A map of the loop. Click to enlarge.
It’s a loop that we hadn’t done before– Capitol Creek to Avalanche Creek to Hell Roaring Creek. Though friends say it’s longer, we figured it to be about 26 miles, with 7300 feet of vertical gain.
Adam and Christy, on the Ditch Trail up to Capitol Lake.
Christy, Adam Mosczynski, and I started the trip in the clockwise direction and found most of it, apart from the climb up Hell Roaring, to be runnable. You could go in reverse, but I think the layout of the hills would probably result in more hiking and an overall slower time.
the elevation profile
As it was, in the direction we went, the start of the loop followed the easy-to-run Capitol Ditch Trail to the lake. It gets steeper on climb to Capitol Pass, but after that short bit, you have about ten miles of cruisey descent down Avalanche Creek, to the turn off at Hell Roaring. I’d say it’s really enjoyable to that point.
Why is it so hard to spell Capitol correctly?
The 4,000 foot climb up Hell Roaring– named as such because it’s so steep the water comes crashing down the valley (particularly in spring) at a full roar– on semi-tired legs is hard, to say the least. We hiked the trail, with endless Ute Trail-like switchbacks for two full hours before gaining the Sopris/Capitol Ridge at 12,100 feet. From there, a short traverse on the ridge led to an equally steep descent for about an hour to the car at the Capitol Creek trailhead. Done.
Definitely check this one out, but plan on it taking at least a little longer than you’d think.
Heading up to Capitol Pass.
I’ve gotta do this run! Christy and I backpacked that loop in reverse in 1998- memories!!! Great photos, Ted.
Good stuff, Ted & Christy. With the Elks not being my backyard, I really had no idea what was on the other side of Capitol Pass. Very cool to get your description & map of the Avalanche Creek area. And, looks like a heck of a loop. Nice work and good seeing you two at the Cap TH as you finished up and boogioed off to work!
Cheers!
Brandon
Fun to see you at the trailhead Brandon!
Kathy – It was so much fun to think about our backpack so many years ago. I couldn’t remember if we did the full loop or not. Did we go up that monster hill? I didn’t forget One-Eyed Fry…. where did we camp that night? I’d do that loop with you again!
Brandon, I hope you had a good climb Sunday.
Just as an FYI, there isn’t any water up high on both sides of Hell Roaring. If you’re headed that way.
We had a really good time on Sunday, Ted. Thanks man. Superb weather and good company. It is amazing how popular even peaks like Capitol are getting during the summer months as opposed to 5, even 2 yrs, ago.
Thanks for the tip. Maybe Kristine and I will give that one a try someday.
Taking notes on your loop courses Ted,just need to get better maps.That Capitle Creek to Capitel Pass looks like a crawl for me,might need a bungee cord hooked up to my dogs.(Mother bear charged my dogs yesterday,was screaming at them to come back when they first saw her,than when she charged,dogs came running back,with bear,felt like yelling at dogs to go away!She finally saw me about 20 yards out and sauntered back to her babies,exciting stuff.
Randy,
The trail up to Capitol Lake is actually fairly mellow. We walked a bit up to the pass from there though.
The trails are all USFS maintained, so it’s not so much like following a Hardrock game trail, fading in and out, with the exception of the top Hell Roaring, which gets pretty hard to follow.
Way to push back on a threatened sow. I don’t have as commanding a stature as you, I doubt she’d back off in my presence.
Ted, your posts are fun to read and also informative. I like reading stuff that also plants a seed for a future outing. Thanks.
Thanks Andy,
I think a lot of people aren’t award of this one, even though it’s right in the backyard.
We’re just trying to see and do new things ourselves.
Glad you are milking the last trails of the season. I’ve got a Grand Canyon river trip Oct. 15 to Nov. 1; then trailering the tugboat to the Northwest (Anacortes) to set up some phun in 2013. Hope to get over the hill to ski with you again this coming season. Hugs. Rod