Florida Man Planning on Capitol Peak Winter Ascent

[pvnisher]

"yer gunna die!"

[BillMiddlebrook]

Ha!
At least he's not selling something from China

[TomPierce]

Shotgun,

I applaud your vision. It's good to aim high for your goals!

But...while it's not the same thing, your goal is akin to someone saying his first real foray into mountain climbing will be Mount Everest. Capitol ain't Everest, but Capitol in winter solo as your first peak in calendar winter...yikes! That's way, way out there. Full disclosure: I've done lots of winter peaks, but haven't done Capitol in winter, more a lack of interest than anything else. But I'm familiar with the endeavor and have had friends that have done it. Unless you are supremely fit and experienced, it'll almost certainly be an overnight trip; winter camping is a skillset unto itself (rigging a tent in deep snow, stoves, water, etc etc.) You also won't have anyone else to break trail for you as you carry a heavier pack, and doing so in a deep snowpack can be an exhausting, humbling experience. January is cold (duh), and the snowpack can be problematic. Not impossible by a long shot, but a January snowpack is different than the same in mid-March. And in January you have shorter daylight hours, you'd need to have your winter night navigation skills up to at least a rudimentary level. Personally I'd recommend snowshoes for you; anyone can use those, but jumping right onto skis with no experience? I suspect you'd spend more time learning to ski than making much forward progress.

Here's an alternate plan: Come out and do an easier winter peak or two. If successful, do an overnighter. Elbert is an easy one, good camping spot around 11K. If that goes well maybe then consider Capitol (and I know others will howl that's too soon). Hard to say if you have your layers dialed in if you haven't come off a peak at night in the winter at 13K. Get a bit of real world experience, then shoot for your goal! Just my .02.

-Tom

PS: Most of your boot picks are dated. Plastics are dead (fwiw I used to use the Asolos you mentioned). Double boots are OK, esp for overnighters, but there are better/lighter choices on the market.

[LarryM]

The “Florida Man” title is making me somewhat suspicious.

Only somewhat?

[Scott P]

I'm going to have a month off work next winter so I'm thinking of driving to Colorado in January to do as much backpacking and as many peaks (hopefully 14ers) as I can. I have several questions for you all, and since this is my first post, I'll give you some background and context.

I did Mt. Sniktau in June a few years back and have done a few peaks in the Smokies in February, which is the whole extent of my mountaineering and cold weather experience (not much). Sniktau was hard on the lungs but I came from sea level the night before. Never done any Class 3 or 4 scrambles but I've been going to a climbing gym for a few months now. I'm planning on booking an avalanche course and possibly a general mountaineering course for when I arrive. I finished reading Freedom of the Hills and am working on Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. I have my cold weather clothing layers and camping gear mostly dialed in, and will probably rent snowshoes or an AT setup.

Questions
1. Are double boots overkill for Colorado? I was thinking of getting the Scarpa Inverno, La Sportiva Baruntse, or Asolo AFS 8k depending on fit, and crampons of course.

2. Are trekking skis any good? The ones that are a cross between snowshoes and AT skis. Shorter, wider skis that can attach to any shoe with built in skins. Black diamond and Altai I think. I've never skied so I'm curious if learning AT is worth the effort or doable in a short time frame or if I should just go for what looks like an easier version of snowshoes, especially since this is a once a year thing for me.

3. When I check the weather forecast, how windy before I should cancel the days ascent for a hard 14er? How about an easy one?

I thought I had more but that's it for now I guess. Plenty of time between now and then. Basically I'm just trying to be prepared and not end up in Accidents in North American Mountaineering. I'm going to start with easy routes to get in mountain shape, and then go for some challenges. After I've done the courses and a few peaks, I think I'll have a better idea of what I can handle. Not dead set on Capitol Peak, but that seems like the grand prize.

What are you, chicken? You should be doing one of the north face routes in winter.

[Matt]

The “Florida Man” title is making me somewhat suspicious.

Only somewhat?

This is obvious trolling, even if not familiar with "Florida Man."

To bring value to this thread, here's some insight and comedy:
He has his own Reddit sub and wikipedia entry.
I wonder if this will make his Top 10 or Esquire if they make a new list?

[CheapCigarMan]

I wonder if this will make his Top 10 or Esquire if they make a new list?

Referencing his Top 10 list. I hope he doesn't decide to take it out on Capitol. Though, it's summit could use a power washing.

https://youtu.be/WzU6_3GqbFo

[rijaca]

Either a troll or extremely naïve.

[cedica]

Hi Bill, whatever happened to Sapphire and Chloe thread? Search finds nothing.
That was such a great read, maybe one of the best. Should be on some lesser hall of fame at least.

[Eli Boardman]

Not bad, not bad. In fact, this thread makes a wonderful template for all future trolling. The pattern is this:

<obvious troll is obvious>

<skeptical but polite reply>

<warning OP about future flaming>

<long passage critiquing some trivial aspect of arcane terminology>

<"see I told you">

<naive poster spends an hour writing a helpful essay>

<secondary trolling of naive poster>

<internet culture reference, including at least 1 YouTube link>
--------------- we are here ------------------

<troll makes second account>

<"you guys know I can see IPs, right?" ~ Bill Middlebrook>

<obligatory comparison of OP's negative traits to Jon Kedrowski>

<something to do with Aleks Zebastian and MountainProject>

.....50 pages later.....

<girl in green Subaru makes reappearance, this time in a hot tub on Mt. Democrat>

<Baron von Bergschrund is resurrected>

<Monster5 learns to love tricams>

<thread hall of fame>

[rijaca]

Not bad, not bad. In fact, this thread makes a wonderful template for all future trolling. The pattern is this:

<obvious troll is obvious>

<skeptical but polite reply>

<warning OP about future flaming>

<long passage critiquing some trivial aspect of arcane terminology>

<"see I told you">

<naive poster spends an hour writing a helpful essay>

<secondary trolling of naive poster>

<internet culture reference, including at least 1 YouTube link>
--------------- we are here ------------------

<troll makes second account>

<"you guys know I can see IPs, right?" ~ Bill Middlebrook>

<obligatory comparison of OP's negative traits to Jon Kedrowski>

<something to do with Aleks Zebastian and MountainProject>

.....50 pages later.....

<girl in green Subaru makes reappearance, this time in a hot tub on Mt. Democrat>

<Baron von Bergschrund is resurrected>

<Monster5 learns to love tricams>

<thread hall of fame>

You forgot this classic (similar theme)….
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=28404

[highpilgrim]

You forgot this classic (similar theme)….

The home to several of my favorite posts, all time.

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dill hole.JPG