CO PUMA - Sep 9, 2006 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2005
One of the Best
One of my favorite mountains. It was my first class 4 climb and still I consider it to be one of the best.
P.S. my friend walked across the knife edge...I got a picture.
3/14/14- andean-like climb(AD+/D-) with matt, greg and jason. simul-climbed the majority of the route. i thought we weren't going to summit, but we pulled through as a team! hiked out afterwards and got to the car at 2am! a 20-hour day. #60/100 winter
7/14/07- late start with jamie after hiking into camp after dark and arriving at 1:30am. all good with bluebird skies the entire weekend, love camping near capitol lake!
9/3/06- climbed with chicagotransplant and we had an excellent adventure! we stayed on the ridge direct after the knife except for one overhanging spot. it probably went 5.0, maybe low 5th class. i'll come back for this route some other time.
Climbed with Shanahan96, we decided to stick to the ridge crest above the knife edge instead of skirting and following the standard route. Great ridge, as solid as the knife with some good low 5th class moves and a couple more knife sections to get the blood pumping. Perfect day, no clouds, not too cold and not to breezy.
shknbke - Sep 5, 2006 4:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2006
ditch trail
This was the toughest 14er for me as I did it as a dayhike. The knife edge was pretty much as expected for me. I choose the grab ridge and look for footholds method. A very long day as a dayhike with spectacular views.
Nice summit and awesome sunrise on the way in. Climbed with good old cp0915, who had the grace not to complain about my lack of speed as I limped pitifully out after slipping and bonking the smack out of my knee on the way up. Moral: you need to watch your step on all terrain, not just the 4th class stuff.
onlynine - Aug 22, 2006 12:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2006
K2 - Knife Edge
What a fantastic day! Our (climbed together with 2 other Danish guys) first class 4 climb so we were a little slow. We did the Class 4 traverse from Daly saddle and sort of lost our way on the way back on the Ditch trail, so it was a 16h day form TH and back!
But absolutely a fantastic day and very nice weather except for the last hour or so.
MasonMiller - Aug 19, 2006 9:37 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
big one
Did teh 4x4 drive to the car park. Sattled up our gear and headed in for the overnight. Slept at the base of the beast and listened to an intense thunderstorm that we thought would push us away from the summit. By early morning it had cleared up. Made summit a bit late, then hiked all the way back to the car. So tired, had to sleep for an hour before i could drive. Loved it.
jclements - Aug 10, 2006 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2006
K2 - Knife Edge
Packed into West Snowmass drainage, below Moon lake, went over top of K2, good weather, lots of people up there.
seth@LOKI - Jul 25, 2006 5:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 1994
Testy with snow, truly Alpine and stunning
This was the biggest snow year that I recall. VW size boulders were stll on the icy Lake in late August! Dirk almost surfed a huge rock off near the summit. I got a bit nervous on the snow on K2 on the way down, someone broke out a rope which I was glad for. probably not a big deal dry...Hear about the ski off the South/West Face! holy nut balls...
Brad Snider - Jul 24, 2006 4:00 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2006
Standard Route--Awesome Climb!
Great trip started at 2 AM / summit 9:30 w/ shknbke. One of the best 14ers!
Beautiful day! Little hot, major buggy...forgot the DEET. Had to chase off cows, a little bushwhacking through the tarn. We saw no one until we reached the Daly saddle. Glad we brought the rope in case of storms. Glad I brought the helmet as many people were knocking things loose. Wish I had more water. Glissade down was sweet and nice break on the knees.
MarieP - Mar 6, 2006 4:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2005
Knife Edge
Very fun day!
markhyams - Mar 5, 2006 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 1996
Knife Ridge
This is without a doubt, my favorite 14er outing. We did it from West Snowmass Creek, instead of the usual Capitol Creek approach. We camped at some little lakes just below Moon Lake, and it is stunning in there. From there it is a direct climb up to "K2" and the standard route.
Route Climbed: Capitol Creek/Knife Ridge Date Climbed: August 2004
DAM! One of my two scariest moments on a 14er, both times due to the weather. This was actually my 5th attempt on this mountain. Been to the start of the knife ridge twice. I summited by myself. The morning started out with roughly 9 people. See my trip report.
