Capitol Peak Trip Report 08/01/2024

Report Type	Mini
Peak(s)	Capitol Peak - 14,138 feet
Date Posted	08/01/2024
Modified	08/02/2024
Date Climbed	07/21/2024
Author	Laws8665

Capitol Peak - Solo Summit
On July 20th, our adventure began at 7:15 AM from the Capitol Peak Trailhead. We followed the Capitol Ditch Trail, reaching Campsite #4 near Capitol Lake three hours later. I would definitely recommend #1-4, with 2 being the best view. After a quick lunch, we enjoyed some fishing, catching beautiful Colorado cutthroat trout. With time to spare, I hiked up to the Daly Saddle to scout our route for the next day. Skirting around the gendarme and visiting the Daly keyhole, I soaked in the breathtaking views before hustling back for a refreshing plunge in Capitol Lake. As the sun set, we caught a few more trout and settled in for the night. The next morning, we broke camp at 5:42 AM, reaching the top of the Saddle in 30 minutes. We descended into the talus field, navigating steep switchbacks and multiple snow crossings. Thankfully, the well-formed path and deep footprints made the snow crossings manageable without micro spikes. At the base of K2, my dad decided to turn back, leaving me to attempt the summit solo. Contrary to reports, scrambling up and over K2 was not as challenging as anticipated. The exposure on the knife edge was thrilling, and the minimal wind made for perfect conditions. I encountered two hikers on my way to the summit: one descending and one slowly ascending. I reached the ridgeline slightly farther south than expected, but the panoramic views were spectacular. As I summited, a helicopter circled below, hovering above the Daly Saddle and Capitol Lake. Alone on the summit, I basked in the perfect weather before beginning my descent. The round trip from Campsite #4 took six hours. The descent was quicker, but the loose rocks on the upper East face required caution to avoid dislodging them onto the trail below. The snow crossings had softened in the day's heat, creating slippery conditions, but micro spikes remained unnecessary. I sped up during the final 1,000-foot descent from the Daly Saddle, finishing with a trail run. We left camp at 1:37 PM, arriving back at the trailhead three hours later. Overall, it was an incredible trail that I would highly recommend. Videos of the hike: Ditch Trail to Campsite #4: https://youtu.be/GckN9L3IFbI Campsite #4 to the Summit: https://youtu.be/xXTwM9H1Lbw I have bookmarks on my videos that relate to each photo of the route on 14ers.com My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Capitol Peak - Solo Summit

On July 20th, our adventure began at 7:15 AM from the Capitol Peak Trailhead. We followed the Capitol Ditch Trail, reaching Campsite #4 near Capitol Lake three hours later. I would definitely recommend #1-4, with 2 being the best view. After a quick lunch, we enjoyed some fishing, catching beautiful Colorado cutthroat trout. With time to spare, I hiked up to the Daly Saddle to scout our route for the next day. Skirting around the gendarme and visiting the Daly keyhole, I soaked in the breathtaking views before hustling back for a refreshing plunge in Capitol Lake. As the sun set, we caught a few more trout and settled in for the night.

The next morning, we broke camp at 5:42 AM, reaching the top of the Saddle in 30 minutes. We descended into the talus field, navigating steep switchbacks and multiple snow crossings. Thankfully, the well-formed path and deep footprints made the snow crossings manageable without micro spikes. At the base of K2, my dad decided to turn back, leaving me to attempt the summit solo. Contrary to reports, scrambling up and over K2 was not as challenging as anticipated. The exposure on the knife edge was thrilling, and the minimal wind made for perfect conditions. I encountered two hikers on my way to the summit: one descending and one slowly ascending. I reached the ridgeline slightly farther south than expected, but the panoramic views were spectacular. As I summited, a helicopter circled below, hovering above the Daly Saddle and Capitol Lake. Alone on the summit, I basked in the perfect weather before beginning my descent.

The round trip from Campsite #4 took six hours. The descent was quicker, but the loose rocks on the upper East face required caution to avoid dislodging them onto the trail below. The snow crossings had softened in the day's heat, creating slippery conditions, but micro spikes remained unnecessary. I sped up during the final 1,000-foot descent from the Daly Saddle, finishing with a trail run. We left camp at 1:37 PM, arriving back at the trailhead three hours later. Overall, it was an incredible trail that I would highly recommend.

Videos of the hike: Ditch Trail to Campsite #4: https://youtu.be/GckN9L3IFbI

Campsite #4 to the Summit: https://youtu.be/xXTwM9H1Lbw

I have bookmarks on my videos that relate to each photo of the route on 14ers.com

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

grantdoug	Great Photography 8/6/2024 1:26pm I really appreciate the photography, you have some fine compositions in there!
Laws8665	Great Photography - Response 8/6/2024 2:29pm Thank you! Took my GoPro for video footage instead of my good camera this time, but I thought the iPhone pictures turned out just fine!

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