Back in my dayyy we used to have to hike 2 miles over "the knife's edge" just to get to the school bus! And before supper we had to warsh our hands with soap and warter.
Crazy but true: I summited Capitol years ago and our group met a climber as we headed down the following day. He was leading a group and we stopped and talked for a while. Sadly he died the next day attempting to summit. Years later I'm sitting at a bar in Snowmass waiting for a friend to arrive. I start chatting with the couple sitting next to me. We talked about climbing and eventually they remembered me from our chat when we were headed down and they were headed up. It was their friend who died and that was their first time back to CO since it happened. It was quite a crazy and emotional time for them and just the most bizarre "coincidence" that has ever happened to me. Oh yeah, Capitol is dangerous, be careful out there!
@@Theninjaonthemountains I was just wondering if anyone had fallen from up there, then I clicked into the comments section, and voila! The first posts are about people dying there. It's obviously the type of place you don't go if you ever become even slightly panicky when faced with steep grades and heights. Some people aren't even aware they can become panicky until it's too late. Hopefully your 1st panicky incident occurs while cleaning rain gutters on a 1 story roof, and not 1,000 feet up a sheer cliff. One may sprain your ankle at worst, the other kills you every time.
Many years ago….hiked up to the traverse,on arrival made a comment that “I don’t know about this”. My usually intrepid friend says that “welI I do, and I’m not going”.. My bravery quickly evaporated and we turned around. Knew than I would never complete all 14teeners. Did about 37, but not that one. Thanks for showing me that was the right decision. Climb down would really be scary. Great video.
I just read today about a female solo climber falling to her death when a rock had given away while she was climbing this peak. After watching your video, I can see how treacherous Capitol Peak can be. It was a white knuckler watching you demonstrate your mountain goat skills. I am glad you made it back safely. Thank you for sharing the awesome vista views.
If you ride around in a car you are coming far closer to death way more often than most mountaineers. Your odds of being a traffic fatality are far greater than your odds of dying on any given peak if you attempt a summit. So what you call "survival instinct" really is just fear of truly living.
Someone dies up there every year, in 2015 some guys from the east coast were up there & decided to take a walk-a-bout at night. 1 of them stepped off of a ledge on the northside of Capitol Lake & plunged 1000’+ to his demise. I was working for an outfitter that leased most of the hunting rights in that drainage. We went up there on horseback with mules & brought the deceased down to the coroner. Rode that country on horseback on a daily basis for 6 months out of the year. Beautiful country, miss it everyday. Stay safe, great video.
Amazing video!! I have been watching a guy do the 7 highest peaks with a similar film style and this was more intense to watch. My legs were shaking just watching. Thanks for taking me along on the ride.
Such an amazing mountain, I've summited 2 times, once the normal route up, a gnarly hike in itself.....the first time we just looked up and got to the top, a lot of low 5.2 5.3 climbing with insane exposure, I'll never forget that hike, saw two bears on the way out also.
I have a private pilot's license and I've done five or six static line parachute jumps, so overall I'm not afraid of heights. That said, I've been to Colorado a few times and I have a really hard time taking hikes like this. The vertigo I experience in the mountains overwhelming.
10 minutes in. I don't know if I can watch much more. You got this! Alright, I have to see how this ends. I waiting to see when you will be running down the mountain.
You know that shit really can end badly. I was hiking locally in SoCal when my buddy and I ran into another hiker probably in her late 40's. My buddy who is extremely social struck up a conversation...within 1 minute of meeting her he asks her bluntly "what is your craziest hiking story." her face changes and she right away tells the story of her first visit to yosemite in Highschool. She was sweet on a boy and told her brother she didn't know how to approach him about it. The brother said he was going to yosemite for the weekend and suggested she ask him if he wants to go and do some hiking as a group...which she did. Anyone who has ever been there on the traditional route - you go thru the tunnel then do the "first look" then you head in with the first major attraction being Bridal Veil falls - they stopped and walked to the base of the falls...passing what, again for anyone who has been there, must be the most weirdly placed pay phone in the country. As they climbed around the rocks at the base, her with the brothers girlfriend while the boys moved up ahead, she heard her brother scream and found out exactly why that payphone is still there today. Her guy fell and within minutes of entering the park their trip and his life were over....she described what might have been the worst part for her...later that night at 16 years old, somehow by herself, she returned that young mans gear to the parents she'd never met. She said to this day they couldn't have been better towards her but she's still haunted by it. Two lessons here - Be careful what questions you ask total strangers....they just may answer them and secondly - consider WAY more than just your gear and physical ability to do these types of hikes. You don't HAVE to get to the top but your mother would argue that you ABSOLUTELY better get your ass home. Then do it
Thank you, I am an ultra runner and most times I try to run 14ers as fast as possible. this one in particular I was moving fast on the aproach, but once I got to K2, I was more focused on not falling and was thinking every step
Amazing job. I got goosebumps and some shivers just watching it . I don’t know if I can do this one but maybe some day. This video certainly helps to show what it all looks like . Congrats !
