Sarah Simon - Jul 28, 2014 12:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2014
Standard from Capitol Lake
This peak really is everything you can ask for in a Colorado mountain: power and grace from afar, burly and physical close up. I thought the most technically challenging move was the slabby flake step coming off K2. Knife edge definitely got my attention, but as they say - at least it's solid, unlike most of the rest of the mountain. Stuck just below the ridge leaving the Daly saddle - some down sloping spookiness for sure! Returned via the basin which still held plenty of snow - ax certainly put to use! The stanky cattle made me run for brisket in Aspen afterward - out of revenge I suppose. Nasty, but they're plenty timid if you just tell them to get the $&@! Out of the way! Jaimee rocked it today!
gnarsify - Apr 2, 2014 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2008
Standard Route - 1 day push
One day push with my younger brother. Great day overall!
Backpacked up and camped near the lake. Despite a little rain early in the morning, we were able to summit. The kinfe edge was a lot of fun but not that difficult, the scetchy part comes after that.
Senad Rizvanovic - Aug 5, 2013 8:28 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2013
Great mountain.
Great mountain, great climb, ridge was sweet!
dandrew - Aug 4, 2013 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2013
A late start would have been better
Backpacked in through the rain on Aug. 1st. Started the climb at about 5:30 a.m. on the 2nd. Clouds soon rolled in. Made it to K2 and waited a while before deciding to turn back, not wanting to to do final approach in fog and damp rock. With our luck, of course, the skies began to clear about a half hour after beginning descent. Turned into a nice day after that. Will have to go back.
Woodie Hopper - Aug 3, 2013 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
Capitol Creek, trail run
Solo. Was able to run most of the way to and from Capitol Lake, climbed before going in to work at Aspen Valley Hospital. I was surprised there were so many people on the route today. K2 was fun: classic view of Capitol. I thought the "Knife Edge" was not very intimidating, but I'd never try it if it were wet. Route finding afterwards was tricky at times.
solo dayhike from Capitol Creek which was a beautiful trailhead. One of the most scenic approaches with the peak. The cows were a nuisance and unexpected!! Gorgeous area, minus the cows. I'm afraid of cows. Scrambling was great and keeps you on your toes. Scenic knife edge. Had the whole peak to myself!
milan - Oct 21, 2012 5:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
Exposed
I climbed this mountain the day before I left Colorado, it was probably the best way to say good bye to the Rockies.
I like it on top - Aug 27, 2012 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
Standard Route
A great night at Capitol Lake, leading to a fun and successful summit. Great weather for a climb.
PhenomenalWoman - Aug 18, 2012 5:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
Almost Doesn't Count
A late start and fatigue hampered efforts to reach the summit before the afternoon storms rolled in, leaving us 50 feet from success. The boulder field was excrutiating and I took a tumble on the way back to camp that gashed my hip, bruised my knee, and left my entire foot below the ankle purple....that said - I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS PEAK! Without a doubt the most fun I've had on any mountain. The Knife Edge was incredible and I can't wait to go back and try for the summit again.
er185005 - Aug 9, 2012 10:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2012
Hi! It was us you talked with just before getting back to the TH on Saturday. Sorry you guys had to turn around. Good luck on another try!
cftbq - Aug 5, 2012 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
the last hard one
Standard route. Long day. A long-anticipated accomplishment. Fourteener #51.
Eleutheros - Aug 4, 2012 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
50 feet below the summit. Then... lightning.
A very poor night's sleep and sick climbing partner led to a late start and slow going. The ridge scrambling was some of the best in CO! So much fun. A stone's throw from the summit we turned back when dark clouds, lightning and rain threatened the summit. I kicked myself the whole way back to the car as the weather cleared... In conclusion, Capitol Peak is worth another climb. I'll be back! Next time I'll stick to the class 4 ridge route instead of dropping into that long, monotonous boulder field.
Rocky Alps - Jul 19, 2012 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2012
Capitol Creek Ditch Trail
A later than planned start (friends got caught behind a fire between Grand Junction and Rifle that jumped the freeway and closed I-70, causing them to not make it to their campsite near Carbondale until after midnight the previous night), not having time to acclimatize beforehand, some monster blisters that gave me bloody heels, and a rainstorm all complicated our Capitol day hike plans. As a result, we only made it to K2. My first bout with altitude sickness threw me off my game, and I decided that tackling the knife edge with a headache and dizziness probably wasn't a good idea. The views were phenomenal all throughout the hike, though. I definitely want to get back and try this one again. See "Pushing My Limits" trip report for details.
Kiefer - Jul 19, 2012 1:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2012
"Cleaver Buttress"
I VASTLY under-estimated the difficulty of this arete/buttress located on Capitol's eastern side...approached from Pierre Lakes Basin. We (ripper333 and I) concluded a rating of 5.8
Some spots were insanely exposed, the ridge direct is not possible unless you're a proficient 5.11-5.12 climber. We even had to rap a small section.
An INTENSE climb. Made the standard "Knife Ridge" a virtual sidewalk.
