NEWS: UPDATED: Dramatic Blackhawk Rescue on Capitol Peak (9/1/13)

The Knife Edge of Capitol Peak

A Fort Collins man had to be rescued off Capitol Peak in Colorado's Elk Range after becoming stranded not far below the summit. According to a report on Aspentimes.com, Daniel Palmer, of Fort Collins, was trapped on the peak and had to be rescued by team from Mountain Rescue Aspen as well as a Blackhawk Helicopter. Reportedly, Palmer suffered only minor injuries in the incident.

At 14,130 feet Capitol is the 29th tallest mountain in Colorado. It is considered one of the most difficult and exposed of all Colorado's 14er, largely due to the "Knife Edge," an exposed fin that mountaineers must traverse. Capitol Peak was the scene of a fatal accident earlier this year when Ryan Palmer (no relation) decided to downclimb the north face of the mountain instead of returning over the Knife Edge and fell to his death.

UPDATED: According to an interview in the Aspen Times, Daniel Palmer claims to have gotten turned around on the descent and mistakenly descended to a point on the north face where he was unable to descend and unable to go back up. He was able to call authorities from a cell phone he was carrying.

Check out this video of the Knife Edge from a 2011 trip to Capitol:



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