Capitol Peak Trip Report 09/07/2012

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Capitol Peak - 14,138 feet
Date Posted	09/07/2012
Date Climbed	09/02/2012
Author	Kitten
Additional Members	Mountain Mike

Re-visiting Capitol from West Snowmass Creek
TH: West Snowmass Creek Campsite: just below Moon Lake, elevation 11,200 Hours to campsite from TH: 4.30 h (Saturday) Hours to summit from campsite: 5 h (Sunday) I would like to start quoting Gerry Roach on his 14er book when he describes this approach: "this is a rougher, seldom used alternative to the popular Capitol Creek Approach". And YES, I totally agree with this statement. Mike and I climbed this peak about 10 years ago. By then I only had a few 14ers and not as much experience with mountain climbing. Capitol was my number 10th. As I got more and more peaks, I always thought Capitol Pk was not one of the hardest 14ers, I always ranked it in 6th or 7th place, it is funny how sometimes memory erases the let's call it "scary" parts of a climb. Anyway, I was just curious to know how it would feel to climb it again having done all the other 14ers. So here we go. We started at the West Snowmass Creek on Saturday afternoon. The plan was to hike to Moon Lake, but we would soon discovered how difficult this trail and route finding would be. The first 3 miles are very easy, the trail is nice and straightforward to follow. The problem starts when you hit the meadow where the cows reside. At that point, we had read in Roach's guide and also in some other trip reports that the trail goes to the east side of the creek (we would later realize this is not true, and it does not happen till you reach 10,700 feet approximately, which is about another mile). Anyway, we made our way through some trees, bushes, you name it. What was funny is that somebody had placed purple plastic trash bags in some of the trees as a means of route finding (?). Picture below shows what we went through in some of the areas, we ended up with brushes and scratches in our legs and arms. Bushwhacking through the trees After about 10,700 feet the trail becomes very clear and it is nice again, this is the part where it supposedly crosses to the east side (the side we were already on), so from there it was steep but quite easy to follow. On the East side of the creek We finally made it to our campsite (a nice area by the way) just before dark. Ate dinner and went to sleep. Campsite at 11,200 feet The initial plan was to hike to Moon Lake, but with our heavy packs, night coming fast and the trail not being that clear through the huge talus we decided it was better to camp lower. So, in the morning we woke up at around 5am, had breakfast and started hiking up to the lake at about 5.45am. There was no apparent trail but we made it to the lake in about 45 minutes, in the dark it was a bit slow. Moon Lake The moon was setting as we approached Moon Lake and the sun was on the rise... Moon Lake sunrise Once in the lake we kept going southwest up the basin, till we intercepted the standard route. We were not aware at that point that we were in the standard route till we met a hiker coming down. We were surprised how quiet that route was even on a busy weekend like Labor Day. The next picture shows the route up (on standard route). We kept to the right because there were some huge rock slides on our left. Going up the basin We finally saw K2 in the distance. K2 in the distance It took 3 hours and a half to get to this point, including eating some snacks and filtering some water in one of the creeks. Maybe longer than we thought, but considering we had to do some route finding this was about right. We stopped many times to look at the map and decide which line (of huge talus) to take. On our previous climb we went to the top of K2, but this time we decided to go around to the right side as described in the standard route. I think we contoured it a little bit higher, but it did not feel expose or difficult. It is funny because according to my recollection of 10 years ago, this is the point were I was most scared, K2 was the crux of the climb for me. Now it did not feel this way (climbing 14ers get you used to loose rock!), instead another perception changed as I will tell later. This picture shows me scouting the route to decide if we were going up or down. K2 approach This is me going down to by-pass K2. K2 approach From here we quickly encountered the infamous knife-edge ridge. My recollection from the time before is that it was not too scary, maybe that was because the day we climbed it there were clouds all around us and of course I could not see the drop. This time I have to admit it terrified me a little, I looked down and probably I shouldn't have; I am not afraid of heights, but that is a heck of a drop! This is me going on the left side trying to walk the first part. On the knife-edge ridge Later I decided to sit on my butt and move along (my arms felt that the day after). No picture for this one, Mike was concentrated as well following me. After the knife-edge ridge, the route was pretty straightforward (compared to what we had already done earlier in the day), so we just kept going from cairn to cairn and making it up. We met Debbie and her partner on the way up (they were coming down), they remembered us from our hike to Culebra last year. Good luck on the remaining of your 14er quest! We made it to the summit at about 11am. Our total time from K2 to summit it was 1 hour and a half, which is faster than we thought it would take. Somehow the camera went black and white, still a cool shot. Summit of Capitol Pk. We met a nice couple on the summit (Sarah and ? sorry I forgot your name). After spending an hour on the summit (weather was perfect) we decided to all go down together to minimize rock kicking on each other. I took some pictures as we were all descending. Another group of 3 caught up with us as well. On the way down, hold on... Our summit friends Knife-edge getting busy The trip back to K2 took us about the same time, maybe a little faster. This time we took a lower contour line. Contouring K2 Clouds were approaching, so we decided to continue down the talus field. We soon were at the basin where you can see Daly pass and the standard route. And the sun was shining again. Daly Pass Moon Lake was pretty from here. Moon Lake And more boulder hoping, and more... our legs were starting to hurt here. Hopping Boulder, is it ever going to finish? Finally back at camp, after 11 hours of hiking on boulders. Hors d'oeuvres were delicious! Mmmmhhh... The next morning we slept in, had a hearty breakfast, packed camp and headed down the trail. This time we did cross to the west side on a log bridge across the creek and on this side the trail was much much better. West side of the creek Once it gets to the cow pasture it gets confusing again (those cows are making a big mess!). Oh, and you have to make sure you don't step on cow poop! From the pasture the trail is straightforward again. It took longer to backpack back than to summit Capitol Pk! What are you looking at? So, in conclusion: yes I think Capitol peak it is one of the hardest 14ers now that I revisited it. More than difficult is that it is very demanding, the approach is long (either side you take), lots of talus and boulder hoping and of course, there is some exposure, mainly on the knife-edge ridge. My advice would be to do this peak by its standard route, unless you have already done and want to explore another route. The West Snowmass Creek is a pretty approach (except for the cows and don't get me wrong, I like animals but when they are in the right place!). Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Re-visiting Capitol from West Snowmass Creek

