Snowmass-Capitol ridge
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- Hiking_TheRockies
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Snowmass-Capitol ridge
I know that this is most likely nowhere near possible, but I was looking at the west slopes route on Snowmass and I could not help but notice that there is a pretty prominent ridge connecting the Snowmass summit to Capitol. So, would it be possible to traverse from the summit of Snowmass all the way to Capitol's summit while staying on the ridge, and do it all in one day? I remember reading a trip report somewhere where 3 or 4 people went from Capitol to Snowmass, but it appeared that they belayed off of the ridge just past the Capitol summit, and then regained it later. Would it be possible to fully stay on the ridge without going off of it? And if it is possible, can it be done from Snowmass to Capitol or only Capitol to Snowmass?
By the way, I am just wondering if this is possible and I don't think I will ever actually try to do this ridge!
By the way, I am just wondering if this is possible and I don't think I will ever actually try to do this ridge!
Hiking when possible
Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
There's a trip report on SummitPost. It goes at mid 5th class if I recall correctly. I think they spend a night bolted to the side of the cliff face in bivy sacks. I could be misremembering, and I'm too lazy to find it right now. I do know it was brutal.
Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
Send a message to Noah, Winter8000meter. He is the only one I know who has done it. He is also the best rock climber I know and for him to say how sketchy it was says a lot.
“The best climber in the world is the one who is having all the fun.” – Alex Lowe
" Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone. Some of your best life experiences and opportunities will transpire only after you dare to loose."
" Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone. Some of your best life experiences and opportunities will transpire only after you dare to loose."
- highpilgrim
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Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
Oldschool did it as well as part of a group of 4. There was a TR at one point...
There are some pics from the ridge in his photos but I can't get the list of TRs he did to show up. Here's one of them.
.
There are some pics from the ridge in his photos but I can't get the list of TRs he did to show up. Here's one of them.
.
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
- CaptainSuburbia
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Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
Here's the report
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=9139
https://www.summitpost.org/never-ending ... rse/688118
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=9139
https://www.summitpost.org/never-ending ... rse/688118
Some day our kids will study Clash lyrics in school.
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point
- supranihilest
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Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
Paging Kiefer!
He's done most of it as per the report CaptainSuburbia posted and will have some info for you.
He's done most of it as per the report CaptainSuburbia posted and will have some info for you.
- CoHi591
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Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
Those are some really great TRs. They're some of my favorite on the site, after of course Shermapangma.
The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I have really good days.
- oldschool
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Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
Feel free to PM me. Myself and a few others did it in 2010.
Mike
Mike
"There's a feeling I get when I look to the West and my spirit is crying for leaving" Led Zeppelin
- oldschool
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Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
To technically stay on the actual apex ridge the entire time would probably not be possible. We stayed on it when we could and were always very close to it during the entire traverse. We had one rappel off the summit to gain the ridge. It may be possible to eliminate that rappel.
It's loose, was thrillingly scary, and the most exciting day I've ever had in the mtns. I do think, now knowing the route, it could be done in one long day.
I'd love to go back! Anyone wanna join me?
Mike
It's loose, was thrillingly scary, and the most exciting day I've ever had in the mtns. I do think, now knowing the route, it could be done in one long day.
I'd love to go back! Anyone wanna join me?
Mike
"There's a feeling I get when I look to the West and my spirit is crying for leaving" Led Zeppelin
- justiner
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- oldschool
- Posts: 855
- Joined: 2/27/2007
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Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
I would be honored to go with you Justin! I count my blessings that Steve Gladbach was with our Team in 2010 and to go back and have another CO legend would be incredible.
Mike
"There's a feeling I get when I look to the West and my spirit is crying for leaving" Led Zeppelin
Re: Snowmass-Capitol ridge
Funny you should mention that. I was actually planning on going back solo in late August/early Sept. Let's hit it Mike & Justin!!
I remember as Noah was backing up a 40+ year old piton at the rappel, I was exploring with the idea of down climbing to the ridge. I got about 15' down the face and crawled into a shallow alcove. I was going to continue to down climb but thankfully, Mike implored me NOT TO. Thankfully I listened. As I rappelled down, I got a good look at what I was about to down climb. If I remember right, Mike mentioned it might go at loose 5.6. And it was LOOSE. Not many places for pro. It was a slanted face with broken cracks.Hiking_TheRockies wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 12:06 pm So, would it be possible to traverse from the summit of Snowmass all the way to Capitol's summit while staying on the ridge, and do it all in one day? Can it be done from Snowmass to Capitol or only Capitol to Snowmass?
So, climbing up to Capitol FROM Snowmass, not sure how you'd go about doing that.
Here's a page I built over at SP that Noah and I worked on. And yeah, Kush is right; Noah is a beast of a climber.
Cap/Snow Traverse