Very intense. The ridge was actually fairly exciting!
Route Climbed: Captol Ditch Approach Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2005
What a beautiful hike! Camped near Capitol Lake. The next morning the weather was terrible. Clouds and drizzle. Nonetheless, it was not so bad not to continue. My friends and I hoped the weather would change for the better by the time we reached K2. We continued up over the notch between Daly and K2 and into the basin with all the snowfields. Once we made our way higher, we almost mistakenly thought Clark Peak was K2! However, my 6th sense and my compass lead us in the correct direction towards K2. Unfortunately, by the time we were within a short scramble of the summit of K2, the weather was still fickle. We decided to give the weather 45 minutes to break or we would turn around. Well, we did not even have to wait that long! In 15 minutes the weather took a quick turn for the worse! It started raining and sleeting and snowing. The boulders became slick and dangerous and we had to proceed slowly on the rocks until we reached the snowfields. The snowfields had much better footing. We also glissaded down some of them. I even got to use the ski pole self arrest technique once. Cold, wet, and tired, I finally felt like I was out of danger's way once down from the Daly-K2 notch. Later on in the afternoon, Capitol reared its head out of the clouds as if to taunt me. By the time I reached my car at the trailhead, the peak was obscured in clouds again, refusing to say goodbye. I will definitely have to return and attempt this peak again!
CO PUMA - Sep 9, 2006 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2005
One of the BestOne of my favorite mountains. It was my first class 4 climb and still I consider it to be one of the best.
P.S. my friend walked across the knife edge...I got a picture.
shanahan96 - Sep 6, 2006 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
NE Ridge Direct3/14/14- andean-like climb(AD+/D-) with matt, greg and jason. simul-climbed the majority of the route. i thought we weren't going to summit, but we pulled through as a team! hiked out afterwards and got to the car at 2am! a 20-hour day. #60/100 winter
7/14/07- late start with jamie after hiking into camp after dark and arriving at 1:30am. all good with bluebird skies the entire weekend, love camping near capitol lake!
9/3/06- climbed with chicagotransplant and we had an excellent adventure! we stayed on the ridge direct after the knife except for one overhanging spot. it probably went 5.0, maybe low 5th class. i'll come back for this route some other time.
jamie
chicagotransplant - Sep 5, 2006 2:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
NE Ridge - Direct VariationClimbed with Shanahan96, we decided to stick to the ridge crest above the knife edge instead of skirting and following the standard route. Great ridge, as solid as the knife with some good low 5th class moves and a couple more knife sections to get the blood pumping. Perfect day, no clouds, not too cold and not to breezy.
shknbke - Sep 5, 2006 4:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2006
ditch trailThis was the toughest 14er for me as I did it as a dayhike. The knife edge was pretty much as expected for me. I choose the grab ridge and look for footholds method. A very long day as a dayhike with spectacular views.
Andinistaloco - Aug 28, 2006 5:34 am
Standard routeNice summit and awesome sunrise on the way in. Climbed with good old cp0915, who had the grace not to complain about my lack of speed as I limped pitifully out after slipping and bonking the smack out of my knee on the way up. Moral: you need to watch your step on all terrain, not just the 4th class stuff.
onlynine - Aug 22, 2006 12:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2006
K2 - Knife EdgeWhat a fantastic day! Our (climbed together with 2 other Danish guys) first class 4 climb so we were a little slow. We did the Class 4 traverse from Daly saddle and sort of lost our way on the way back on the Ditch trail, so it was a 16h day form TH and back!
But absolutely a fantastic day and very nice weather except for the last hour or so.
