TR:Capitol Peak Ski

**MultiVerse** · 03-21-2009, 09:53 AM

Wow; impressive steep skiing.

**JakeCast** · 03-21-2009, 10:06 AM

Gwah...lot of possibilities in that photo!

nice work

**tone capone** · 03-21-2009, 10:40 AM

Damn, that looks like it was so intense. I can't handle being scared for that long, it wears me down. You guys must have nerves of steel.

**goldenboy** · 03-21-2009, 10:52 AM

Congrats Joe and Jordan!

I think that the two of you captured a lot more photos that truly show the severity of the exposure on that climb than the ones dp, cjw, and I got last year.

BTW, I would ski it again, I just wouldn't ever want to climb it again

**Goatski** · 03-21-2009, 01:06 PM

Well done! Impressive whippet save, maybe it will save you someday to return the favor. That is soooo crazy steep over all that exposure - did you measure the slope on the steepest part?

**Jethro** · 03-21-2009, 04:20 PM

Awesome ski! How did your N. Maroon ski go today? I'm one of the four guys you saw up there after we turned around

**Danno** · 03-21-2009, 06:11 PM

FKNA, that is so out of my league it isn't even funny.

Mad props to you guys.

**Ccard257** · 03-21-2009, 06:34 PM

Holy...

Shit.

Well Done

**Franz** · 03-21-2009, 07:23 PM

wow. NICE FREAKIN WORK

**Meadow Skipper** · 03-21-2009, 07:35 PM

Very nice, sus huevos son grandes.

**dannyboy** · 03-21-2009, 08:52 PM

NICE work !

**skideeppow** · 03-21-2009, 11:24 PM

Nice seeing you on maroon this afternoon. Did you guys get it? Super impressive that you skied capital then up maroon a day later.
I am hurting from our 12 hour today today, can not imagine what capital felt like, then again you have youth on your side.
Once again, super impressive

**doumall** · 03-22-2009, 01:15 AM

First Calendar Winter Ski Descent of Capitol Peak
Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Northeast Ridge from Moon Lake
Summit Ski Descent of Secret Chute Line
Exit using Pierre Lakes Basin

Spirit of the West Elk Mountains:

Photo: doumall

Many nights I lay in my bed trying to shake the thoughts of this mountain from my restless mind. I would try to think of fence leaping sheep but invariably my train of thought would settle back onto the prospect of tumbling off a 400’ cliff with my skis still attached. Skiing Capitol is like a major surgery. You fret and worry days and months before the moment, then you get there, the IV goes in and the task takes care of itself. In the few days beforehand, my stomach twisted and turned. I felt I had no control over my coming fate up on Capitol Peak. However, as the sun dawned Thursday, the skins were stripped and the climbing began, each move was right there in front of me. I had my hands on the steering wheel and control of my mortality. I simply had to follow the path before me. Thank you Capitol Peak, you lent me a most vivid example of life.

The rest of my TR can be found here:
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripre...&cpgm=tripmain

**KillingCokes** · 03-22-2009, 02:49 PM

Such a sweet day you two had. Congrats. Way to get em done guys

**Frank** · 03-22-2009, 03:08 PM

WOW

**highflyingpilot** · 03-22-2009, 05:53 PM

HUGE PROPS.

**doumall** · 03-22-2009, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by jwproulx

Holy shit. And I was just thinking the other day that last year was a fluke and nobody will try to ski Capitol unless we get some better coverage. I guess I was wrong.

I really don't think I'll ever try that.

Originally Posted by Don Pedro

Nice work guys.

Didn't think it would go this year with how little snow we have gotten. It did look a bit thin. Bet getting down to secret chute was 'interesting'.

It's nice getting that monkey off your back isn't it.

Here is a comparison I put together from pictures available from 'Frank's Blog' recount of the first descent http://www.14erskiers.com/franksblog...ol-peak-42808/

The scariest part for us was committing to the east face from the summit ridge. On Thursday this is what we found:

From Frank's Blog, the same spot, with all the rocks under snow:

The mini-bowl was full of sharks on Thursday:

From Frank's Blog, the bowl is stacked!

At the end of the traverse after I land a jump turn:

Frank making a turn in here (notice the improved body position =D> ):

I also checked out my 'Ski the 14ers' coffee table book (highly recommended by the way) and skithe14ers.com and it seems Dav had the first section similar to Frank:

But the bowl had the same sharks swimming about (must consult book). Just goes to show what kind of banner snow year they had last year in the Elks.

**Danno** · 03-22-2009, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by doumall

The rest of my TR can be found here:
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripre...&cpgm=tripmain

that was a stellar read.

**chaka** · 03-22-2009, 11:05 PM

thanks a lot. I just shat my pants in an airport lounge.

**doublediamond223** · 03-22-2009, 11:44 PM

Jesus H. Motherfucking Christ:

Much respect. I would only approach something like that without snow and with a rack of trad pro. Wow...

**HikeforTurns** · 03-23-2009, 07:56 AM

Well fuckin done gentlemen!!!

**LeeLau** · 03-23-2009, 08:44 AM

Love this - classic ski mountaineering shot

**grizzle6** · 03-23-2009, 08:53 AM

Super impressive. And nice blog post recounting it all.

**jcwhite** · 03-23-2009, 10:50 AM

Thanks all, for the comments! It was a hell of a day!

Skideeppow and ZGjethro:
North was good, we found our way up with minimal rock climbing on the ridge, great conditions for the descent!

On pyramid yesterday; conditions are pretty terrible for climbing and skiing right now. We made it down Landry line, but it was not the fun descent it should be, and the climbing bordered on miserable.