'I Need Help': Hiker Survives Treacherous 14er

“I need help.” That’s all Joe Seeds texted to a friend when he was lost and out of options near the 14,130 foot summit of Capitol Peak.

[glenacord]

I’m not even from Colorado, but I noticed the opening shot mis-identifies Maroon Bells as Capitol Peak.

[jeremys]

from doing research on this 14ner. People die because they take shortcuts back down. when you reach that summit you realize that you need to go back the way you came from...THRU THE KNIFE EDGE.

[numberfan]

I wonder if the volunteer rescuer was like "Oh, yay. I wanna do THAT!" 😂

[amols]

From someone who has not hiked it but researched it, let me tell you that it is NOT possible to get lost on the Knife's edge because on that section, you see the path ahead of you. He probably got lost on his downward hike from the summit before the return hike (meaning the second hike across that section, not the third) across the Knife's edge. The trail after the KE leading up to the summit (and down) is not well defined. It involves route finding across fairly exposed sections of the mountain. You may get cliffed out or end up in sections which is not along the standard route if you forget your way back and have no one to follow or an app guiding you precisely (not sure these apps have that level of accuracy for such terrains yet). In fact, there is no trail from K2 (the 13er before the KE) onwards.

[rickj]

A little bit of fear is what keeps us alive and in check. He sounds a like one of the few smart ones unlike the video showing that guy walking casually across. It's a 1500 ft exposure on both sides.

[ELMontañero]

It's hard to even find the trail? What trail!? Lol!

[jorymil]

Sounds like this guy did the smart thing: called for help, then got himself to the easiest place for the helicopter to reach. I'd be climbing this thing on my hands and knees if I ever had to. A ridgeline full of loose rock makes climbing a rock wall seem like a playpen.

[stephenfreas]

Permits are not helpful. Government keeps pushing permits, restricting public access to public lands. Climbers should help each other and they do.

[scottfulton]

I'm not sure why he ended up crossing the Knife's Edge a third time. I assume after he crossed it the second time, he was going in the direction toward K2.

[mikeday]

Climbers of Capitol peak go across the knife edge on the way up and again on the way down. Plan to summit early, then head back down around 12 noon. Rain clouds often gather in the early afternoon and it's a bad place to be when it rains.

[TheHungaryJack]

How do you get lost on the way down? There is only one way, and it's back the way you came. The knife edge is hard to miss.

[InHomeHappy]

He's brave enough to hike it again but with a rescuer Lol.

[ellingwood]

What'd that chopper ride cost you?

[chubbieminami]

When I just got started in mountain hiking, I could not see the correct trail in the woods. It is amazing how I can see it easily now. I also had a mild panic experience- mild because I had enough food, clothes, and water to stay overnight in the mountain. Luckily I found myself back on the trail. The lesson I learned early on was to not trust your friend and do your own homework getting prepared.

[jackt]

One, I love it that people do these insane and dangerous climbs, makes for great videos. Two, I am quite happy knowing I will never, ever do such a climb or hike.

[zachcrennen]

My friend did capitol as his first 14er

[stephenkittle]

It didn't make sense that he did the knife edge 3 times? Seems he didn't have clue about where he was? I did the 14ers, the top 100 and went to 14, 000 ft 106 times when hardly ANYBODY was doing 14ers!! Back then you had very little info on the 14ers compared to the last 20yrs!! He was very lucky that a SICK ASS PILOT was willing to fly that high to rescue him!! 🥰🚁!!

[stephenkittle]

I just want to say more one thing, I did all that climbing in the 80's !!