We did this exactly 20 years ago and didn't even know it was Colorado's hardest peak. Great video that brings up a lot of great memories. Would love to go back some day. Thanks for sharing
@@eddiedelisioit is the hardest standard 14er route to summit, and when you say "no where near", please list 10 Colorado summits that are more difficult than Capitol, because I know most of them.
@@thisisgettingoldI thought Pyramid Peak and the Marron Bells were more difficult. That being said, I have none of them on my fourteener list to bag. Longs Peak was the most difficult one I climbed. My skill is nowhere near yours. I stick with the easy ones like Mount Massive and Elbert.
My husband and I hiked to Capitol lake. We had no intention of summiting the mountain. We were sitting at the lake resting and were getting ready for the hike back to our car . It was very drizzly and rained on and off throughout the day. At times the peak was cloud covered. We thought the people who were attempting to summit the mountain were crazy to attempt it in that weather. As I was watching the climbers, one tried to walk across the knife edge upright, not cat walk it as other climbers did. I watched the climber slip. He managed to catch himself and pull himself back on the ridge. He was hanging off the side with a 1300 foot drop if he let go. I just gasped watching it and was relieved he survived. I looked at my husband and said let's go. I don't want to watch someone kill themselves. That climber was the luckiest man on earth. He and his friend caught up to us on the way back. They both said they submitted it. We congratulated them. Then I told him he was lucky he didn't kill himself. I have submitted fourteeners, but not one as dangerous as that mountain. I always tell people, don't mistake luck for skill. That kid was lucky. Very lucky
This has got to be one of the most dangerous hikes in the entire world. There is no room for error. I’ve done Mt Massive and started Angels Landing before deciding Nope! Took the West Rim Trail instead. I love to hike but also love living and know my limits. Kudos to people who can do this. You are braver than me.
I was really anxious and scared to tackle this one ever since I watched the first video on it. I started rock climbing and got pretty good I gave this a shot. going unprepared for a hike like this can cost your life. In the end it wasn't as bad, but I had a good bit of experience by the time I got there
Ninja.... thank you for the best video that I have seen on Capitol Peak !!!! Very well done . Informative and in-depth. Much appreciated and much respect. Peace
Did it with a friend in '78 when we had the entire mountain to ourselves. Underestimated how rough the road in was, didn't get started until 11:30 AM. Got to the summit, narrowly avoiding a rockslide, with the sun low on the horizon. We were on a sketchy, grassy traverse above timberline, skirting underneath K2 right at dusk when it started to snow, hard - in August. My friend said he couldn't go on, and I got rather cross with him. We got back way after dark, hiking back to the car by flashlight.
I love what modern camera tech can share with us. I'm not very religious, but God was like, lets mountain this right here. That's impressive rock shooting out of the ground in that specific location.
WOW, Rudy, really impressive how you upped the videographic quality on the one! Karl suggested that I check out...great captures the entire way, congrats!
Heck no that's a crazy climb at the end and no rope nothing if u slip it's over...I've been scarred like that in American basin I climbed up the left side of the wall and it was easy going up but I had to go down facing the wall small step by small step
Capitol!!!! Badass man! You conquered this!! As always, thanks for the awesome content and video, very helpful for us. Hopefully going to knock this one out along with Snowmass mid August.
Thanks man, both super cool mountains, i wanted to knocked both out one day trip last year, but they both have long boulderfields that drain all your energy.
@@scottybohnen5942 thats good idea, good luck man, you can get off the standard trail on snowmass and hit the ridge is a great mental training for capitol.
I've hiked up pikes peak about 2 or 3yrs ago never climbed or hiked anything before that and it was a blast..today I finally did blodget peak all the way to the summit and signed in at the ammo box ..I tried it 2 other times the first attempt failed because we ended up scrambling the Boulder field and cliff face and realized it was the wrong way..turned back because of a time limit second time ..again time limit and ended up going a wrong way also. Finally got there today ready for more climbs and eventually this if all goes well. Thanks for the inspiration 🙏 👍✌ stay safe
good job man, blodgett is not easy to climb anymore the trail has gotten pretty bad over the past couple years, next one you need to do in the area is Cameron Cone
@@Theninjaonthemountains thank you brother 🙏 I appreciate it. I'll definitely check it out when I can. Subscribed and been watching a few of your adventures..your a beast brother. Keep up the great work 👍 👏 💪
Very kind of those rocks to stay in place. Hard to imagine they've been stacked there like that through wind, rain, freeze, and thaw, and still stay put with people bouncing all around on them.
they are pretty sturdy for the most part is scary when you are hiking in and you hear part of the mountain break off for no reason and you know you have to go near there
Beautiful place. That knife edge section indeed looks gnarly, but safe, if done the way you did it. Does anyone know what this kind of rock mountain is called?
@@Theninjaonthemountains I wasn’t looking for the specific rock classification, but there is a name for a mountain that is composed of majority rock like this and for the freakin life of me, I can’t remember it. Don’t grow old man. Just stop aging now! It sucks forgetting so damn much, and having to wear glasses, and…😉
scrambling, technical or alpine mountain climbing maybe. I made this youtube channel in fear I will loose my memory one day like my 4 grandparents and now my dad have.
