pyerger - May 15, 2009 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2008
Awesome colorado peak
Awesome mountain, one off the best in colorado. But would not want to climb this often,because of rock fall.
msihl - Aug 23, 2008 3:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2008
NE Ridge (Knife Edge)
Climbed with Sarp and Paul. Started at Capitol Lake at 7.30am. Summitted 11.45am. On the way down we ended up on a snow field that was frozen solid and it took us about an hour to kick steps. Probably not the smartest descent route. The knife edge was a lot of fun though. Talus climbing is not my favorite but overall this is a very good class 4 climb!
This was a great climb/weekend. Started at the TH at 245am and climbed directly up the ridge from Daly Pass. A great alternate to the standard route!! Finished the weekend off with a hike around the Avalanche Pass loop.
This is one of the mountains that I am the proudest of. One of the very best 14ers. The warnings about the afternoon thundershowers are true so be ready. I got back to my tent near capitol lake at 1:30 pm just before it downpoured for the next 4 hours.
This is a fun climb. The knife edge is solid and lots of fun and shouldn't be as intimidating as people make it.
steve_hiebert - May 14, 2008 1:48 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2002
Classic Knife Edge; Long Day Climb
What a day on a really beautiful climb. It was a pretty long day hike though by me and my two partners.
SarahThompson - Mar 28, 2008 8:10 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
Definately a Colorado Classic
9/3/06 - My 2nd to last Colorado 14er. Used alternate Snowmass Creek approach and endured a heinous bushwhack when we lost the tricky trail. There's nothing like bushwhacking in the Elks! Camped below Moon Lake. Climbed Capitol Peak, then Mount Daly and Clark Peak in one extremely long, exhausting day. Ran into shanahan96 & chicagotransplant on Capitol.
12/24/11 - Winter ascent. Camped at Moon Lake, climbed via ridge from K2. INTENSE!
Kane - Mar 2, 2008 11:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2007
From Pierre Lakes
Did Capitol from Pierre Lakes. TR here http://www.summitpost.org/custom-object/279853/2007.html#chapter_9
MountainHikerCO - Feb 24, 2008 7:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2000
Second time
This was my second time climbing Capitol. It was my wife's first time. When we met some people on the way, they said "you must really love her, to come back up here for her to get this peak!"
MountainHikerCO - Feb 24, 2008 7:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 1994
traveled light
This was my first climb of Capitol. I did the standard route from Capitol Creek trailhead. I traveled light. I slept in a bivy bag to save weight. After stashing my overnight stuff in the morning I then got to enjoy the famous knife-edge. As visually striking as it is, I think the loose stuff on the upper mountain presents more risk.
postholer - Feb 23, 2008 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2001
NE ridge
Great mountain and climb. We did the ridge back to the Daly saddle. It seemed pretty crumbly compared to the knife edge but what doesn't? Fun.
CODave - Feb 6, 2008 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
standard route
Gorgeous mountain the entire hike. Can't wait to go back.
tomlauren - Jan 30, 2008 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
Northeast Ridge
Hiked the Northeast Ridge from camp at Capitol Lake with my friend Keith. I agree with many of the other submitters that the Knife Edge was not the most difficult part of the hike. I thought that getting past K2 and going up the final stretch to the summit were the most difficult sections.
When I was very young and very cocky, I moved to Colorado and gave this peak a shot and had my butt handed to me. I got off route and was high up the ridge en route to K2 when clouds moved in and I couldn't see anything other than the point of the ridge between my legs and open air in all directions. Capital Peak became my nemesis, and I vowed one day to return. In 2002 I finally got my chance. Having gained more experience, route finding wasn't an issue, and the knife-edge wasn't terrifying. I cruised up the mountain and back to camp. I'd always thought peakbagging was a fitness thing, not a skill/wisdom/preparedness thing. Anyways, I learned my lesson that day, and Capitol has gone from being my nemesis to being my favorite peak.
jwclimbs - Oct 1, 2007 2:09 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2001
Northeast Ridge
All peaks should have a "Knife Edge" route...it just sounds cool.
beautiful area. not many people on the mountain the day we were there either. Knife ridge lots of fun. The ridge between capitol and snow mass is pretty cool lookin.
Mots010 - Aug 21, 2007 9:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2007
Standard Route
Got caught in a quick thunderstorm as we crossed the knife edge on the return. We summited at 9am and I've played it over in my head again and again. The weather went from no clouds to thunderstorm in 1 hour. If we left the summit one hour earlier, we would have been where all the lightning developed near the saddle of Mt Daly and Capitol. Great day and an amazing mountain other than that.
