Capitol Peak: Snowmass/Maroon Bells Wilderness
. Out of all of the Fourteeners, Little Bear Peak is quite possibly my least favorite and least likely to be something I'd like to repeat. Here’s a breakdown of the deadliest peaks in the state, looking at how many deaths have occurred on each peak between 2000 and 2017, according to Colorado’s 14er Initiative.Visit their Youtube page for an entire library of mountain safety videos. The summit block itself has stopped many people in their tracks, just a few feet from the summit. Handies Peak. You can purchase it here and help support the site. Climbing 14ers is a dangerous activity; however, good planning, fitness, and awareness of the potential hazards will provide climbers with good opportunities to accomplish these monsterous peaks. Climbers have called Mount Wilson "easily one of the most challenging 14ers" in the state. Since Sunlight is often paired with Eolus and Windom on the same day and often as the last peak climbed, it presents even more inherent danger as many climbers attempting it are more exhausted than if doing Sunlight on its own. The "Hourglass" section of the climb can be potentially fatal, as you have to watch out for ice and water and rock fall from above. Colorado 13ers. Crestone Peak has single-handedly claimed many climbers' lives over the past several years due to the loose and difficult terrain found on the upper sections of the mountain. Elevation Rank Peak Name Range … Snowmass' upper slopes contains large white boulders that look secure but are often quite loose and came come crashing down at any moment. (Lyn Alweis, Denver Post file) These five peaks are time-tested hikes for novice fourteener folks. Sunlight Peak is one of the few 14ers requiring class 4 climbing to reach the summit and is generally preceded by a very long backpacking trip and a steep ascent into the Twin Lake basin. Not only does Capitol Peak have some very difficult sections, it has, in my opinion, the highest sustained difficulty out of any of the 14ers. The approach is terrible - either a long slog on a rocky road in hot weather or an insane jeep ride over some of Colorado's toughest jeep obstacles (OK - those are kind of awesome). Capitol is massive, imposing, and rugged. No Colorado 14er is “Easy” No hike up steep elevation gains along a windy, rocky trail to high places is easy. The most difficult climbing on any of Colorado's highest 53 peaks. Ready to take on a 14er? Today, July 19, the Colorado 14ers Initiative is scheduled to release the latest video in a new series about best practices and safety when climbing the Colorado … The Maroon Bells have claimed many lives through the years and are certainly some of the most dangerous mountains in America. Even though the rock is quite solid and sturdy, make no mistake - an error in judgement would likly prove fatal, especially in severe weather conditions. Here is my list ranking the Colorado 14ers, each mountain has a link to the write-up/video and more information about it. Many people may rate Sunlight's next door neighbor, Windom Peak, as being the more difficult of the two; however, I personally found Sunlight to have more challenging route-finding and climbing requirements. 14ers.com has ranked all of Colorado's 14ers by difficulty. Why? Or take on a more challenging one?. 09-03. Mount Wilson. DENVER -- Climbing a Colorado 14er is rite of passage for transplants and natives alike, but there is a growing concern that many underestimate the risks involved. Capitol Peak - Class 4 (Most Difficult). The approach for Eolus is quite taxing as well and many climbers reaching the upper sections of Eolus find themselves out of energy and weakened - a terrible combination when paired with the rugged and loose terrain of the San Juan Mountains. The rock in the Elk Mountains is notoriously loose and nasty - making it very suspect in down-climbs and even more dangerous in rain or snow. Climbers say the terrain in the Chicago Basin -- where Sunlight is located -- is quite loose and can be dangerous as it is susceptible to quickly changing extreme weather conditions. Here are the 7 most difficult 14ers in Colorado: 1. The 5 Easiest 14ers To Solo Hike In Colorado. KOOL 107.9 KBKL. 4) Mt. Follow. 14ers.com has ranked all of Colorado's 14ers by difficulty. Most difficult section: this rating establishes the difficulty of the peak's most difficult section, 3. I try to check off three new 14ers every summer, and you should absolutely give a 14er … In the mountaineering parlance of the Western United States, a fourteener is a mountain peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet (4270 meters). 3. Lastly, access to Capitol, while doable in a single day, usually requires an arduous backpacking trip to Capitol Lake and a very early start on a subsequent day. The whole area is steep and impressive, which comes with some inherent dangers and difficulties. Another Class 2 14er, Mount Elbert has a wide but steep trail that will take you all the way to the summit. Capitol Peak is widely regarded as the hardest 14er in Colorado. Snowmass Mountain is usually climbed in the early months of summer, when the face of the mountain is mostly covered in snow, making for somewhat easier travel up the snow in crampons; however, the rock beneath the snow is quite loose and is constantly shifting due to erosion. Two climbers have died on Capitol this year. If you're still set on embarking on an incredible 14er journey, you may want to check out our checklist crafted by experts from the Colorado 14ers Initiative. This is what makes the idea to climb in Colorado so alluring to so many people. Indeed, Longs Peak is not nearly as difficult as, say, Capitol Peak; however, it has far more accidents due to the sheer number of inexperienced and/or unaccomplished people attempting it each year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. While Capitol Peak has only seen two deaths since 2010 compared to five on Longs Peak (as of August 2014), it is arguably the most difficult 14er in Colorado, as I attested in my 2010 trip report. I will rate each mountain's difficulty ranking based on four equally weighted variables: 1. Mount Wilson is easily one of the most challenging 14ers in Colorado to climb - the standard route, while mostly straight-forward, has many difficult sections of very loose rock at the summit. Here are the six easiest and most challenging 14er hikes, depending on what skill level you are at. The final 14er on our list is a neighbor of the Bells. Longs Peak, located within the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, is likely Colorado's most frequently visited mountain other than perhaps Greys and Torreys. These mountains, or “14ers” as they are typically called, are a fun feat to summit. 