Looks scary in perfect weather. Could only imagine how sketch it is with wet rocks or snow. Every single rocks look like they’ll give way at some point. Just hope you don’t have your full weight on them when they do.
it appears that way but most of those rocks are solid so exposed that anything loose would have fallen out, never the less always test every rock and have 3 other points of contact in case one gives away
Climbed it back in 2004. Solo’d it, used my technical rick climbing shoes for the knife edge. Had to traverse it on the way down in a freak 10AM hail storm. The rock was soaking wet and I had to sweep hail off of the holds. Holy pucker factor….. No lightning thank God!
I had no clue colorado's mountains were this accessible, at least compared to wa. For reference, this weekend I ran 20 miles/5000ft all for a few lakes and a nice view of mt rainier lol. Even where I grew up in NH, you're putting in almost all 3-4,000ft to summit... 4,000 footers lol. Not into bagging peaks but Colorado is now on my list. I like accessible mountains.
Thank you! I have a friend that just climbed it and he is in his late 50s. I want to say 59, he went much slower but got it done, it is scary but totally doable
Last summer some friends and I were on the Snowmass summit with a good deal of food, water and clothing. A guy runs - runs - up to the summit in shorts, a tank top and carrying nothing. We asked him where he came from. “I started with Capital, we’ll see how many I bag today.” Runs off
It doesn't matter how experienced you are, or how great of a shape you are in...if just one of those rocks turns loose when you put your weight on it...you are a dead man. That was sketchy, I don't kniw what is holding some of those rocks up and you guys just grab them like are terra firma..insane. It was amazing to watch...great job.
thats absolutely true, experienced climbers have died on this mountain, I tried to always have at least 3 points of contact on something that felt solid and move slow and smooth.
@@Theninjaonthemountains it was awesome to watch. Just be careful as you can and live your best life. I wish I could go back to my teens and start over again. I wrecked my best and healthy years with drug and alcohol abuse and I would do anything to have those years back so I could do amazing things like this instead of wasting ten years of my life on partying.
@@harlandeke running has saved my life as I have a pretty addictive personally myself. I was drinking and partying a lot through college. I hated running at first, but little by little it grew on me as I increased the miles. I am happy to be addicted to something that is at least healthy for me now.
@@harlandekehey man, i’m an ex addict and i’m 2 years sober because of crazy hikes and scrambles. give it a shot! i still haven’t quit smoking but def trying because it doesn’t help on the steep rock faces 😂 huffing and puffing
@@Webkins9009 I'm 56 with extreme degenerative disease, exacerbated by working as a flooring installer for 30 years...I have 7 herniated disc's, stenosis and extreme spurring in my spine...and my knees are completely shot along with both shoulders...I am a wreck. I've been off drugs for 26 years now...and I did a ton of moderate hiking before my knees gave completely out 4-5 years ago. I'm just a wreck..but I still get out a little.
Damn! Crazy ass sh@t there. Did you have a parachute to go with that helmet? Good times. You rock brother. You did this all while holding your phone. Keep on trucking and having fun. Peace, Love, Namaste, Laterrrrrrrrrrs
Nice video, Capital is definitely among my favorites I’ve been up it three times. It’s definitely not an easy peak, but for technical difficulty I’d say Pyramid. As far as approach the Chicago Basin peaks from Molas pass is more demanding.
Fuck yeah, dude! So badass. One of my goals too someday. Just got to not feed in the mental battle with the exposure. lol. Thank you for uploading this! :)
@@Theninjaonthemountains Will do! Great video by the way. Are you using a One X2 camera? I’m not sure I’m going to be able to climb and hold a selfie stick or want to. Lol. Do you think a helmet mount will work well with the One X2 to capture the video from above?
Unbelievable footage! Question. Right after the false shoot down to the lake, is the standard route to skirt along the side of the face? It looked like you went straight up to the ridge and stayed on it the whole way. Also, how did you get those crazy good shots when you were using all 4s to climb? Was the camera on your helmet, or on the selfie stick tucked into your bag?
thank you!! after the lake it goes over on the back side of the mountain on a boulder field for a while until K2, after K2 and kinfe edge I stayed on ridge all the way until summit, there was another trail a bit lower. I used 360 camera selfie stick was in my backpack
As insane as this hike is I just can't stop looking at the magic in his hands. That we have a camera that films everything ....except the wand holding the camera. I have news for you youngsters (I am now officially old) .....that shit is other worldly. We act like magic isn't real but I'm looking at the shadow of nothing. I can't wait till the world gets a load of actual magic....they're phones will suddenly be a problem rather than a solution. In fact we are currently using actual magic (by every definition) in the most precise measurement device ever built (LIGO). I wonder when in the very near future people will catch on to the problem with their reality. magic is real and this hike was badass
Thank you I really appreciate this comment, I absolutely love this camera it is really amazing technology how the 2 lens can be stiched together so seamless.
