Approach
This is the quickest route if doing a Columbia/Yale or Harvard/Columbia/Yale combo. Start from the N. Cottonwood trailhead on the west end of Chaffee Co. 365 (2WD rough dirt) and hike 2 miles west until you cross the stream on a wooden bridge.
Route Description
Looking south you will see a steep avalanche chute. Climb it. There is no trail, so bushwack. You will see bits of wreckage from a plane that crashed in the 1940's. Above treeline you will reach a ridge with a bowl between you and the summit. You can traverse this on grassy slopes on either side, to the left up the east ridge, or to the right up the west ridge. Either way you will have a little boulder scrambling near the summit.
Essential Gear
Standard hiking stuff (summer). Since this is an avalanche chute, I wouldn't recommend it in the winter.
Miscellaneous Info
If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.
Images
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Sawatch Range
