Capitol Peak

September 2010  |  Elk Mountains, Colorado

In late September I spent four days doing various hikes around Capitol Peak, a rugged fourteener in the Elk Mountains of Colorado.

Sunset alpenglow on Capitol Peak, 14,130 ft., as seen from Avalanche Pass.
Capitol Peak Alpenglow

Sunset alpenglow on Capitol Peak, 14,130 ft., as seen from Avalanche Pass.

Snowmass Mountain, 14,092 ft., as seen from Avalanche Pass at sunset. 
Snowmass Alpenglow

Snowmass Mountain, 14,092 ft., as seen from Avalanche Pass at sunset. 

Poofy clouds and sunset light in the Elk Mountains.  Meadow Mountain is at the center, with the Maroon Bells behind.&nbsp...
Meadow Mountain Sunset

Poofy clouds and sunset light in the Elk Mountains.  Meadow Mountain is at the center, with the Maroon Bells behind. 

A double rainbow reflects in Beaver Lake, near the town of Marble, on a rainy September morning. 
Beaver Lake Rainbow

A double rainbow reflects in Beaver Lake, near the town of Marble, on a rainy September morning. 

Golden sunset light shines on the north face of Capitol Peak, 14,130 ft.
Golden Capitol Peak

Golden sunset light shines on the north face of Capitol Peak, 14,130 ft.

Capitol Lake and the first snows of autumn.  Capitol Peak's summit is still shrouded in clouds. 
Snowy Capitol Lake

Capitol Lake and the first snows of autumn.  Capitol Peak's summit is still shrouded in clouds. 

A rugged spire near Capitol Lake, covered in the first snows of autumn. 
Snowy Spire

A rugged spire near Capitol Lake, covered in the first snows of autumn. 

Sunset light and distant cloud shadows paint the Maroon Bells fourteeners in the Elk Mountains. 
Maroon Bells Sunset Light

Sunset light and distant cloud shadows paint the Maroon Bells fourteeners in the Elk Mountains. 

A spectacular sunset behind Capitol Peak (14,130 ft.) as seen from the summit of K2 (which is actually more of just a subpeak...
Capitol Peak Sunset

A spectacular sunset behind Capitol Peak (14,130 ft.) as seen from the summit of K2 (which is actually more of just a subpeak [13,664 ft.] on a huge ridgeline of Capitol). 

Dusk earthshadow colors over the Elk Range, near Aspen, Colorado, as seen from the summit of K2.  Pyramid Peak is on the...
Dusk Over the Elks

Dusk earthshadow colors over the Elk Range, near Aspen, Colorado, as seen from the summit of K2.  Pyramid Peak is on the left, Maroon Bells on the right. 

Earthshadow colors behind the Maroon Bells, the most famous fourteeners of the Elk Mountains.  North Maroon Peak (14,014...
Maroon Dusk

Earthshadow colors behind the Maroon Bells, the most famous fourteeners of the Elk Mountains.  North Maroon Peak (14,014 ft.) on the left, Maroon Peak (14,156 ft.) on the right. 

Dusk light on Snowmass Mountain, 14,092 ft. 
Snowmass Dusk

Dusk light on Snowmass Mountain, 14,092 ft. 

Ultra wide view of Pierre Lakes, as seen from the summit of K2 at dusk after the first snowfall of autumn.  Snowmass Mountain...
Pierre Lakes Basin

Ultra wide view of Pierre Lakes, as seen from the summit of K2 at dusk after the first snowfall of autumn.  Snowmass Mountain is the most prominent mountain towards the right.

Full moon light illuminates Capitol Peak, about an hour after sunset. 
Capitol Peak Moonlight

Full moon light illuminates Capitol Peak, about an hour after sunset. 

Capitol Peak towers above the yellow aspens of Capitol Creek on a gorgeous bluebird September day.
Capitol Creek Aspens

Capitol Peak towers above the yellow aspens of Capitol Creek on a gorgeous bluebird September day.

Snow dusted Capitol Peak, one of the most rugged 14er mountains in Colorado, towers high above golden aspens in September.
Capitol Peak Autumn

Snow dusted Capitol Peak, one of the most rugged 14er mountains in Colorado, towers high above golden aspens in September.

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