Damn, beautiful and great perspective. This is kinda silly, but what shoes do you use? I'm looking for new ones and stays looking for suggestions. We often do similar hikes to this for BASE jumping and high top stiff boots aren't ideal for climbing and hiking and lower profile shoes fit in our wingsuits better. Cheers!
@@Theninjaonthemountains yeah the higher elevation makes for challenges on our start arcs with the wingsuits, but it makes for epic flights given the unique terrain and longer flights. Thanks for that on the shoes. I have those shoes and like them for running but not in love for hiking. Their tow box is pretty wide which doesnt fit into my wingsuit foot box too well. Ill dig into la sportiva, i have looked at some stuff at REI but they didnt have much low profile la sportiva options. Ill keep digging. thanks for the quick response and hope you continue to have the great and safe adventures!
Having done Capitol, I never thought a video could do it justice - now I can share with those that have not been to the top my favorite Colorado hill.
Thank you!
check out projectpanek although no voice audio only music
It's only a "hill" by Himalayan standards 😎
I haven't done capital, but my brother has, was on the knifes edge with like 50-60mph winds, said it was the scariest moments of his life
Now I can LIE to my friends about having climbed it! Which seems like the safer option tyvm...
Thank you for showing me how my parents went to school back in the days.
Lol
Back in my dayyy we used to have to hike 2 miles over "the knife's edge" just to get to the school bus! And before supper we had to warsh our hands with soap and warter.
Lmao
Crazy but true: I summited Capitol years ago and our group met a climber as we headed down the following day. He was leading a group and we stopped and talked for a while. Sadly he died the next day attempting to summit. Years later I'm sitting at a bar in Snowmass waiting for a friend to arrive. I start chatting with the couple sitting next to me. We talked about climbing and eventually they remembered me from our chat when we were headed down and they were headed up. It was their friend who died and that was their first time back to CO since it happened. It was quite a crazy and emotional time for them and just the most bizarre "coincidence" that has ever happened to me. Oh yeah, Capitol is dangerous, be careful out there!
wow!!! That is crazy coincidence, people die there all the time that why I waited to so long to do it and was extra careful on this one.
That's stupid and who cares anyway
@@Theninjaonthemountains
I was just wondering if anyone had fallen from up there, then I clicked into the comments section, and voila! The first posts are about people dying there. It's obviously the type of place you don't go if you ever become even slightly panicky when faced with steep grades and heights.
Some people aren't even aware they can become panicky until it's too late. Hopefully your 1st panicky incident occurs while cleaning rain gutters on a 1 story roof, and not 1,000 feet up a sheer cliff. One may sprain your ankle at worst, the other kills you every time.
@@HighlanderNorth1Theres a death on every mountain, for various reason. It’s an activity of passion, and impossible to get people to join you.
I think the guy who died had something to do with the reunion coincidence
I can’t wait to never climb this peak!
Awesome video.
Many years ago….hiked up to the traverse,on arrival made a comment that “I don’t know about this”. My usually intrepid friend says that “welI I do, and I’m not going”.. My bravery quickly evaporated and we turned around. Knew than I would never complete all 14teeners. Did about 37, but not that one. Thanks for showing me that was the right decision. Climb down would really be scary. Great video.
Freaky free climbers.
I just read today about a female solo climber falling to her death when a rock had given away while she was climbing this peak. After watching your video, I can see how treacherous Capitol Peak can be. It was a white knuckler watching you demonstrate your mountain goat skills. I am glad you made it back safely. Thank you for sharing the awesome vista views.
Thank you, yes that was terrible tragedy it was her last one too.
Yeah, I’m not cut for this. My survival instinct is too developed. Glad more courageous guys like you are leading the way.
Not exactly "leading" when thousands have done it already.
If you ride around in a car you are coming far closer to death way more often than most mountaineers. Your odds of being a traffic fatality are far greater than your odds of dying on any given peak if you attempt a summit. So what you call "survival instinct" really is just fear of truly living.
@@aydinsha thousands among billions is still a tiny percentage of people.
Wow. The detail you captured is like no other videos of capitol that I’ve seen. Great job 👊🏼
Thank you, I really appreciate this
Someone dies up there every year, in 2015 some guys from the east coast were up there & decided to take a walk-a-bout at night. 1 of them stepped off of a ledge on the northside of Capitol Lake & plunged 1000’+ to his demise. I was working for an outfitter that leased most of the hunting rights in that drainage. We went up there on horseback with mules & brought the deceased down to the coroner. Rode that country on horseback on a daily basis for 6 months out of the year. Beautiful country, miss it everyday. Stay safe, great video.
Thanks for watching, what a crazy story! I was really anxious for this one, glad it went well for me
I can only imagine the condition you found that guy in.
Search & Rescue had already tagged & bagged the body, we loaded up & turned back to the hitching post. No one said a word for 5 hours on the ride down
I always wondered what the "knife edge" looked like. Great video!!! Know I know !
Absolutely mind blowing! And then a quick run back to the truck! Loved every risky moment! Thank you Ninja! Stay safe!
Thank you!!
Amazing video!! I have been watching a guy do the 7 highest peaks with a similar film style and this was more intense to watch. My legs were shaking just watching. Thanks for taking me along on the ride.
thank you!
