gear question I receive is about which hiking boots I use. In this video, I am wearing the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX boots and absolutely love them. For most of this video, these boots were paired with the Katoola Microspikes linked above. Women's Sizes: https://amzn.to/4sq7Kwq Men's Sizes: https://amzn.to/3NqkEeA As a Christmas gift from my husband last year, I now have the shiny new Black Diamond Sabretooth Pro Crampons used in this video. My previous pair of crampons was getting old and was also becoming quite dull, so these new crampons are fantastic. Thanks, Alex! Black Diamond Sabretooth Pro Crampons: https://amzn.to/4sltXeM Also in this video, you'll see I'm wearing a few different Rab Jackets , often layered together when it's colder or windy. Over the years, I have developed a layering system that works well for me, and being tall, Rab jackets, for whatever reason, fit me the best. I also find their quality to be outstanding. The red jacket in this video is the Rab Cirrus Flex Alpine jacket, and the green jacket is the Rab Xenair Alpine Light jacket, which matches my green Rode microphone well, don't you think? The blue jacket is the Rab Downpour Waterproof Rain Jacket which provides me with great rain protection, as well as wind protection. For most situations, these three jackets, used on their own or in various combinations, have served me quite well in the ever-changing alpine conditions found in Rocky Mountain National Park. Women's Rab Cirrus Flex Alpine Jacket: https://amzn.to/4bErB3D Men's Rab Cirrus Flex Alpine Jacket: https://amzn.to/4sV0o3I Women's Rab Xenair Alpine Light Jacket: https://amzn.to/4sT8JF1 Men's Rab Xenair Alpine Light Jacket: https://amzn.to/479wyA4 Women's Rab Downpour Waterproof Rain Jacket: https://amzn.to/4uBIlkC Men's Rab Downpour Waterproof Rain Jacket: https://amzn.to/4sl9nvd I have different helmets for various situations, but in this video, I'm wearing the Petzl Sirocco Climbing Helmet to protect my noggin. Petzl Sirocco Climbing Helmet: https://amzn.to/4lDHtIh