Peak Condition Update | Capitol Peak

Peak:	Capitol Peak
Route:	Northeast Ridge
Range:	Elk
Posted By:	awpalmer27
Date of Info:	8/23/2015
Date Posted:	8/25/2015

Details
My climbing partner and I hiked in to Capitol Lake on Saturday 8/22. We summited and hiked back out on Sunday 8/23. Beautiful hike. It's a great time of year to do Capitol! A couple pointers: - 4WD road to trailhead: We were in a low clearance 2WD sedan and made it to the trailhead. However, it is a gnarly road and we got a flat tire on the way up. I'd encourage drivers with similar vehicles to park at the horse trailer parking lot that is called out in the route description. If you are starting and ending your hike at popular times, you might be able to hitchhike between the two parking lots. - Hike in to Capitol Lake: Left the trailhead at 11:30 am and arrived at the lake at 3:00 pm. Get to the lake early on a weekend if you want a good tent site. There were plenty of sites still available when we arrived. By 6:00 pm, there were slim pickings. - Summit Push: We left Capitol Lake at 5:15 am, summited at 9:15 am, and were back to Capitol Lake by 1:15 pm. - Hike back to Trailhead: We left Capitol Lake at 2:30 pm and reached the trailhead at 5:15 pm. - Gear Recommendations: As others have noted, the following are no longer necessary: crampons, micro spikes, ice axes, and gaiters. Helmets are a must since there are many times when you find yourself climbing directly below another party in terrain with loose rock. Bear cans are required due to recent bear activity.

Details

My climbing partner and I hiked in to Capitol Lake on Saturday 8/22. We summited and hiked back out on Sunday 8/23. Beautiful hike. It's a great time of year to do Capitol! A couple pointers:

- 4WD road to trailhead: We were in a low clearance 2WD sedan and made it to the trailhead. However, it is a gnarly road and we got a flat tire on the way up. I'd encourage drivers with similar vehicles to park at the horse trailer parking lot that is called out in the route description. If you are starting and ending your hike at popular times, you might be able to hitchhike between the two parking lots.

- Hike in to Capitol Lake: Left the trailhead at 11:30 am and arrived at the lake at 3:00 pm. Get to the lake early on a weekend if you want a good tent site. There were plenty of sites still available when we arrived. By 6:00 pm, there were slim pickings.

- Summit Push: We left Capitol Lake at 5:15 am, summited at 9:15 am, and were back to Capitol Lake by 1:15 pm.

- Hike back to Trailhead: We left Capitol Lake at 2:30 pm and reached the trailhead at 5:15 pm.

- Gear Recommendations: As others have noted, the following are no longer necessary: crampons, micro spikes, ice axes, and gaiters. Helmets are a must since there are many times when you find yourself climbing directly below another party in terrain with loose rock. Bear cans are required due to recent bear activity.

Comments or Questions

rdp32	How hazy was it? 8/25/2015 2:48pm How hazy was it for you? I was planning on backpacking in the elks this weekend but may postpone if the views are too limited
BagginPeaks	haze 8/25/2015 3:08pm I’m curious what the haze has been like in the Elks as well. I am in Leadville and the last 3 days in the morning I can’t see Elbert or Massive anymore it is so hazy. Then it clears up noon/afternoon.
awpalmer27	haze 8/25/2015 3:48pm Haze wasn’t noticeable on Sunday. Visibility from the summit seemed normal. You could see the other major Elk mountains (Pyramid, the Maroon Bells, and Snowmass) from the summit of Capitol. I don’t know what is is like now though.
K_Rager	haze 8/26/2015 8:27am I would say it was a little hazier than usual. The bells weren’t as clearly seen as they were when we were on snowmass a few weeks prior. But it wasn’t as bad as BagginPeaks description of Leadville. No flat tire could stop us! or my mercury sable
rdp32	Haze 8/26/2015 9:35am Thanks! I think I’ll stick with my plans to backpack there this weekend then

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