Such an amazing mountain, I've summited 2 times, once the normal route up, a gnarly hike in itself.....the first time we just looked up and got to the top, a lot of low 5.2 5.3 climbing with insane exposure, I'll never forget that hike, saw two bears on the way out also.
I will be attempting Capitol at the end of July. Your video gives great videos of the technical parts. Thanks for sharing
Thank you is not that bad just take it slow on the technical areas test hand anf footholds is a beautiful mountain
I have a private pilot's license and I've done five or six static line parachute jumps, so overall I'm not afraid of heights. That said, I've been to Colorado a few times and I have a really hard time taking hikes like this. The vertigo I experience in the mountains overwhelming.
that's crazy how the mind works. You are ok in the air, but get vertigo in the ground
10 minutes in. I don't know if I can watch much more. You got this! Alright, I have to see how this ends. I waiting to see when you will be running down the mountain.
You know that shit really can end badly. I was hiking locally in SoCal when my buddy and I ran into another hiker probably in her late 40's. My buddy who is extremely social struck up a conversation...within 1 minute of meeting her he asks her bluntly "what is your craziest hiking story." her face changes and she right away tells the story of her first visit to yosemite in Highschool. She was sweet on a boy and told her brother she didn't know how to approach him about it. The brother said he was going to yosemite for the weekend and suggested she ask him if he wants to go and do some hiking as a group...which she did.
Anyone who has ever been there on the traditional route - you go thru the tunnel then do the "first look" then you head in with the first major attraction being Bridal Veil falls - they stopped and walked to the base of the falls...passing what, again for anyone who has been there, must be the most weirdly placed pay phone in the country. As they climbed around the rocks at the base, her with the brothers girlfriend while the boys moved up ahead, she heard her brother scream and found out exactly why that payphone is still there today. Her guy fell and within minutes of entering the park their trip and his life were over....she described what might have been the worst part for her...later that night at 16 years old, somehow by herself, she returned that young mans gear to the parents she'd never met. She said to this day they couldn't have been better towards her but she's still haunted by it.
Two lessons here - Be careful what questions you ask total strangers....they just may answer them
and secondly - consider WAY more than just your gear and physical ability to do these types of hikes. You don't HAVE to get to the top but your mother would argue that you ABSOLUTELY better get your ass home.
Then do it
I'm impressed by how fast you were moving. I've climbed Capitol. It was a great day.
Thank you, I am an ultra runner and most times I try to run 14ers as fast as possible. this one in particular I was moving fast on the aproach, but once I got to K2, I was more focused on not falling and was thinking every step
You are a braver man than I. My butt puckered just watching the video.
😆 🤣 I remember watching videos of it and doing the same
Awesome climb; thanks for taking us along. Mindbending on that upper knife edge.
thanks for watching, that knife edge made me spend many hours at the rock climbing gym just to feel confident the day I did it.
@@Theninjaonthemountains Wise preparation for a really intense looking climb. Fun to watch from my livingroom 😎. Thanks again for a great video.
Climbed it back in ‘98. Definitely have to have your wits about you to do it.
Congratulations and kudos on your patience and expertise.
Thank you!!
Awesome photography. I couldn't believe some of the spots where you were actually standing up an walking.
thanks for watching
Best videowork of Capitol, period!
thank you!
That was awesome! Thanks for sharing. That rock is unbelievably shattered and loose.
I did this with my son many years ago. Thanks for the great video and the memories for us!
your welcome, thanks for watching
Amazing job. I got goosebumps and some shivers just watching it . I don’t know if I can do this one but maybe some day. This video certainly helps to show what it all looks like . Congrats !
Thanks for watching, I thought the same when I would watch videos of it, but eventually overcame my fear
We did this exactly 20 years ago and didn't even know it was Colorado's hardest peak. Great video that brings up a lot of great memories. Would love to go back some day. Thanks for sharing
20 years ago must have been so much harder without all the forums and internet information we have now, thanks for watching
It’s definitely nowhere near the hardest peak in Colorado. 😅😅😅
@@eddiedelisioit is the hardest standard 14er route to summit, and when you say "no where near", please list 10 Colorado summits that are more difficult than Capitol, because I know most of them.
@@thisisgettingoldI thought Pyramid Peak and the Marron Bells were more difficult. That being said, I have none of them on my fourteener list to bag. Longs Peak was the most difficult one I climbed. My skill is nowhere near yours. I stick with the easy ones like Mount Massive and Elbert.
The summer Rockies are special.....so amazing.
My husband and I hiked to Capitol lake. We had no intention of summiting the mountain. We were sitting at the lake resting and were getting ready for the hike back to our car . It was very drizzly and rained on and off throughout the day. At times the peak was cloud covered. We thought the people who were attempting to summit the mountain were crazy to attempt it in that weather. As I was watching the climbers, one tried to walk across the knife edge upright, not cat walk it as other climbers did. I watched the climber slip. He managed to catch himself and pull himself back on the ridge. He was hanging off the side with a 1300 foot drop if he let go. I just gasped watching it and was relieved he survived. I looked at my husband and said let's go. I don't want to watch someone kill themselves. That climber was the luckiest man on earth. He and his friend caught up to us on the way back. They both said they submitted it. We congratulated them. Then I told him he was lucky he didn't kill himself. I have submitted fourteeners, but not one as dangerous as that mountain. I always tell people, don't mistake luck for skill. That kid was lucky. Very lucky
I did that route about 30 years ago. That knife edge was freaky!
