Capitol Peak (Colorado)

Capitol Peak lies on the long ridge connecting the heart of the Elk Mountains with Mount Sopris to the northwest. Capitol Peak is notable for its impressive vertical relief, rising 7500 feet above the Roaring Fork Valley. Additionally, it rises nearly 6000 feet above Snowmass Village in just under 9 miles.

Capitol Peak is one of the most difficult of Colorado's fourteeners to climb. The only non-technical route, the Northeast Ridge, requires crossing the famously exposed "Knife Edge," the northeast ridge of Capitol. Fatalities have occurred on this route.{{cite news |last1=Tory |first1=Sarah |title=Death in the alpine |url=https://www.hcn.org/issues/50.8/recreation-death-in-the-alpine |access-date=7 December 2020 |work=www.hcn.org |date=14 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207161544/https://www.hcn.org/issues/50.8/recreation-death-in-the-alpine |archive-date=7 December 2020 |language=en-us |quote=A little over three weeks after Lord died on Capitol Peak, Jeremy Shull, a 35-year-old from Parker, Colorado, died after falling 200 feet off the east side of the Knife Edge while ascending the same peak. He was an experienced climber, an addiction counselor, married with a 2-month-old son.}}{{cite news |last1=Auslander |first1=Jason |title=Aspen couple Carlin Brightwell, Ryan Marcil found dead near Capitol summit |url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/missing-aspen-couple-found-dead-below-capitol-peak-summit/ |access-date=7 December 2020 |work=www.aspentimes.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013509/https://www.aspentimes.com/news/missing-aspen-couple-found-dead-below-capitol-peak-summit/ |archive-date=12 November 2020}} Other routes require technical rock climbing, for example, the Northwest Buttress Route (Grade IV, Class 5.9). These routes have significant rockfall danger due to a great deal of loose rock; however, the rock is substantially more solid than on the more famous Maroon Bells or on Pyramid Peak.

{{cite book

| last = Dawson

| first = Louis W. II

| title = Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners

| year = 1994

| volume = 1

| publisher = Blue Clover Press

| isbn = 0-9628867-1-8

| url = https://archive.org/details/dawsonsguidetoco00daws

}}

Capitol Peak is a 15.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Snowmass Village, Colorado that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The trail is primarily used for hiking, rock climbing, and backpacking and is best used from July until September. Dogs are allowed to use this trail.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/capitol-peak|title=Capitol Peak|website=AllTrails.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-08}}

There is primitive camping near trail head in a designated site. No fee is required, but restrictions may exist.

There are several campsites near Capitol Lake. As of September 2022 all campsites in heavily impacted areas of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness require permits obtained in advance.{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2022 |title=Overnight fee for areas in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness approved |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1063931 |access-date=April 3, 2023 |website=USDA}}

At the trail head, at an altitude of 9,400 feet, following several switchbacks for half a mile will lead you to Daly Pass. Daly Pass is the first point of interest on Capitol Peak. This pass is recognized for its saddle-shaped ridge reaching 12,480 feet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/climbing-capitol-peak-colorados-hardest-fourteener-755734|title=How to Climb Capitol Peak: Colorado's Hardest Fourteener |last=Green|first=Stewart |website=LiveAbout|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}}

K2 is known for often being confused by hikers with the Capitol Peak summit. Many hikers will go around K2 on the North side where it is most exposed,{{Cite web|url=http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214906/Capitol-Peak-Fatalities-Off-route-Inexperience|title = AAC Publications - Capitol Peak Fatalities – Off-route, Inexperience}} though climbing over K2 has become a popular alternative route.

File:Knife Edge of Capitol Peak.jpg

The Knife Edge (pictured right) is famous for its 150-foot length with 2,000 foot drops on both sides. It is regarded as the crux of the route due to the exposure.{{cite web |last1=Middlebrook |first1=Bill |title=Capitol Peak Northeast Ridge |url=https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=capi1 |website=14ers.com |access-date=8 March 2022}}

The view from Capitol Peak's summit includes Pierre Lakes in the huge cirque to the east. To the south is Snowmass Mountain, another Fourteener, at the end of a long shattered ridge. Farther to the east are red-striated peaks, including the Maroon Bells, Pyramid Peak, and Castle Peak. The long ridge of the Continental Divide is to the east.

