People love doing this stuff. It’s really fun and not too bad if you’re experienced with exposure and know what you’re doing. These peaks really aren’t that technical either. It’s just that they’re so easily accessible by the general public that it just results deaths. It’s certainly dangerous, but a lot of people know how to mitigate the risks
from doing research on this 14ner. People die because they take shortcuts back down. when you reach that summit you realize that you need to go back the way you came from...THRU THE KNIFE EDGE.
It's so important not to rush up there. It's okay to "look down", turn around and review where you've just been, take your time and be a slow-poke, after all it's not a race! It's an unfamiliar environment. Give your brain time to adjust.
@@KFrost-fx7dt Yes, this is how most people get lost, they never look behind them when hiking, and then when they start to return nothing looks familiar, and they get lost, because they never turned around to take in the details. Best to turn around and look at what you just hiked at every junction or turn on the trail.
@@klubstompers (edit: I have never attempted mountains like this but I hike alot ) sooo , I found taking (panorama) pictures and videos useful . I also take short breaks to rest and analyze my current condition and location , sometimes looking back at photos
@@lebowskiunderachiever3591 Smart!! Even if your camera dies, since you took a picture and probably viewed it after, it will help to burn this image into memory.
A little bit of fear is what keeps us alive and in check. He sounds a like one of the few smart ones unlike the video showing that guy walking casually across. It's a 1500 ft exposure on both sides.
From someone who has not hiked it but researched it, let me tell you that it is NOT possible to get lost on the Knife's edge because on that section, you see the path ahead of you. He probably got lost on his downward hike from the summit before the return hike (meaning the second hike across that section, not the third) across the Knife's edge. The trail after the KE leading up to the summit (and down) is not well defined. It involves route finding across fairly exposed sections of the mountain. You may get cliffed out or end up in sections which is not along the standard route if you forget your way back and have no one to follow or an app guiding you precisely (not sure these apps have that level of accuracy for such terrains yet). In fact, there is no trail from K2 (the 13er before the KE) onwards.
@@jeremys6631 You're probably thinking of Longs Peak. Capitol Peak has no such markers. The only trail ends way before you even get to the start of the climb.
Sounds like this guy did the smart thing: called for help, then got himself to the easiest place for the helicopter to reach. I'd be climbing this thing on my hands and knees if I ever had to. A ridgeline full of loose rock makes climbing a rock wall seem like a playpen.
Climbers of Capitol peak go across the knife edge on the way up and again on the way down. Plan to summit early, then head back down around 12 noon. Rain clouds often gather in the early afternoon and it's a bad place to be when it rains.
I'm not sure why he ended up crossing the Knife's Edge a third time. I assume after he crossed it the second time, he was going in the direction toward K2.
My guess is that he got lost/stuck during the descent back at K2. If you do not go up and over K2 exactly the way you came, you are in much trouble as going around K2 during the ascent and descent has become much more dangerous over the years due to choosy scree compared to the up and over option which is sketchy in its own right. In my opinion, the K2 problem is the most challenging section of Capitol Peak,
When I just got started in mountain hiking, I could not see the correct trail in the woods. It is amazing how I can see it easily now. I also had a mild panic experience- mild because I had enough food, clothes, and water to stay overnight in the mountain. Luckily I found myself back on the trail. The lesson I learned early on was to not trust your friend and do your own homework getting prepared.
One, I love it that people do these insane and dangerous climbs, makes for great videos. Two, I am quite happy knowing I will never, ever do such a climb or hike.
It's actually free, and is considered a training flight for the National Guard airpersons. Obviously it's not _free_ , but the National Guard does need training in the mountains.
It didn't make sense that he did the knife edge 3 times? Seems he didn't have clue about where he was? I did the 14ers , the top 100 and went to 14,000 ft 106 times when hardly ANYBODY was doing 14ers!! Back then you had very little info on the 14ers compared to the last 20yrs!! He was very lucky that a SICK ASS PILOT was willing to fly that high to rescue him!! 🥰🚁!!
I was just wondering about that as well. Why would he cross Knife's Edge three times? The second time, he would have been going in the direction toward K2.
@@scottfulton267 i think the did it the firs time, then the second time he didnt make it all the way, returned back to the summit, and then did it again to get down.
The top of the Knife Edge looks WAY different going down. I suspect that the dude went down the knife edge onto a detour (which is the knife edge too), then wisely retreated up slope until he found the correct diversion. That peak will do it to you, and there are few spray painted "Trail" markings to follow (painted on rocks on the way UP, too)
I’m not even from Colorado, but I noticed the opening shot mis-identifies Maroon Bells as Capitol Peak.
Not far apart, though. The Bells have reddish brown sedimentary strata; Capitol is granite.
I wonder if the volunteer rescuer was like "Oh, yay. I wanna do THAT!" 😂
They are very experienced mountaineers...over confidence and lack of attention, or brief lapse of judgment can take out even the finest though.
People love doing this stuff. It’s really fun and not too bad if you’re experienced with exposure and know what you’re doing. These peaks really aren’t that technical either. It’s just that they’re so easily accessible by the general public that it just results deaths. It’s certainly dangerous, but a lot of people know how to mitigate the risks
from doing research on this 14ner. People die because they take shortcuts back down. when you reach that summit you realize that you need to go back the way you came from...THRU THE KNIFE EDGE.
It's not people taking short cuts on purpose, they loose sight of the route back down, just like this guy did.