This has got to be one of the most dangerous hikes in the entire world. There is no room for error. I’ve done Mt Massive and started Angels Landing before deciding Nope! Took the West Rim Trail instead. I love to hike but also love living and know my limits. Kudos to people who can do this. You are braver than me.
I was really anxious and scared to tackle this one ever since I watched the first video on it. I started rock climbing and got pretty good I gave this a shot. going unprepared for a hike like this can cost your life. In the end it wasn't as bad, but I had a good bit of experience by the time I got there
Ninja.... thank you for the best video that I have seen on Capitol Peak !!!!
Very well done . Informative and in-depth.
Much appreciated and much respect.
Peace
Thank you!!
Glad you made it safely.
me too, I was really anxious about doing this one.
Did it with a friend in '78 when we had the entire mountain to ourselves. Underestimated how rough the road in was, didn't get started until 11:30 AM. Got to the summit, narrowly avoiding a rockslide, with the sun low on the horizon. We were on a sketchy, grassy traverse above timberline, skirting underneath K2 right at dusk when it started to snow, hard - in August. My friend said he couldn't go on, and I got rather cross with him. We got back way after dark, hiking back to the car by flashlight.
wow!!! those were the days, with very little information about the mountain, no videos and no go's cell phones
I love what modern camera tech can share with us. I'm not very religious, but God was like, lets mountain this right here. That's impressive rock shooting out of the ground in that specific location.
WOW, Rudy, really impressive how you upped the videographic quality on the one! Karl suggested that I check out...great captures the entire way, congrats!
Thank you!!
Nice job, got my knee scoped in Feb so I don’t know if I’d be able to that this year.
Ever thought about parachuting down? Is that possible? Or one of those flying squirrel suits? Going up looks bad enough!
Amazing footage. Thanks for sharing
Thank you!
Nice job Brother! Amazing one day push. Super cool into too!
Thanks man, thought about you a few times as I considered doing ridge direct.
Looks like you’re ready for the Hillary Step! Great video!
I did that climb in my younger days by myself. Very dangerous mountain but I had no fear at the time. It was just fun.
Great video. At the very beginning, I thought you were taking rounds from an A-10 Warthog.
Best video of Capitol I've seen.
Thanks for watching!
Cool footage and amazing scenery, hope the shrooms tasted as good as they looked, thanks for sharing 🙏
thank you, they were pretty tasty
Respect. That is a challenging day out.
Some of those angles and sweeps really grab ya by the conkles!
Great run, I was a little nervous for you two but I'm glad you made it safely.
thank you!!
Thank you for posting this "beast" hike.
Thanks for watching
Heck no that's a crazy climb at the end and no rope nothing if u slip it's over...I've been scarred like that in American basin I climbed up the left side of the wall and it was easy going up but I had to go down facing the wall small step by small step
Capitol!!!! Badass man! You conquered this!! As always, thanks for the awesome content and video, very helpful for us. Hopefully going to knock this one out along with Snowmass mid August.
Thanks man, both super cool mountains, i wanted to knocked both out one day trip last year, but they both have long boulderfields that drain all your energy.
@@Theninjaonthemountains Boulderfields are no joke! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll do the hikes separate days and do a rest day in between haha 😄🤙
@@scottybohnen5942 thats good idea, good luck man, you can get off the standard trail on snowmass and hit the ridge is a great mental training for capitol.
Congratulations on the summit!
thank you!
Brave hearted person, excellent video
thank you!
heroic. my mate and I simply have to try this one! cheers.
thank you, is a really good one
I've hiked up pikes peak about 2 or 3yrs ago never climbed or hiked anything before that and it was a blast..today I finally did blodget peak all the way to the summit and signed in at the ammo box ..I tried it 2 other times the first attempt failed because we ended up scrambling the Boulder field and cliff face and realized it was the wrong way..turned back because of a time limit second time ..again time limit and ended up going a wrong way also. Finally got there today ready for more climbs and eventually this if all goes well. Thanks for the inspiration 🙏 👍✌ stay safe
good job man, blodgett is not easy to climb anymore the trail has gotten pretty bad over the past couple years, next one you need to do in the area is Cameron Cone
@@Theninjaonthemountains thank you brother 🙏 I appreciate it. I'll definitely check it out when I can. Subscribed and been watching a few of your adventures..your a beast brother. Keep up the great work 👍 👏 💪
@@Drivingdrew719 thaks for the sub man I did a video for cameron cone a while back, I am a normal guy just obsessed with running and adventure
Very kind of those rocks to stay in place. Hard to imagine they've been stacked there like that through wind, rain, freeze, and thaw, and still stay put with people bouncing all around on them.
they are pretty sturdy for the most part is scary when you are hiking in and you hear part of the mountain break off for no reason and you know you have to go near there
Looks memorable. Good on you.
