Capitol Peak Trip Report 08/17/2016

Peak(s):	Capitol Peak - 14,138 feet "K2" - 13,668 feet
Date Posted:	08/17/2016
Date Climbed:	08/15/2016
Author:	Daniel Joder

Capitol via Sunrise on K2, Summer Conditions
Here is a link to my full trip report with something like 50 pictures. Should help if you are planning Capitol in summer conditions. We also made it up to K2 for first light and sunrise--spectacular! The link: http://www.danieljoderphotography.com/14er-report-34-capitol-peak-via-k2-summer-conditions-ne-ridge-from-capitol-lake/

Comments or Questions

WishIWasInTheMts	Excellent! 8/18/2016 6:44am Another amazing report! I really enjoy your writing style and your pictures never disappoint. I'm hoping to get Capitol in before the end of the summer, but I'm one of the nutjobs who will be doing it in a day I look forward to reading about your next adventure!!
BostonBD	Fantastic Dan! 8/18/2016 8:02am Another bang up job Dan. Interesting, insightful, inspiring and breathtaking report. Super photography as usual. I second "look forward to reading about your next adventure!!"
Daniel Joder	Thx! 8/18/2016 8:22am Wish and BostonBD, a big thanks for taking the time to read! Wish--good luck on your long day with Capitol, at least you'll be going light, so that will help for sure. Looking forward to your report! DanJ
Tornadoman	Awesome! 8/18/2016 11:56am I actually tried Capitol as a day trip the weekend after we met up on the Arapahos. My friend basically blew out his knee just above the Daly saddle, so we called it a day. I think I can do it as a day trip, albeit a really long one. Your pictures make me want to give it another go... great documentation as always!
Daniel Joder	Hey, Tornado! 8/18/2016 4:50pm Good to hear from you. Mountain Ninja (Brad) and I talked about what it might be like as a day trip and decided the two-day method was easier on both the body and the mind. It would probably be comparable in effort to Longs Peak ratcheted up an extra notch with trickier route finding and exposure. K2 to the summit and back takes a lot of concentration and tires you out mentally for sure.
Daniel Joder	P.S. 8/18/2016 4:51pm We ran in to some folks up there who were taking three days--one to hike in, a day for the summit, and another day to hike out. It is such a beautiful place that I thought to myself that they had a great idea doing it that way.
Tornadoman	Day trip vs. Overnight 8/18/2016 5:18pm I never sleep well at all in a tent, that is mostly why I want to do the day trip. I feel it should take maybe 2-3 hours more than Keyhole round trip? I also failed previously on an overnight trip. We never went above the lake that time as the weather was terrible.
greenonion	In a Day 8/23/2016 6:00pm We did it in a day in 2012 in reasonably good shape. Left at 3:30 am, and back to TH by 4:00-30 pm (Ditch version). Was tough, but gratifying. going back this Sep but backpacking at least one night.
rdp32	trailhead questions 8/31/2016 1:29pm I am planning to go backpacking (no summit this time) there this weekend, and have a couple of questions regarding the trailhead. First, how busy is that trailhead? Are there reliably a lot of people there (in, say, the late afternoon), even if there is some snow on Capitol? Second, do you know if there is typically cell phone reception there (with Verizon or AT&T)? My plan is to end a one-way hike there on Labor Day and attempt to hitch a ride out, but that would only work if there tend to be people at the trailhead (hence the question about cell phone reception). Thanks!
pmeadco	RE: trailhead questions 9/1/2016 1:50pm I've been there twice in the last couple weeks. The first time, a couple weeks ago, was on a Sunday afternoon and the parking lot was full. We went there again this week, Tuesday, and only a handful of cars were there (half dozen?). As of yesterday there were only a few small patches of fresh snow on the north face. We didn't manage to get any cell phone reception while in the area. We day-hiked Capitol yesterday. Not as quick as greenonion -- it took us a couple hours longer. I would say we are moderately paced hikers in OK condition. Like Tornadoman, I don't sleep well in a tent so it is worth it to me to stay in a hotel and leave a couple hours earlier. Plus, I have so many things I like to do on my days off that I don't like to use multiple days on a trip like this. Oh, and there were only two other people on the mountain yesterday; both solo, both day-hikers.
Beekman	Great report 7/17/2017 2:58pm Just read it for the third time, it got better each time.
SkiColorado93	Nice nice nice. 5/8/2018 11:49pm Great intel! Thanks for the story... excited but hesitant for this one!

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