Gahugafuga - Aug 10, 2007 11:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2007
NE Ridge
It pays to climb on a weekday. With only my partner to worry about, there were no rockfall issues on the face above the knife-edge ridge. If you take your time, the face can be done almost entirely as 3rd class climbing with an occasional 4th class move. For me, the knife-edge was the crux of the route. Perfect weather, awesome climb. Can't wait to go climb Clark Peak.
pyerger - May 15, 2009 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2008
Awesome colorado peakAwesome mountain, one off the best in colorado. But would not want to climb this often,because of rock fall.
msihl - Aug 23, 2008 3:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2008
NE Ridge (Knife Edge)Climbed with Sarp and Paul. Started at Capitol Lake at 7.30am. Summitted 11.45am. On the way down we ended up on a snow field that was frozen solid and it took us about an hour to kick steps. Probably not the smartest descent route. The knife edge was a lot of fun though. Talus climbing is not my favorite but overall this is a very good class 4 climb!
heather14 - Jul 28, 2008 2:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2008
Great Mountain!This was a great climb/weekend. Started at the TH at 245am and climbed directly up the ridge from Daly Pass. A great alternate to the standard route!! Finished the weekend off with a hike around the Avalanche Pass loop.
kelseymkrause - Jul 27, 2008 6:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
Dicey!!This is one of the mountains that I am the proudest of. One of the very best 14ers. The warnings about the afternoon thundershowers are true so be ready. I got back to my tent near capitol lake at 1:30 pm just before it downpoured for the next 4 hours.
Sierra Ledge Rat - Jul 18, 2008 12:34 am
1990: Knife Edge soloSoloed the Knife Edge in under 24 hours from car to car
DrewB - Jul 8, 2008 12:25 pm
Fun not scaryThis is a fun climb. The knife edge is solid and lots of fun and shouldn't be as intimidating as people make it.
steve_hiebert - May 14, 2008 1:48 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2002
Classic Knife Edge; Long Day ClimbWhat a day on a really beautiful climb. It was a pretty long day hike though by me and my two partners.
SarahThompson - Mar 28, 2008 8:10 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
Definately a Colorado Classic9/3/06 - My 2nd to last Colorado 14er. Used alternate Snowmass Creek approach and endured a heinous bushwhack when we lost the tricky trail. There's nothing like bushwhacking in the Elks! Camped below Moon Lake. Climbed Capitol Peak, then Mount Daly and Clark Peak in one extremely long, exhausting day. Ran into shanahan96 & chicagotransplant on Capitol.
12/24/11 - Winter ascent. Camped at Moon Lake, climbed via ridge from K2. INTENSE!
Kane - Mar 2, 2008 11:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2007
From Pierre LakesDid Capitol from Pierre Lakes. TR here http://www.summitpost.org/custom-object/279853/2007.html#chapter_9
MountainHikerCO - Feb 24, 2008 7:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2000
Second timeThis was my second time climbing Capitol. It was my wife's first time. When we met some people on the way, they said "you must really love her, to come back up here for her to get this peak!"
MountainHikerCO - Feb 24, 2008 7:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 1994
traveled lightThis was my first climb of Capitol. I did the standard route from Capitol Creek trailhead. I traveled light. I slept in a bivy bag to save weight. After stashing my overnight stuff in the morning I then got to enjoy the famous knife-edge. As visually striking as it is, I think the loose stuff on the upper mountain presents more risk.
postholer - Feb 23, 2008 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2001
NE ridgeGreat mountain and climb. We did the ridge back to the Daly saddle. It seemed pretty crumbly compared to the knife edge but what doesn't? Fun.
CODave - Feb 6, 2008 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
standard routeGorgeous mountain the entire hike. Can't wait to go back.
tomlauren - Jan 30, 2008 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
Northeast RidgeHiked the Northeast Ridge from camp at Capitol Lake with my friend Keith. I agree with many of the other submitters that the Knife Edge was not the most difficult part of the hike. I thought that getting past K2 and going up the final stretch to the summit were the most difficult sections.
MattGreene - Dec 1, 2007 9:23 pm
PersistenceWhen I was very young and very cocky, I moved to Colorado and gave this peak a shot and had my butt handed to me. I got off route and was high up the ridge en route to K2 when clouds moved in and I couldn't see anything other than the point of the ridge between my legs and open air in all directions. Capital Peak became my nemesis, and I vowed one day to return. In 2002 I finally got my chance. Having gained more experience, route finding wasn't an issue, and the knife-edge wasn't terrifying. I cruised up the mountain and back to camp. I'd always thought peakbagging was a fitness thing, not a skill/wisdom/preparedness thing. Anyways, I learned my lesson that day, and Capitol has gone from being my nemesis to being my favorite peak.
jwclimbs - Oct 1, 2007 2:09 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2001
Northeast RidgeAll peaks should have a "Knife Edge" route...it just sounds cool.
dr_gonz - Sep 5, 2007 1:22 pm
fun stuffbeautiful area. not many people on the mountain the day we were there either. Knife ridge lots of fun. The ridge between capitol and snow mass is pretty cool lookin.
Mots010 - Aug 21, 2007 9:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2007
Standard RouteGot caught in a quick thunderstorm as we crossed the knife edge on the return. We summited at 9am and I've played it over in my head again and again. The weather went from no clouds to thunderstorm in 1 hour. If we left the summit one hour earlier, we would have been where all the lightning developed near the saddle of Mt Daly and Capitol. Great day and an amazing mountain other than that.
Gahugafuga - Aug 10, 2007 11:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2007
NE RidgeIt pays to climb on a weekday. With only my partner to worry about, there were no rockfall issues on the face above the knife-edge ridge. If you take your time, the face can be done almost entirely as 3rd class climbing with an occasional 4th class move. For me, the knife-edge was the crux of the route. Perfect weather, awesome climb. Can't wait to go climb Clark Peak.
astrobassman - Jul 24, 2007 7:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
First difficult CO 14erI had a blast on Capitol. The knife edge really wasn't the crux of the route...there were several more intimidating spots...overall a great day.