Capitol's Death Route

[Candace66]

This perfectly but concisely illustrates why people are getting suckered into deviating from the established route. I've never been up on Capitol so this definitely helped me understand the situation. Thank you for the post.

[HikerGuy]

I imagine folks looking for a private spot to relieve themselves might also be contributing to the development of a trail in that location.

[Candace66]

FWIW...

Between Sunshine and Redcloud:



Between Challenger Point and Kit Carson Peak:

[MonGoose]

Good post. I think it helps explain some of the fatalities on Capitol this summer. As Nick (Somewhat of a Prick) pointed out, anyone who does their homework knows that isn't a route. It used to be that people wouldn't even consider attempting Capitol until they had 30 or 40 14ers under their belt. I'm trying to understand what is different this summer, that hikers with limited 14er experience are being drawn to Capitol Peak?

[Harvester]

The sign on top of Crestone Needle also got my attention, I think this is at the top of the Peak to Needle traverse. While not LNT, it works and if it makes at least one person turn back, well worth it IMHO. I know when I looked at it, it certainly made me realize the gravity of my situation at that moment (as if coming up the Needle standard route wasn't enough).

Needle sign.JPG

[Somewhat of a Prick]

Good post. I think it helps explain some of the fatalities on Capitol this summer. As Nick (Somewhat of a Prick) pointed out, anyone who does their homework knows that isn't a route. It used to be that people wouldn't even consider attempting Capitol until they had 30 or 40 14ers under their belt. I'm trying to understand what is different this summer, that hikers with limited 14er experience are being drawn to Capitol Peak?

I'm not understanding this either.

A compromise instead of marking up the mountain with spray paint and signs would be to put a sign at the trailhead with the information in the OP. I'd be ok with that

[LURE]

The sign on top of Crestone Needle also got my attention, I think this is at the top of the Peak to Needle traverse. While not LNT, it works and if it makes at least one person turn back, well worth it IMHO. I know when I looked at it, it certainly made me realize the gravity of my situation at that moment (as if coming up the Needle standard route wasn't enough).

I personally see no issues with putting a sign up there, especially given the circumstances. Where does the LNT etiquette begin and end with that stuff? We've never had issues with forest service trail signs directing us at forks in the trail telling us which direction the mountain is, as if we can't literally see the thing. Or maybe people don't like those either. I dunno.

[soybean56]

Thank you for the pictures, especially the first one It's been a few years since I've done Capitol, so I was confused how this was such an issue. However, a trail seems to be forming, and it does look inviting back to the lake. I would vote no to a sign on the ridge, but putting this info on the route description would be helpful.

I learned the hard way once to never take a different route down than you took up, unless it's a loop you've planned from the start and researched. Some of these unfortunate deaths could have potentially been avoided

[XterraRob]

A compromise instead of marking up the mountain with spray paint and signs would be to put a sign at the trailhead with the information in the OP. I'd be ok with that

That's a great suggestion, +1. I wonder how many have attempted descending that gulley and climbed back out or were able to down climb diagonally down to the lake.

[TakeMeToYourSummit]

GEDV0066.JPG

I was just looking at this photo yesterday. I took it from the summit of Mount Daly in the spring of 2016. The snow really helps show the cliff bands, the direct ridge route, & the standard dipping down into the next basin. I have a few experienced friends going for it this weekend - I'm sending all my good mountain vibes their way. May they summit safely & return to climb another day!

[JeeprCreepr13]

Thanks for this. It helps to see the pictures showing the gully from far out. Because, like others have said, it looks so inviting when you're looking down it.

[Brian C]

I hate signs in the mountains, but it makes sense in this case. Especially since a small sign a little way down that gully would only ever be seen by somebody going the wrong way. Not a big sign at the top, something even just 10-20 feet down.