Placita man hikes to Capitol Peak site where his brother was

[myfeetrock]

I saw this article with Capitol Peak in the post independent today.


http://www.postindependent.com/news/106 ... sin-pierre" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[boudreaux]

Clarke Heckert got some closure and some huge insight into his brother's decision making!

Reminds me of the time I glissaded off Old Main in the Snowy Range. Trying to beat the sun, I slide down this wide basin with a bottleneck above the run-out way below. I had no axe that day, but picked up a couple pointed rocks for braking, it looked like an easy slide on a low angle snowfield. As soon as I launched, I knew I was in big trouble, a layer of ice was below the cover of snow, unseen to me, and now I am flying. I don't know how I didn't panic, I lose my glasses, and then the rocks, snow flying in my face blinding me. Somehow I was able to maintain control and see what was coming up. Approaching the bottleneck, I can see a ramp built up on the upslope side of a rock. If I would have hit that ramp, I'm sure I would have launched myself about a 100 feet and sustained some serious injury. Using my arms as rudders, brakes, I missed that ramp by a couple of feet and finally came to rest about a 100 yards downslope and got up and walked out to the road. My life didn't flash before my eyes, but it was a close call I don't care to repeat. Lesson learned that day is never glissade without an ice axe, never, never! My hands were numb for 2 weeks. Everything seemed so much more vivid, life is precious kind of feeling for a few days. That was the stupidest thing I ever did and lucky to have survived it. Never underestimate even the smaller peaks, the other lesson I learned that day.

[GeezerClimber]

Very cool story, thanks for posting.

I can't imagine glissading down the south face.

Capitol is a special mountain to so many Coloradans.

Dave