Capitol Peak Rescue on 8/16/2025

[seano]

The last time I went scrambling up the 2nd Flatiron (early last summer) there was a man at the base watching us start up the climb. I think he said he was visiting from Kansas?

He yells up to us 'Is that even legal?', to which I replied, 'yes, definitely legal, but you should only climb it if you have some climbing experience. It's slabby low 5th class'.

I would have offered something more like "Yes, but it helps to practice on easier stuff first." No judgment, assumptions, or jargon; just helpful information.

[SchralpTheGnar]

The last time I went scrambling up the 2nd Flatiron (early last summer) there was a man at the base watching us start up the climb. I think he said he was visiting from Kansas?

He yells up to us 'Is that even legal?', to which I replied, 'yes, definitely legal, but you should only climb it if you have some climbing experience. It's slabby low 5th class'.

I would have offered something more like "Yes, but it helps to practice on easier stuff first." No judgment, assumptions, or jargon; just helpful information.

You must not be a climber

[timewarp01]

Sign ideas. Just wanted to point out that even hikers in jeans knew the correct route down.

Kind of a ricochet shot at cellphones here; maybe autocorrect would've showed you how to spell 'descent' correctly

[Cygnus X1]

Sign ideas. Just wanted to point out that even hikers in jeans knew the correct route down.

Kind of a ricochet shot at cellphones here; maybe autocorrect would've [s]showed[/s] shown you how to spell 'descent' correctly

FIFY

[climbingyogi]

The last time I went scrambling up the 2nd Flatiron (early last summer) there was a man at the base watching us start up the climb. I think he said he was visiting from Kansas?

He yells up to us 'Is that even legal?', to which I replied, 'yes, definitely legal, but you should only climb it if you have some climbing experience. It's slabby low 5th class'.

I would have offered something more like "Yes, but it helps to practice on easier stuff first." No judgment, assumptions, or jargon; just helpful information.

Not sure changing the phrasing of my response would've changed this person's decision to go up something he probably shouldn't have (and I feel confident I can say that, as he got spooked immediately and bailed off to the side). If anything - your suggested response sounds more lenient of the consequences that could occur from getting on a scrambling route that this person obviously knew nothing about.

And if he didn't understand the 'jargon' in my response, then shouldn't that have been a hint to him that he shouldn't follow us? I think it's important for people to take responsibility for their own decisions in the outdoors. Just my two cents.

[mtree]

Although this is going off-topic, I was one of those gumbies who climbed the second or third Flatiron without any experience or knowledge of what I was doing. My friends at the time were stupid. I thought they knew what they were doing so I followed. We managed to get to the top and had no idea how to get down! It was a miracle we found a crack in the ledge to shimmy over to the forest side. One of the dumbest things I've ever done. From that day on I never trusted their skills or climbing intelligence. I even talked them off a class 5+ climb in RMP without gear before they got into trouble.

Just shows you, even a sign might not deter some folks. But its worth a shot.

[seano]

I think it's important for people to take responsibility for their own decisions in the outdoors.

My point exactly. It's not your choice.

[Ryan987]

Climbed cap and noticed a new sign mounted by the USFS at the TH. It states "technically difficult terrain ahead" and "route deviation may result in death". I still agree there should be a much more bold sign installed in an apparent location. I noticed this sign when I got back to the car

[jibler]

i was trying to stay outta this thread but now i gotta jump in


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yes you know the Grand Canyon has severe signs all over warning of "Death" if warnings not obeyed.


For crying outloud that's the least they could do here. Per capita - Is Capitol more deadly than Grand Canyon?

Almost has to be yes.

[onebyone]

i was trying to stay outta this thread but now i gotta jump in


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yes you know the Grand Canyon has severe signs all over warning of "Death" if warnings not obeyed.


For crying outloud that's the least they could do here. Per capita - Is Capitol more deadly than Grand Canyon?

Almost has to be yes.

I still think it is worth a sign in this one spot for Capitol. It is the .1% of the scenarios where I think a sign is worth it. I don't think the Grand Canyon analogy is a good one. 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year.

[brett.t.burch]

I learned a long time ago the following maxims:

Don't climb anything you're not willing to descend.
Don't descend/skirt anything unless you know it goes, unless you're prepared to retrace your steps.

I have never seen these two stated in exactly this way, but I can tell you from experience and nearly violating each of them in vivid memories, that these posted at every trailhead, probably even at the class 2 level, could save lives.

[nyker]

Something like that is posted at the start of Half Dome, before the terrain quickly changes is a peak that provides a good example of signage enroute on location where that last reminder may prove valuable.