TH: West Snowmass Creek

Campsite: just below Moon Lake, elevation 11,200
Hours to campsite from TH: 4.30 h (Saturday)
Hours to summit from campsite: 5 h (Sunday)

I would like to start quoting Gerry Roach on his 14er book when he describes this approach: "this is a rougher, seldom used alternative to the popular Capitol Creek Approach". And YES, I totally agree with this statement.

Mike and I climbed this peak about 10 years ago. By then I only had a few 14ers and not as much experience with mountain climbing. Capitol was my number 10th. As I got more and more peaks, I always thought Capitol Pk was not one of the hardest 14ers, I always ranked it in 6th or 7th place, it is funny how sometimes memory erases the let's call it "scary" parts of a climb. Anyway, I was just curious to know how it would feel to climb it again having done all the other 14ers. So here we go.

We started at the West Snowmass Creek on Saturday afternoon. The plan was to hike to Moon Lake, but we would soon discovered how difficult this trail and route finding would be. The first 3 miles are very easy, the trail is nice and straightforward to follow. The problem starts when you hit the meadow where the cows reside. At that point, we had read in Roach's guide and also in some other trip reports that the trail goes to the east side of the creek (we would later realize this is not true, and it does not happen till you reach 10,700 feet approximately, which is about another mile). Anyway, we made our way through some trees, bushes, you name it. What was funny is that somebody had placed purple plastic trash bags in some of the trees as a means of route finding (?). Picture below shows what we went through in some of the areas, we ended up with brushes and scratches in our legs and arms.

After about 10,700 feet the trail becomes very clear and it is nice again, this is the part where it supposedly crosses to the east side (the side we were already on), so from there it was steep but quite easy to follow.

We finally made it to our campsite (a nice area by the way) just before dark. Ate dinner and went to sleep.

The initial plan was to hike to Moon Lake, but with our heavy packs, night coming fast and the trail not being that clear through the huge talus we decided it was better to camp lower. So, in the morning we woke up at around 5am, had breakfast and started hiking up to the lake at about 5.45am. There was no apparent trail but we made it to the lake in about 45 minutes, in the dark it was a bit slow.

The moon was setting as we approached Moon Lake and the sun was on the rise...