Big exposure while crawling on top of chossy blocks.
Thanks for doing it for us so we don't have to 😅
Thank you for sharing your experience!
What kind of mushrooms did you find?
Thank you! there were a bunch of different mushrooms, but only ones I knew to be safe were the boletes so they are the only ones I picked
That looks like a scary pile of shattered rocks!!!
Beautiful place. That knife edge section indeed looks gnarly, but safe, if done the way you did it.
Does anyone know what this kind of rock mountain is called?
is mostly granite rock
@@Theninjaonthemountains I wasn’t looking for the specific rock classification, but there is a name for a mountain that is composed of majority rock like this and for the freakin life of me, I can’t remember it.
Don’t grow old man. Just stop aging now! It sucks forgetting so damn much, and having to wear glasses, and…😉
scrambling, technical or alpine mountain climbing maybe. I made this youtube channel in fear I will loose my memory one day like my 4 grandparents and now my dad have.
Nicely done!
Tried a couple climbing ascents but had to back off both times. The standard route was definitely fun too!
it sucks to make that decision to turn around. I hope you get it in your third try!
Looks scary in perfect weather. Could only imagine how sketch it is with wet rocks or snow. Every single rocks look like they’ll give way at some point. Just hope you don’t have your full weight on them when they do.
it appears that way but most of those rocks are solid so exposed that anything loose would have fallen out, never the less always test every rock and have 3 other points of contact in case one gives away
Some people have no fear- how do you trust rocks?
that rock is more stable than it seems, however the trip to scrambling is always have 3 to 4 points of contact in case one gives away
Dope!! What kind of mushrooms were those?
Thanks, bolete mushrooms
Climbed it back in 2004. Solo’d it, used my technical rick climbing shoes for the knife edge. Had to traverse it on the way down in a freak 10AM hail storm. The rock was soaking wet and I had to sweep hail off of the holds. Holy pucker factor….. No lightning thank God!
wow!! that most have been terrifying, I was prepared to turn around if the weather got bad. Luckily, I have a near perfect day
That was beautiful but really scary. How do you not look down? I'll pass but good for you.
I had no clue colorado's mountains were this accessible, at least compared to wa. For reference, this weekend I ran 20 miles/5000ft all for a few lakes and a nice view of mt rainier lol. Even where I grew up in NH, you're putting in almost all 3-4,000ft to summit... 4,000 footers lol. Not into bagging peaks but Colorado is now on my list. I like accessible mountains.
yup, Colorado is the mountain running mecca, there are 54 peaks above 14k all pretty accessible, I love it here
Wayyyy better than gopro wide fisheye videos. 👍
Nice one! Thanks for posting
Elbert and Pikes Peak are good enough for me!!
I’m 54 with 16 under my belt. Hoping to get into the 30-40 range but this will not likely be one of them:) Awesome vid!
Thank you! I have a friend that just climbed it and he is in his late 50s. I want to say 59, he went much slower but got it done, it is scary but totally doable
My buddy Johnny D did Capital like this last year. And he is 45. A crusher! I did it like 20 years ago.
I turn 40 this year and was one of goals before turning 40
Nice footwork!
Oh man. Traversing that ridge has to be MURDER on your knees😅 it hurts just watching this
Glad you got this in but wish you could've joined us last year when we talked about it.
Let's get out there soon dude!
I got a couple trips to finish and they are both in the San Juans
@@Theninjaonthemountains I still need a handful of those too, let's keep in contact.
Congrats! That one looked brutal but fun!
Thank you, yes it is both!
Bro this made my hands sweat just watching!
my hands sweated editing it too, luckly they didn't that day.
it is dangerous indeed and congratulations!
Love the pure bouldering sticker! Represent! That’s where I work
@@codykurschner7560 nice!!! I used to go there all the time, I haven't been climbing much lately, but that's where I started.
Last summer some friends and I were on the Snowmass summit with a good deal of food, water and clothing. A guy runs - runs - up to the summit in shorts, a tank top and carrying nothing. We asked him where he came from. “I started with Capital, we’ll see how many I bag today.” Runs off
@@srslyjosh wow! some people are just incredible, I want to do them both one day, not doing traverse
It doesn't matter how experienced you are, or how great of a shape you are in...if just one of those rocks turns loose when you put your weight on it...you are a dead man.
That was sketchy, I don't kniw what is holding some of those rocks up and you guys just grab them like are terra firma..insane.
It was amazing to watch...great job.
thats absolutely true, experienced climbers have died on this mountain, I tried to always have at least 3 points of contact on something that felt solid and move slow and smooth.
@@Theninjaonthemountains it was awesome to watch. Just be careful as you can and live your best life. I wish I could go back to my teens and start over again. I wrecked my best and healthy years with drug and alcohol abuse and I would do anything to have those years back so I could do amazing things like this instead of wasting ten years of my life on partying.
