I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve not yet actually summited a 14er. As a younger person hiking with my dad, altitude sickness would hit me hard and we’d stop short of the summit. A few years ago I was turned around by an early summer snowstorm on La Plata Peak.

With Capitol Peak, well, it seems that now in my mid-thirties an office-life and a lack of training in preparation for the hike took their toll and I once again stopped short. 

It was an experience all the same, though. And after hitting the trail far later than anticipated, stumbling into camp in the dark, and being bogged down by cairn hunting in a massive debris field during my summit attempt, it was one(an experience) that was exhaustingly beautiful. 

Below is a brief video summary that I’ve put together using an assortment of video clips taken via GoPro during the trip, and below that is a collection of images.

Enjoy!