2. Additional hazards plaguing this peak are the frequent deposits of snow and ice early and late in the climbing season that often contribute to the dangerous nature of the climb. Who knows, reading about these tragic events may just save your life. Climber say the climb up Pyramid Peak can prove difficult due to its notoriously loose rock, making the climb and the descent very challenging, especially under wintry or rainy conditions. If you’re not sure on which peak is right for you, here is a list of five of the mildest Colorado 14ers from easiest to hardest. Colorado's Fourteeners (14ers) are legendary. Climbing aficionados call Capitol Peak "arguably the most difficult 14er in Colorado," due to is rugged terrain, a relentless climb up and arduous backpacking trip to Capitol Lake. Additionally, Capitol Peak requires a lot of time to accomplish and once you are past the knife edge, you are committed to at least two hours more of climbing. 14ers.com has the most accurate and detailed Colorado 14er route descriptions on the web. Coming in at number 8 on my list of Colorado's most difficult 14ers to climb is the venerable, impressive and just-plain-freaking-awesome Crestone Needle - my favorite 14er of all. Here are the six easiest and most challenging 14er hikes, depending on what skill level you are at. 09-04. Climbers say this 14er has "some of Colorado's worst rock," that even experienced climbers have difficulty with. Mount Massive is the third highest peak in the Lower 48 states and is Colorado’s second highest 14er at 14,421 feet. The north face of Capitol Peak, widely considered the hardest 14er in Colorado. As you can see from the rock formations in the pictured above, the climb up to Maroon Peak can prove fatal for the unskilled. While Pyramid is likely one of my favorite climbs of all time, it is not for a beginner climber and should be taking quite seriously. 6. Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet. Pyramid Peak - Class 4 (Most Difficult). All require stamina and a little bit of crazy. The Alpine Rescue Team offered some advice as to what you should know before taking the trip: Officials say you should let someone know your planned route and time to finish and when they should call the sheriff if you have not returned. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Ready to take on a 14er? But while those two summits are quite happy to be the most famous duo in the state, Capitol is easily the King of the Elks. I've intentionally left out un-ranked 14ers such as North Maroon and El Diente - assume they can be bundled with Maroon Peak and Mount Wilson, respectively. Sunlight Peak - Class 4 (Most Difficult). Of course, the views from the summit are to die for. Difficulty. Additionally, consideration of any traverses between 14ers was not considered for these ratings. New Country 99.1. Several climbers have perished on Kit Carson in recent years, almost always due to off-route climbing. Or take on a more challenging one?. As pictured above in the panoramic taken between Capitol Peak and K2 near the infamous Knife Edge, the terrain is rugged, exposed, loose and dangerous. This mountain's location in a National Park makes it a very popular destination by people from all over the world and it often lures inexperienced climbers on its more dangerous upper sections where people find themselves ill-equipped to complete the climb, both mentally and physically. Standard Route: Southwest Slopes. Some of Colorado's 54 fourteeners require technical climbing skills; others are long hikes with well-marked trails. With that being said, I'm going to use a mixture of my personal experience and some subjective ratings to present my case to you. The tallest mountain in Colorado is Mount Elbert at 14,439 feet tall. The steep approach, coupled with a downclimb mired in confusion and difficult route-finding, makes Kit Carson quite eligible for this list. Each year I'm usually asked one of two questions - which 14ers are the easiest; and, which 14ers are the hardest? Not only was it their last one but it was Capitol Peak, considered to be one of the hardest 14ers due to the length of the hike and a 150-foot knife-edge ridge with major exposure. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Terrain in the Chicago Basin where Sunlight resides is notoriously loose and dangerous as well as highly susceptible to frequent and quickly changing extreme weather conditions. Crestone Needle - Class 3 (Most Difficult). Of particular note, the traverse between Maroon Peak and North Maroon has claimed several victims and is a force to be reckoned with. Feel free to let me know if you disagree with my ratings! Most approachs require a backpack trip or a very early start and once above tree-line the terrain is quite extreme. For these ratings it is assumed that the climber is approaching via the standard route in "normal" conditions. At 14,433 feet, Mount Elbert is the tallest 14er in Colorado and the highest peak in the entire Rocky Mountain Range. Because the list is grouped by Class, you'll see some routes which may require more overall effort (longer distance, more elevation gain) higher on the page than others which have a higher class rating but lower overall difficulty. Photo