The area on the dip left of the peak right above the snow field.
The fall was on the right side of the ridge in this area. Most people don't use a rope here. I did not use a rope.
Posted on 09/05/2022 3:42:39 PM PDT by BenLurkin
First responders received a call just before 8 a.m. from a man who was part of a hiking party that saw the woman fall what he believed was 1,500 to 2,000 feet from below the summit into Pierre Lakes Basin, the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said.
The witness said that the woman had fallen after a rock she was trying to hold onto gave way, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officials described the area as "treacherous," with "loose, rotting terrain" that can create unstable and dangerous conditions that can lead to serious injury or death.
Rescuers learned of the woman’s location and estimated she had fallen about 900 feet into Pierre Lakes Basin from the route that connects the knife edge to the Capitol Peak summit.
Her body was airlifted from the area...
The woman, who witnesses say was solo hiking, was from Denver, the sheriff’s office said. Her name was not immediately released pending the notification of her next of kin...
Capitol Peak has an elevation of 14,137 feet and is considered one of the state’s most challenging mountains to climb due to its extreme conditions.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Was she vaccinated?
She died doing what she loved. If it wasn’t dangerous, there would be no bragging rights, and she wouldn’t have bothered. Her loved ones no doubt were aware of her hobby and shouldn’t be shocked, only surprised that it hadn’t happened earlier and duly prepared. May she Rest In Peace.
Balanced on the biggest wave.
Race to-wards an early grave.
I have climbed Capitol Peak and several other peaks recently posted as dangerous such as Popocatepetl in Mexico. I am guessing she fell on the Knife-Edge Ridge. When I was there, I saw many unsafe practices, so it does not surprise me. I am a former mountaineering instructor for the Colorado Mountain Club, and they focus on safety. On climbing portions of their Basic Mountaineering Course it was common to point out things others were doing as “things not to do, ever”.
Did she get the selfie?
Evidently this lake was never named Lucky Pierre.
Rockfall, lightning strikes, decomposing granites, etc. are all waiting to pounce on even the most experienced climbers.
I once fell 30 over the side of a cliff.
Got banged up pretty good.
I laugh about it today but, it was an unforced error.
I was even knocked by a tree that didn’t like me snowboarding through its territory
Laugh about that as well.
That is true that there are inherent dangers, just like driving to work or flying on an airplane. I was a senior climbing instructor with Colorado Mountain Club and also have been climbing all over the world on major peaks. The crazy things I have seen people do while climbing outnumber the crazy things I have seen people do when driving. Nothing is perfectly safe, but it is best not to be one of the careless that is just asking for an accident.
Officials described the area as “treacherous,”...
—
Apparently.
rotting terrain???
The area on the dip left of the peak right above the snow field.
The fall was on the right side of the ridge in this area. Most people don't use a rope here. I did not use a rope.
We all come from a LONG line of survivors...
OK thx, i know dead rock...
rotten to me is decomposing matter on the trail, and i thought this was prolly above the tree line
When I did this climb, I chose to go on the left side of the ridge. It was just as steep, but seemed to have better and more solid rock.
“things not to do, ever”.
apparently she did
I have fear of heights. Don’t even get on a ladder.
Even so, she would have welcomed a parachute.
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