{{Weather box

|location = Capitol Peak 39.1513 N, 107.0837 W, Elevation: {{cvt|13307|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)

|single line = y

|Jan high F = 22.0

|Feb high F = 21.4

|Mar high F = 26.6

|Apr high F = 31.3

|May high F = 40.4

|Jun high F = 52.7

|Jul high F = 58.9

|Aug high F = 56.9

|Sep high F = 50.0

|Oct high F = 39.0

|Nov high F = 28.2

|Dec high F = 22.0

|Jan mean F = 10.4

|Feb mean F = 9.4

|Mar mean F = 14.1

|Apr mean F = 18.7

|May mean F = 27.7

|Jun mean F = 39.0

|Jul mean F = 45.5

|Aug mean F = 43.8

|Sep mean F = 36.8

|Oct mean F = 26.7

|Nov mean F = 17.2

|Dec mean F = 10.8

|Jan low F = -1.1

|Feb low F = -2.6

|Mar low F = 1.7

|Apr low F = 6.1

|May low F = 15.1

|Jun low F = 25.4

|Jul low F = 32.0

|Aug low F = 30.8

|Sep low F = 23.5

|Oct low F = 14.4

|Nov low F = 6.2

|Dec low F = -0.4

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 6.19

|Feb precipitation inch = 6.45

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.75

|Apr precipitation inch = 5.66

|May precipitation inch = 3.64

|Jun precipitation inch = 1.42

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.35

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.74

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.01

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.21

|Nov precipitation inch = 5.07

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.70

|Jan snow inch = 50.1

|Feb snow inch = 39.6

|Mar snow inch = 58.8

|Apr snow inch = 45.1

|May snow inch = 20.6

|Jun snow inch = 3.8

|Jul snow inch = 0

|Aug snow inch = 0

|Sep snow inch = 4.9

|Oct snow inch = 20.3

|Nov snow inch = 43.0

|Dec snow inch = 50.8

|source=PRISM Climate Group{{cite web

|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/

|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University

|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University

|access-date= October 10, 2023

|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.}}

|source 2=Summitpost{{Cite web|url=https://www.summitpost.org/capitol-peak/150528|title=Capitol Peak : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering: SummitPost|website=www.summitpost.org|access-date=2019-10-09}} for snowfall

}}

• Capital Peak
• Capitol Peak - by Hayden Survey who thought it looked similar to the U.S. Capitol building

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{{portal|North America|United States|Colorado|Mountains}}

• List of mountain peaks of North America
• List of mountain peaks of the United States
• List of mountain peaks of Colorado
• List of Colorado fourteeners

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{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book

| last = Borneman

| first = Walter R.

| author2 = Lyndon J. Lampert

| title = A Climbing Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners

| year = 1992

| publisher = Pruett Publishing Company

| isbn = 0-87108-751-0

| url = https://archive.org/details/climbingguidetoc00born

}}

• {{cite web

| url = https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=capi1

| title = Capitol Peak's Dangerous Northeast Ridge Route

| publisher = 14ers.com }}

• https://www.summitpost.org/capitol-peak/150528

{{Sister project links|auto=1}}

• {{cite web

| url = https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/14er.php?peakid=10029

| title = Capitol Peak

| publisher = 14ers.com

}}

• [https://www.mountainouswords.com/mountain-air/capitol-peak-trip-report/ Capitol Peak Peak Trip Report] from Mountainouswords.com
• [http://www.hikingintherockies.com/fourteeners/snowcap/snowcapmain.htm Photo Journal of a trip up Snowmass Mountain and Capitol Peak]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYEOq3lKSlw Video - Hiking the North East Ridge from the trailhead]
• {{cite web

|url=http://www.14ers.org/peaks_elk_capitol.php

|title=Capitol Peak

|publisher=Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

|access-date=2008-11-30

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509065454/http://www.14ers.org/peaks_Elk_Capitol.php

|archive-date=2008-05-09

}}

• {{cite web

| url = http://www.14ers.com/routemain.php?route=capi1&peak=Capitol%20Peak%20and%20Snowmass%20Mountain

| title = Northeast Ridge from Capitol Lake

| work = Capitol Peak

| publisher = 14ers.co

| access-date = 2008-11-30 }}

{{Mountains of Colorado}}

{{NA highest}}

{{Colorado highest}}

{{Colorado Fourteeners}}

{{Colorado}}

Category:Mountains of Pitkin County, Colorado

Category:White River National Forest

Category:Fourteeners of Colorado

Category:Four-thousanders of the United States