@@harlandeke running has saved my life as I have a pretty addictive personally myself. I was drinking and partying a lot through college. I hated running at first, but little by little it grew on me as I increased the miles. I am happy to be addicted to something that is at least healthy for me now.
@@harlandekehey man, i’m an ex addict and i’m 2 years sober because of crazy hikes and scrambles. give it a shot! i still haven’t quit smoking but def trying because it doesn’t help on the steep rock faces 😂 huffing and puffing
@@Webkins9009 I'm 56 with extreme degenerative disease, exacerbated by working as a flooring installer for 30 years...I have 7 herniated disc's, stenosis and extreme spurring in my spine...and my knees are completely shot along with both shoulders...I am a wreck. I've been off drugs for 26 years now...and I did a ton of moderate hiking before my knees gave completely out 4-5 years ago.
I'm just a wreck..but I still get out a little.
My anxitey level was super high around the 4 minute mark. Beautiful view though. 😎
Damn! Crazy ass sh@t there. Did you have a parachute to go with that helmet? Good times. You rock brother. You did this all while holding your phone. Keep on trucking and having fun. Peace, Love, Namaste, Laterrrrrrrrrrs
Thanks man, this has been the hardest mountain I ever climbed, took me 4 years to build up enough courage to tackle it. 👊✌
Nice video, Capital is definitely among my favorites I’ve been up it three times. It’s definitely not an easy peak, but for technical difficulty I’d say Pyramid. As far as approach the Chicago Basin peaks from Molas pass is more demanding.
I have never seen the route of Chicago basin from molas pass, but I will look it up. I did chicago basin as one day trip from purgatory
This looks so cool I'd love to do this
Gorgeous!!
Fuck yeah, dude! So badass. One of my goals too someday. Just got to not feed in the mental battle with the exposure. lol. Thank you for uploading this! :)
it took me 4 years to build up corage for it, thanks for watching
This climb makes Angels Landing look like a Sunday afternoon stroll.
angels landing is one of my favorites, but you are right doesn't compare, I actually ran up and down angels landing, I have a couple of videos of it
So sick!! That was way cool man.
el diente was similar to this approach. Ugh. Thanks for sharing.
Going for it in two weeks, can’t wait!
is an awesome climb, take your time and test every rock from k2 to summit lots of loose rock up there.
@@Theninjaonthemountains Will do! Great video by the way. Are you using a One X2 camera? I’m not sure I’m going to be able to climb and hold a selfie stick or want to. Lol. Do you think a helmet mount will work well with the One X2 to capture the video from above?
Let us know that you're safe when you do it.
@@HummingbirdCyborg Done! Did it today.
Wow, that's an epic climb!
i'm only curious about.. how was breathing up there? any difference?
breathing at 14,000 ft can be very hard if you are not used to it thats for sure
Unbelievable footage!
Question. Right after the false shoot down to the lake, is the standard route to skirt along the side of the face? It looked like you went straight up to the ridge and stayed on it the whole way. Also, how did you get those crazy good shots when you were using all 4s to climb? Was the camera on your helmet, or on the selfie stick tucked into your bag?
thank you!! after the lake it goes over on the back side of the mountain on a boulder field for a while until K2, after K2 and kinfe edge I stayed on ridge all the way until summit, there was another trail a bit lower. I used 360 camera selfie stick was in my backpack
As insane as this hike is I just can't stop looking at the magic in his hands. That we have a camera that films everything ....except the wand holding the camera. I have news for you youngsters (I am now officially old) .....that shit is other worldly. We act like magic isn't real but I'm looking at the shadow of nothing. I can't wait till the world gets a load of actual magic....they're phones will suddenly be a problem rather than a solution. In fact we are currently using actual magic (by every definition) in the most precise measurement device ever built (LIGO). I wonder when in the very near future people will catch on to the problem with their reality. magic is real and this hike was badass
Thank you I really appreciate this comment, I absolutely love this camera it is really amazing technology how the 2 lens can be stiched together so seamless.
The particle colliders are BLACK magic, let's make sure we separate our magic here.
Magic is the rehlm of the ignorant and uneducated
Damn, beautiful and great perspective. This is kinda silly, but what shoes do you use? I'm looking for new ones and stays looking for suggestions. We often do similar hikes to this for BASE jumping and high top stiff boots aren't ideal for climbing and hiking and lower profile shoes fit in our wingsuits better. Cheers!
Damm, base jumping of something like that would be crazy!! I used altras lone peak, but they weren't great, LA Sportiva has best approach shoes
@@Theninjaonthemountains yeah the higher elevation makes for challenges on our start arcs with the wingsuits, but it makes for epic flights given the unique terrain and longer flights. Thanks for that on the shoes. I have those shoes and like them for running but not in love for hiking. Their tow box is pretty wide which doesnt fit into my wingsuit foot box too well. Ill dig into la sportiva, i have looked at some stuff at REI but they didnt have much low profile la sportiva options. Ill keep digging. thanks for the quick response and hope you continue to have the great and safe adventures!
I hike 14neers out here, but I don't think I got Capitol Peak in me. I mainly do Laplata and Elbert yearly.