It's so important not to rush up there. It's okay to "look down", turn around and review where you've just been, take your time and be a slow-poke, after all it's not a race! It's an unfamiliar environment. Give your brain time to adjust.
@@KFrost-fx7dt Yes, this is how most people get lost, they never look behind them when hiking, and then when they start to return nothing looks familiar, and they get lost, because they never turned around to take in the details. Best to turn around and look at what you just hiked at every junction or turn on the trail.
@@klubstompers (edit: I have never attempted mountains like this but I hike alot ) sooo , I found taking (panorama) pictures and videos useful . I also take short breaks to rest and analyze my current condition and location , sometimes looking back at photos
@@lebowskiunderachiever3591 Smart!!
Even if your camera dies, since you took a picture and probably viewed it after, it will help to burn this image into memory.
A little bit of fear is what keeps us alive and in check. He sounds a like one of the few smart ones unlike the video showing that guy walking casually across. It's a 1500 ft exposure on both sides.
You can walk, straddle, shimme, but not roll on the knife edge.
The only difference between 150 ft of exposure and 1500 ft is the amount of time you will have to realize that you are going to die.
walking across is fine lol
From someone who has not hiked it but researched it, let me tell you that it is NOT possible to get lost on the Knife's edge because on that section, you see the path ahead of you. He probably got lost on his downward hike from the summit before the return hike (meaning the second hike across that section, not the third) across the Knife's edge. The trail after the KE leading up to the summit (and down) is not well defined. It involves route finding across fairly exposed sections of the mountain. You may get cliffed out or end up in sections which is not along the standard route if you forget your way back and have no one to follow or an app guiding you precisely (not sure these apps have that level of accuracy for such terrains yet). In fact, there is no trail from K2 (the 13er before the KE) onwards.
It's hard to even find the trail? What trail!? Lol!
Hint: it’s not the1,500 foot cliff on the left or right. Probably the knife edge forward or backwards
That part of the trail is marked with paint dots and it the part when you boulder hop.
Negative…No knife’s edge for this cowboy lol, although I love all the YT vids👍🏼
@@jeremys6631 You're probably thinking of Longs Peak. Capitol Peak has no such markers. The only trail ends way before you even get to the start of the climb.
How much harder is capital then longs would you say ? I’m thinking a little doing longs or whatever of I can do for my first 14
Permits are not helpful. Government keeps pushing permits, restricting public access to public lands. Climbers should help each other and they do.
Sounds like this guy did the smart thing: called for help, then got himself to the easiest place for the helicopter to reach. I'd be climbing this thing on my hands and knees if I ever had to. A ridgeline full of loose rock makes climbing a rock wall seem like a playpen.
Climbers of Capitol peak go across the knife edge on the way up and again on the way down. Plan to summit early, then head back down around 12 noon. Rain clouds often gather in the early afternoon and it's a bad place to be when it rains.
I am back already before noon
How do you get lost on the way down? There is only one way, and it's back the way you came. The knife edge is hard to miss.
I'm not sure why he ended up crossing the Knife's Edge a third time. I assume after he crossed it the second time, he was going in the direction toward K2.
I was also wondering why he would have done it a third time. once on the initial summit... once again on the way back... where is the third one?
Perhaps for the helicopter?
My guess is that he got lost/stuck during the descent back at K2. If you do not go up and over K2 exactly the way you came, you are in much trouble as going around K2 during the ascent and descent has become much more dangerous over the years due to choosy scree compared to the up and over option which is sketchy in its own right. In my opinion, the K2 problem is the most challenging section of Capitol Peak,
When I just got started in mountain hiking, I could not see the correct trail in the woods. It is amazing how I can see it easily now. I also had a mild panic experience- mild because I had enough food, clothes, and water to stay overnight in the mountain. Luckily I found myself back on the trail. The lesson I learned early on was to not trust your friend and do your own homework getting prepared.
He's brave enough to hike it again but with a rescuer Lol.
One, I love it that people do these insane and dangerous climbs, makes for great videos. Two, I am quite happy knowing I will never, ever do such a climb or hike.
I agree 💯
What'd that chopper ride cost you?
It's actually free, and is considered a training flight for the National Guard airpersons. Obviously it's not _free_ , but the National Guard does need training in the mountains.
My friend did capitol as his first 14er
Ouch
How does it compare to longs ?
It didn't make sense that he did the knife edge 3 times? Seems he didn't have clue about where he was? I did the 14ers , the top 100 and went to 14,000 ft 106 times when hardly ANYBODY was doing 14ers!! Back then you had very little info on the 14ers compared to the last 20yrs!! He was very lucky that a SICK ASS PILOT was willing to fly that high to rescue him!! 🥰🚁!!
I was just wondering about that as well. Why would he cross Knife's Edge three times? The second time, he would have been going in the direction toward K2.
@@scottfulton267 i think the did it the firs time, then the second time he didnt make it all the way, returned back to the summit, and then did it again to get down.
Just hire a helicopter ride if you wanna go.that high in the first place. Why Hike I say lol
The top of the Knife Edge looks WAY different going down. I suspect that the dude went down the knife edge onto a detour (which is the knife edge too), then wisely retreated up slope until he found the correct diversion. That peak will do it to you, and there are few spray painted "Trail" markings to follow (painted on rocks on the way UP, too)
❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰
Permits. Geez.
this dude had done 48 14'ers. in experience wasnt the problem.
8 year olds climb capitol peak.
I just want to say more one thing , I did all that climbing in the 80's !!