Credit: Daniel Jensen Lastly, it might be a good idea to arm yourself with the most up-to-date information about mountaineering accidents in Colorado. And it has Snowmass Mountain, which requires an eight-mile backpack just to get the chance to climb the … This email address is being protected from spambots. The terrain on Pyramid is steep almost the entire climb and once above tree-line the mountain demands your concentration for the duration. Follow. Indeed, Snowmass has proved to be particularly dangerous in the past few years due to these shifting conditions and has claimed a couple lives in the past 5 years. You can easily access Elbert’s large, rounded dome by several trails, all of which begin in vanilla-scented pine forests and emerge from treeline with stunning views of the Sawatch Range. Class 1 Thirteeners. Filtering Tip: Click on each class heading to drill down and view a list of peaks for that difficulty only. Elbert – Northeast Ridge Route – 4,700 feet – 9.5 miles. The hardest 14er to climb in Colorado is about two and a half hours away in the Elk Mountains. Editor's note: Information about the difficult of each peak in this article was obtained from 100summits.com. Filed Under : 14ers , Mountains It has saved me so many times. Some of the 58 Colorado 14ers -- peaks higher than 14,000 feet -- can be climbed in three or four hours by the average person, and require little more than a long walk on a well-established trail. Many of the peaks -- known as "approachable Everests" -- can be climbed by the average person, but experts warn even the easiest peak can be treacherous. The standard Colorado 14er routes 1ST) grouped by Class and 2ND) sorted by overall difficulty/effort required, within each Class group. Indeed, according to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI), approximately half a million people attempt to climb a fourteener each year. The summit of Capitol Peak can be seen from Capitol Lake on Sept. 6 in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Maroon Peak is a steep monstrosity full of beauty and loose rock as well as an intricate network of rocks, spires and falling rock that a blessing and a curse. There are twenty-four southern Colorado 14ers. There are summits for everyone. The photo above was taken from the summit of Pyramid Peak looking out across the valley at the Maroon Bells and their insane stature. Many people have perished in the Hourglass over the years, including one of the most memorable deaths in the past 5 years - Kevin Hayne. The summit block itself has stopped many people in their tracks, just a few feet from the summit. The hike is challenging but forgiving, making it one of the best 14er in Colorado for beginners. Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post | THE DENVER POST. Colorado's 12 Hardest 14ers to Climb. The exposure there is intense and not for the feint of heart. Sustained difficulty: this rating establishes the peak's sustained difficulty over the course of the entire climb, 2. A group of hikers with the Denver Botanic Gardens took a wildflower tour on Mount Evans. When you make it to the top, you’ll have clear views of the Sawatch Range and dozens of other 14ers. What is the hardest 14er in Colorado? Climbers say that even though the rock is solid, a tiny mistake can prove fatal -- especially during severe weather conditions. The approach on all routes of Snowmass requires quite a bit of travel, which increases the difficulty. Climbing to high-altitude spots around Colorado can be quite dangerous, sometimes resulting in death. Thinking about climbing, or are you preparing to climb soon? While most of my day hikes are around Fort Collins, hiking a 14er is a special experience. Mount Wilson - Class 4 (Most Difficult). Climbing aficionados call Capitol Peak "arguably the most difficult 14er in Colorado," due to is rugged terrain, a relentless climb up and arduous backpacking trip to Capitol Lake. They cite very loose rock at the summit and a very long trek from the Rock of Ages as part of the challenge. Capitol Peak is another mountain in the Elk Range of Colorado, just a few miles away from Maron & North Maroon Peaks. Here is a photo montage of my repeat climb of difficult 14er Capitol Peak in the Elk Range in CO. Examples of this can be seen in my trip report from 2011. Additionally, you should also be physically and mentally prepared, know the route you're taking and the risks associated with the climb, as well as respect the mountain you're climbing up. That’s quite a few mountains that are over 14,000 feet tall! Maroon Peak - Class 4 (Most Difficult). Jump to: Class 1 Class 2 Class 2+ Class 3 Class 4 Class 5. Maroon Peak holds some of Colorado's worst rock and even the most experienced climbers have been subdued by the dangerous terrain found there. Eolus' "Catwalk" and steep, confusing route on the upper third of the mountain make it a top contender. The route up Crestone Needle is steep, followed by difficult-finding routes. Hopefully, this will help you consider your options and decide which peak would be best for your abilities and goals: Mount Bierstadt (14,060 feet elevation gain) Grays Peak (14,270 feet elevation gain) At 14,252 feet, Mount Wilson is often ranked among the most difficult fourteeners in Colorado. Additionally, I highly recommend obtaining GaiaGPS for your phone. Climbers call the approach to Little Bear Peak "terrible," as it means either driving on a rocky road under hot weather or partaking on an Jeep ride over some pretty challenging obstacles. A simple google search of Longs Peak deaths will just tell you how dangerous this peak really is, especially on the upper areas such as the Narrows and the Trough. I’m really not nervous about any of them, but if I had to put one on top of all of them, it definitely would be Capitol Peak. It’s technical, dangerous, and ends with scaling a section called the “Knife Edge” that has 1,000 ft. drops on each side. How did I do? 58. 2. 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