Once in the lake we kept going southwest up the basin, till we intercepted the standard route. We were not aware at that point that we were in the standard route till we met a hiker coming down. We were surprised how quiet that route was even on a busy weekend like Labor Day. The next picture shows the route up (on standard route). We kept to the right because there were some huge rock slides on our left.

We finally saw K2 in the distance.

It took 3 hours and a half to get to this point, including eating some snacks and filtering some water in one of the creeks. Maybe longer than we thought, but considering we had to do some route finding this was about right. We stopped many times to look at the map and decide which line (of huge talus) to take.

On our previous climb we went to the top of K2, but this time we decided to go around to the right side as described in the standard route. I think we contoured it a little bit higher, but it did not feel expose or difficult. It is funny because according to my recollection of 10 years ago, this is the point were I was most scared, K2 was the crux of the climb for me. Now it did not feel this way (climbing 14ers get you used to loose rock!), instead another perception changed as I will tell later.

This picture shows me scouting the route to decide if we were going up or down.

This is me going down to by-pass K2.

From here we quickly encountered the infamous knife-edge ridge. My recollection from the time before is that it was not too scary, maybe that was because the day we climbed it there were clouds all around us and of course I could not see the drop. This time I have to admit it terrified me a little, I looked down and probably I shouldn't have; I am not afraid of heights, but that is a heck of a drop! This is me going on the left side trying to walk the first part.

Later I decided to sit on my butt and move along (my arms felt that the day after). No picture for this one, Mike was concentrated as well following me.

After the knife-edge ridge, the route was pretty straightforward (compared to what we had already done earlier in the day), so we just kept going from cairn to cairn and making it up. We met Debbie and her partner on the way up (they were coming down), they remembered us from our hike to Culebra last year. Good luck on the remaining of your 14er quest!

We made it to the summit at about 11am. Our total time from K2 to summit it was 1 hour and a half, which is faster than we thought it would take. Somehow the camera went black and white, still a cool shot.

We met a nice couple on the summit (Sarah and ? sorry I forgot your name). After spending an hour on the summit (weather was perfect) we decided to all go down together to minimize rock kicking on each other. I took some pictures as we were all descending. Another group of 3 caught up with us as well.

The trip back to K2 took us about the same time, maybe a little faster. This time we took a lower contour line.

Clouds were approaching, so we decided to continue down the talus field. We soon were at the basin where you can see Daly pass and the standard route. And the sun was shining again.

Moon Lake was pretty from here.

And more boulder hoping, and more... our legs were starting to hurt here.

Hopping Boulder, is it ever going to finish?

Finally back at camp, after 11 hours of hiking on boulders. Hors d'oeuvres were delicious!

The next morning we slept in, had a hearty breakfast, packed camp and headed down the trail. This time we did cross to the west side on a log bridge across the creek and on this side the trail was much much better.

Once it gets to the cow pasture it gets confusing again (those cows are making a big mess!). Oh, and you have to make sure you don't step on cow poop! From the pasture the trail is straightforward again. It took longer to backpack back than to summit Capitol Pk!

So, in conclusion: yes I think Capitol peak it is one of the hardest 14ers now that I revisited it. More than difficult is that it is very demanding, the approach is long (either side you take), lots of talus and boulder hoping and of course, there is some exposure, mainly on the knife-edge ridge. My advice would be to do this peak by its standard route, unless you have already done and want to explore another route. The West Snowmass Creek is a pretty approach (except for the cows and don't get me wrong, I like animals but when they are in the right place!).

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Monster5	Nice report on the less traveled 9/7/2012 5:50pm Shouldn't have looked at it right before lunch time though; precious monies shall soon be invested in avocados and green olives.
MtnHub	Capitol revisited! 9/8/2012 1:56am Yeah, this is one mountain I'd love to get back on someday! It is simply a phenomenal climb! My past impression is that Capitol is overrated in difficulty however. It definitely is demanding, but I didn't feel the ”hard” parts were all that bad. I'd love to do it again like you and see if I still feel the same way. Nice report on a different route! Thanks for sharing! :D
Dancesatmoonrise	Capitol is the King 9/15/2012 5:25am Yeah, that Moon Lake approach can be pretty wild. Nice going back after it. That summit shot is great! Looks like an old film shot. You guys sure eat well, btw! Very cool report. Just never get tired of that beauty.

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