Hello y'all! Im planning on attempting Capitol next Saturday solo. Would prefer to join a hiking party at trailhead parking lot or capitol lake and try to make a push to the summit. Only thing im doubting going into the hike is the route finding on the ridge. This will be my third attempt. Happy hiking!
Chris
Capitol Peak hiking buddy needed 7-26-2025
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deathmetal_pizza
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nyker
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Re: Capitol Peak hiking buddy needed 7-26-2025
Is this your third attempt due to conditions not being optimal or lack of willing/available partners or ?
Reason I ask is that if you'd really prefer to do it with a partner(s) for whatever reason, then I'd recommend not relying on hoping someone will be there at 3:00am willing to have a stranger join their group then absent finding someone just going solo. This isn't the mountain to wing it on.
Given your stated concern on route finding on doing it solo, you might want to consider planning the trip once you have a vetted partner lined up. Make sure you guys are on the same wavelength and have similar risk tolerances and decision making profiles, turn-around understandings etc, ideally meet up, break some bread, maybe do a lesser hike together. Once that was done, plan a couple days to be there to do it, even giving yourself a backup day.
This mountain is less forgiving than others for errors, lack of coordination, etc.
Reason I ask is that if you'd really prefer to do it with a partner(s) for whatever reason, then I'd recommend not relying on hoping someone will be there at 3:00am willing to have a stranger join their group then absent finding someone just going solo. This isn't the mountain to wing it on.
Given your stated concern on route finding on doing it solo, you might want to consider planning the trip once you have a vetted partner lined up. Make sure you guys are on the same wavelength and have similar risk tolerances and decision making profiles, turn-around understandings etc, ideally meet up, break some bread, maybe do a lesser hike together. Once that was done, plan a couple days to be there to do it, even giving yourself a backup day.
This mountain is less forgiving than others for errors, lack of coordination, etc.
Last edited by nyker on Sat Jul 19, 2025 10:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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daway8
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Re: Capitol Peak hiking buddy needed 7-26-2025
+1 on the cautions Nyker gave - some people jump straight in on a peak like Capitol and do just fine - I mean there are literally young kids who have done all the 14ers (typically with highly experienced parents), but there are also a lot of people who have died, specifically on Capitol. So it should neither be overhyped nor blown off as trivial, but the "third attempt" comment (absent further elaboration) does raise some concern to the casual observer...
Just in case you've not already heard about this - be sure not to by lured away by the common trap on your way back to the Knife Edge by what looks like it might be an easy way down to Capitol Lake. It is not. That is where most people die on this mountain.
Not trying to be a killjoy or overly dramatic - if you do it and don't find a partner, just be careful.
Sounds like you already know when to turn back if needed - that mindset will serve you well.
Just in case you've not already heard about this - be sure not to by lured away by the common trap on your way back to the Knife Edge by what looks like it might be an easy way down to Capitol Lake. It is not. That is where most people die on this mountain.
Not trying to be a killjoy or overly dramatic - if you do it and don't find a partner, just be careful.
Sounds like you already know when to turn back if needed - that mindset will serve you well.
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deathmetal_pizza
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Re: Capitol Peak hiking buddy needed 7-26-2025
Nyker daway, I got past the knife edge on my last attempt and then turned back because I didn't want to worry my friends back at the car( they bailed on me half-way to the lake and I had no cell service to keep in touch with them.), so I know i have the grit to summit Capitol. Only thing that would stop me is the weather or my route finding ability on the ridge.
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daway8
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Re: Capitol Peak hiking buddy needed 7-26-2025
Ok, that makes more sense now. Hope you find a partner, though you may notice people tend to be less inclined to pair up with a random stranger for a peak like Capitol vs easier peaks.
If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend downloading the 14ers app, and then downloading the route photos for offline access. Also download the gpx tracks and load them on an app like GAIA (being sure to download the maps for offline access).
The gps accuracy may not be quite enough to be fully sure you're exactly on route for the last little bit past the Knife Edge to the summit but it'll be good enough to make sure you're in the right general area and then when you pull up the route photos you should be able to fine tune your position based off those. Just beware some rock cairns may mark a winter variation and/or just some random person who didn't know what they were doing putting them up. So take note of cairns but always verify with gps and route photos if you want to maximize confidence.
Lastly, when trying to find partners - especially for harder peaks - you might be more likely to find takers if you give at least a short bio about yourself (what sort of peaks you've climbed, proficiency on class 4 and class 5, whether you prefer to move fast or take it slow, etc).
If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend downloading the 14ers app, and then downloading the route photos for offline access. Also download the gpx tracks and load them on an app like GAIA (being sure to download the maps for offline access).
The gps accuracy may not be quite enough to be fully sure you're exactly on route for the last little bit past the Knife Edge to the summit but it'll be good enough to make sure you're in the right general area and then when you pull up the route photos you should be able to fine tune your position based off those. Just beware some rock cairns may mark a winter variation and/or just some random person who didn't know what they were doing putting them up. So take note of cairns but always verify with gps and route photos if you want to maximize confidence.
Lastly, when trying to find partners - especially for harder peaks - you might be more likely to find takers if you give at least a short bio about yourself (what sort of peaks you've climbed, proficiency on class 4 and class 5, whether you prefer to move fast or take it slow, etc).
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deathmetal_pizza
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Re: Capitol Peak hiking buddy needed 7-26-2025
Daway, thank you for the tips- much appreciated. I did find a video on YouTube by Centennial treks that documents the WHOLE climb. And since I have youtube premium, I can download the video and watch it without internet/mobile connection, so I'll be able to watch it for reference if needed when im on the ridge. I think I'll be good.