Matt Lemke - Jul 11, 2012 10:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2012
Standard ridge
Very fun scramble. Knife edge no where near as bad as I was led to believe. Solid scramble. Did with Josh
Sarah Simon - Jul 28, 2014 12:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2014
Standard from Capitol LakeThis peak really is everything you can ask for in a Colorado mountain: power and grace from afar, burly and physical close up. I thought the most technically challenging move was the slabby flake step coming off K2. Knife edge definitely got my attention, but as they say - at least it's solid, unlike most of the rest of the mountain. Stuck just below the ridge leaving the Daly saddle - some down sloping spookiness for sure! Returned via the basin which still held plenty of snow - ax certainly put to use! The stanky cattle made me run for brisket in Aspen afterward - out of revenge I suppose. Nasty, but they're plenty timid if you just tell them to get the $&@! Out of the way! Jaimee rocked it today!
gnarsify - Apr 2, 2014 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2008
Standard Route - 1 day pushOne day push with my younger brother. Great day overall!
mtmanchris83 - Nov 27, 2013 5:34 pm
Great time with great friendsBackpacked up and camped near the lake. Despite a little rain early in the morning, we were able to summit. The kinfe edge was a lot of fun but not that difficult, the scetchy part comes after that.
MadGrad96 - Nov 1, 2013 8:11 am
CapitalA fun mountain!
Senad Rizvanovic - Aug 5, 2013 8:28 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2013
Great mountain.Great mountain, great climb, ridge was sweet!
dandrew - Aug 4, 2013 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2013
A late start would have been betterBackpacked in through the rain on Aug. 1st. Started the climb at about 5:30 a.m. on the 2nd. Clouds soon rolled in. Made it to K2 and waited a while before deciding to turn back, not wanting to to do final approach in fog and damp rock. With our luck, of course, the skies began to clear about a half hour after beginning descent. Turned into a nice day after that. Will have to go back.
Woodie Hopper - Aug 3, 2013 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
Capitol Creek, trail runSolo. Was able to run most of the way to and from Capitol Lake, climbed before going in to work at Aspen Valley Hospital. I was surprised there were so many people on the route today. K2 was fun: classic view of Capitol. I thought the "Knife Edge" was not very intimidating, but I'd never try it if it were wet. Route finding afterwards was tricky at times.
CO classic for sure!
Daria - Jul 29, 2013 4:41 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2013
Scenic, fun outingsolo dayhike from Capitol Creek which was a beautiful trailhead. One of the most scenic approaches with the peak. The cows were a nuisance and unexpected!! Gorgeous area, minus the cows. I'm afraid of cows. Scrambling was great and keeps you on your toes. Scenic knife edge. Had the whole peak to myself!
Hyadventure - Jul 11, 2013 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2013
Big A$$ Day HikeUsed the Capitol Creek Ditch Trail. Loved the knife edge, hated the loose face below the summit..
astroclimber - Jul 6, 2013 9:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2010
Great teamGreat team of climbers
milan - Oct 21, 2012 5:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
ExposedI climbed this mountain the day before I left Colorado, it was probably the best way to say good bye to the Rockies.
I like it on top - Aug 27, 2012 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
Standard RouteA great night at Capitol Lake, leading to a fun and successful summit. Great weather for a climb.
PhenomenalWoman - Aug 18, 2012 5:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
Almost Doesn't CountA late start and fatigue hampered efforts to reach the summit before the afternoon storms rolled in, leaving us 50 feet from success. The boulder field was excrutiating and I took a tumble on the way back to camp that gashed my hip, bruised my knee, and left my entire foot below the ankle purple....that said - I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS PEAK! Without a doubt the most fun I've had on any mountain. The Knife Edge was incredible and I can't wait to go back and try for the summit again.
er185005 - Aug 9, 2012 10:10 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2012
#5Great solo climb up standard route.
cftbq - Aug 6, 2012 8:57 am
Re: 50 feet below the summit. Then... lightning.Hi! It was us you talked with just before getting back to the TH on Saturday. Sorry you guys had to turn around. Good luck on another try!
cftbq - Aug 5, 2012 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
the last hard oneStandard route. Long day. A long-anticipated accomplishment. Fourteener #51.
Eleutheros - Aug 4, 2012 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2012
50 feet below the summit. Then... lightning.A very poor night's sleep and sick climbing partner led to a late start and slow going. The ridge scrambling was some of the best in CO! So much fun. A stone's throw from the summit we turned back when dark clouds, lightning and rain threatened the summit. I kicked myself the whole way back to the car as the weather cleared... In conclusion, Capitol Peak is worth another climb. I'll be back! Next time I'll stick to the class 4 ridge route instead of dropping into that long, monotonous boulder field.
Rocky Alps - Jul 19, 2012 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2012
Capitol Creek Ditch TrailA later than planned start (friends got caught behind a fire between Grand Junction and Rifle that jumped the freeway and closed I-70, causing them to not make it to their campsite near Carbondale until after midnight the previous night), not having time to acclimatize beforehand, some monster blisters that gave me bloody heels, and a rainstorm all complicated our Capitol day hike plans. As a result, we only made it to K2. My first bout with altitude sickness threw me off my game, and I decided that tackling the knife edge with a headache and dizziness probably wasn't a good idea. The views were phenomenal all throughout the hike, though. I definitely want to get back and try this one again. See "Pushing My Limits" trip report for details.
Kiefer - Jul 19, 2012 1:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2012
"Cleaver Buttress"I VASTLY under-estimated the difficulty of this arete/buttress located on Capitol's eastern side...approached from Pierre Lakes Basin. We (ripper333 and I) concluded a rating of 5.8
Some spots were insanely exposed, the ridge direct is not possible unless you're a proficient 5.11-5.12 climber. We even had to rap a small section.
An INTENSE climb. Made the standard "Knife Ridge" a virtual sidewalk.
Matt Lemke - Jul 11, 2012 10:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2012
Standard ridgeVery fun scramble. Knife edge no where near as bad as I was led to believe. Solid scramble. Did with Josh