Capitol Peak Trip Report 09/02/2013

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Capitol Peak - 14,138 feet
Date Posted	09/02/2013
Date Climbed	08/16/2013
Author	RiceSnob

Grandma Crosses the Knife Edge
Every year we celebrate our Anniversary by climbing or backpack in the wilderness so this year we settled on climbing this" Baby Cap." We left Denver Thursday morning after drop my good friend at the airport heading toward I-70 we pull in the parking lot around 3:00 p.m. The original plan was to sleep at the trail head and hike in the morning, but when we get there we change our mind and hike in - with our new friend Gene. Hike 6 mile in 2000' elevation gain and full pack is not easy just picture your self carry the baby weight 20 lbs or 25 lbs on your shoulder for 4 hour, but the whole hike from TH to the lake it's worth every breath and step you take and the view just blow your mind away. The last push up and over the hill there you'll see designated campsites - the first right turn camp sites 1-4 and you walk further where the trail split between going down the lake then another right turn for sites 5-8. We set up the tent and get ready for tomorrow. Next morning we start at 5:15 a.m we gain 900 feet to the saddle it's took us less than an hour puffing and huffing. At this time we sure need a break then we find a little spot sitting down and over look the moon lake sun just poke it out, and we 're glad we did stop take a break and ate some food because from this point on you have to be on the A game. After a break at the saddle we down climb a bit below the ridge line on small trail to find a good crossover point for the gulley - it is cairned. Then, stay on the left side and do slightly ascending traverse below the cliff band on endless boulder field, then turn right and climb up to K2. Finally we arrive at K2 and climbed to the top - THE VIEW from here jaw dropping from the hands of our Creator. I enjoy crossing the knife edge I think my husband he was worry for me, but when he saw me crossing some how he feel relief knowing that I'll be ok. I standing half way point and look down both side and thinking to myself, bring me back a reality check that I should pay attention, focus keep moving forward and not for long my husband he start cross over soon we reunited with a big hug & laughter. Past the knife edge, we followed the standard route, crossing the wide the gulley near the "double cairn." We descended the same route and found it fairly solid. Some climbers were descending on a higher route, but it looked ugly at the top of the gulley. We have a whole summit for ourselves, I notice there was a gold necklace with a cross pendant, we think someone intention left there, we just left it. We enjoy the view have some food reward ourself with a latte from Starbuck, take a few picture and heading down, here we're face the Knife Edge just like the old saying "what go up must go down" and we did except this time we less hesitate. By the time we cross over then two more people just waiting for us to finish, talk about perfect timing. We make it back from the camp cook up some udon noodle and slept 10-hr, hike out next morning with the beautiful weather. A few observations: 1. Compliments to all climbers on the hill that day - everyone was courteous and very careful of rockfall. Keep up the great work!! 2. In climbing "around" K2, we found ourselves on top. View was amazing. 3. There are a few small snowmelt streams in the basin to pump water (near the right turn to climb up to K2, route photos #12 and #14) - helpful for slow hikers like us. 4. There are trout in Capitol Lake, and they are hungry. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Grandma Crosses the Knife Edge

Every year we celebrate our Anniversary by climbing or backpack in the wilderness so this year we settled on climbing this" Baby Cap." We left Denver Thursday morning after drop my good friend at the airport heading toward I-70 we pull in the parking lot around 3:00 p.m. The original plan was to sleep at the trail head and hike in the morning, but when we get there we change our mind and hike in - with our new friend Gene. Hike 6 mile in 2000' elevation gain and full pack is not easy just picture your self carry the baby weight 20 lbs or 25 lbs on your shoulder for 4 hour, but the whole hike from TH to the lake it's worth every breath and step you take and the view just blow your mind away. The last push up and over the hill there you'll see designated campsites - the first right turn camp sites 1-4 and you walk further where the trail split between going down the lake then another right turn for sites 5-8.

We set up the tent and get ready for tomorrow. Next morning we start at 5:15 a.m we gain 900 feet to the saddle it's took us less than an hour puffing and huffing. At this time we sure need a break then we find a little spot sitting down and over look the moon lake sun just poke it out, and we 're glad we did stop take a break and ate some food because from this point on you have to be on the A game.

After a break at the saddle we down climb a bit below the ridge line on small trail to find a good crossover point for the gulley - it is cairned. Then, stay on the left side and do slightly ascending traverse below the cliff band on endless boulder field, then turn right and climb up to K2. Finally we arrive at K2 and climbed to the top - THE VIEW from here jaw dropping from the hands of our Creator.

I enjoy crossing the knife edge I think my husband he was worry for me, but when he saw me crossing some how he feel relief knowing that I'll be ok. I standing half way point and look down both side and thinking to myself, bring me back a reality check that I should pay attention, focus keep moving forward and not for long my husband he start cross over soon we reunited with a big hug & laughter.

Past the knife edge, we followed the standard route, crossing the wide the gulley near the "double cairn." We descended the same route and found it fairly solid. Some climbers were descending on a higher route, but it looked ugly at the top of the gulley.

We have a whole summit for ourselves, I notice there was a gold necklace with a cross pendant, we think someone intention left there, we just left it. We enjoy the view have some food reward ourself with a latte from Starbuck, take a few picture and heading down, here we're face the Knife Edge just like the old saying "what go up must go down" and we did except this time we less hesitate. By the time we cross over then two more people just waiting for us to finish, talk about perfect timing.

We make it back from the camp cook up some udon noodle and slept 10-hr, hike out next morning with the beautiful weather.

A few observations:

1. Compliments to all climbers on the hill that day - everyone was courteous and very careful of rockfall. Keep up the great work!!
2. In climbing "around" K2, we found ourselves on top. View was amazing.
3. There are a few small snowmelt streams in the basin to pump water (near the right turn to climb up to K2, route photos #12 and #14) - helpful for slow hikers like us.
4. There are trout in Capitol Lake, and they are hungry.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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