MasonMiller - Aug 19, 2006 9:37 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
big oneDid teh 4x4 drive to the car park. Sattled up our gear and headed in for the overnight. Slept at the base of the beast and listened to an intense thunderstorm that we thought would push us away from the summit. By early morning it had cleared up. Made summit a bit late, then hiked all the way back to the car. So tired, had to sleep for an hour before i could drive. Loved it.
jclements - Aug 10, 2006 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2006
K2 - Knife EdgePacked into West Snowmass drainage, below Moon lake, went over top of K2, good weather, lots of people up there.
seth@LOKI - Jul 25, 2006 5:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 1994
Testy with snow, truly Alpine and stunningThis was the biggest snow year that I recall. VW size boulders were stll on the icy Lake in late August! Dirk almost surfed a huge rock off near the summit. I got a bit nervous on the snow on K2 on the way down, someone broke out a rope which I was glad for. probably not a big deal dry...Hear about the ski off the South/West Face! holy nut balls...
Brad Snider - Jul 24, 2006 4:00 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2006
Standard Route--Awesome Climb!Great trip started at 2 AM / summit 9:30 w/ shknbke. One of the best 14ers!
indianhillsted - Jul 17, 2006 7:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2006
Knife Ridge via West Snowmass CreekBeautiful day! Little hot, major buggy...forgot the DEET. Had to chase off cows, a little bushwhacking through the tarn. We saw no one until we reached the Daly saddle. Glad we brought the rope in case of storms. Glad I brought the helmet as many people were knocking things loose. Wish I had more water. Glissade down was sweet and nice break on the knees.
rockrat2 - Jun 22, 2006 2:34 pm
knife ridgeHad to turn back due to bad weather, can't wait to get back to it.
spenceinboulder - May 9, 2006 3:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2002
Sketchy WeatherHad to turn around because of sketchy weather. Travesed in across the Boulder field from the N. to avoid the Moon lake approach.
Mountain Jim - Mar 20, 2006 2:23 am
Standard RouteTotal ascents = 3. Great Mountain !!!
MarieP - Mar 6, 2006 4:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2005
Knife EdgeVery fun day!
markhyams - Mar 5, 2006 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 1996
Knife RidgeThis is without a doubt, my favorite 14er outing. We did it from West Snowmass Creek, instead of the usual Capitol Creek approach. We camped at some little lakes just below Moon Lake, and it is stunning in there. From there it is a direct climb up to "K2" and the standard route.
Kiefer - Jan 27, 2006 4:09 pm
Route Climbed: Capitol Creek/Knife Ridge Date Climbed: August 2004DAM! One of my two scariest moments on a 14er, both times due to the weather. This was actually my 5th attempt on this mountain. Been to the start of the knife ridge twice. I summited by myself. The morning started out with roughly 9 people. See my trip report.
Very intense. The ridge was actually fairly exciting!
climber46 - Nov 26, 2005 6:23 pm
Route Climbed: Captol Ditch Approach Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2005What a beautiful hike! Camped near Capitol Lake. The next morning the weather was terrible. Clouds and drizzle. Nonetheless, it was not so bad not to continue. My friends and I hoped the weather would change for the better by the time we reached K2. We continued up over the notch between Daly and K2 and into the basin with all the snowfields. Once we made our way higher, we almost mistakenly thought Clark Peak was K2! However, my 6th sense and my compass lead us in the correct direction towards K2. Unfortunately, by the time we were within a short scramble of the summit of K2, the weather was still fickle. We decided to give the weather 45 minutes to break or we would turn around. Well, we did not even have to wait that long! In 15 minutes the weather took a quick turn for the worse! It started raining and sleeting and snowing. The boulders became slick and dangerous and we had to proceed slowly on the rocks until we reached the snowfields. The snowfields had much better footing. We also glissaded down some of them. I even got to use the ski pole self arrest technique once. Cold, wet, and tired, I finally felt like I was out of danger's way once down from the Daly-K2 notch. Later on in the afternoon, Capitol reared its head out of the clouds as if to taunt me. By the time I reached my car at the trailhead, the peak was obscured in clouds again, refusing to say goodbye. I will definitely have to return and attempt this peak again!
Hobbesgirl - Oct 21, 2005 1:33 pm
Route Climbed: Northeast Ridge Date Climbed: August 8, 2005This was the most amazing climb ever! Tons of fun and definitely my favorite mountain thus far!
iceisnice - Oct 3, 2005 10:10 pm
Route Climbed: Knife Ridge Date Climbed: Aug '03Straight forward climb. Nothing really technical. Long day to do it car-to-car, but fun.