Mount Columbia Climber's Log

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Pete Castricone

Pete Castricone - Jul 26, 2015 9:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2015

West Slopes  Sucess!

Enjoyed another beautiful day in the Sawatch.

jeffrawn

jeffrawn - Jul 9, 2015 12:18 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2013

Standard Route  Sucess!

My first 14er was Harvard. Glad finally to get back to Horn Fork Basin then past all that scree! Played tag with a mountain goat from 13K to summit.

Onager

Onager - Jun 29, 2015 4:18 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2015

From N. Cottonwood  Sucess!

Today I soloed 14,073 foot Mount Columbia via the West Slopes route. I started around 5 AM from the North Cottonwood Creek Trail head just a few miles out of Buena Vista. The sun was just starting to rise when I hit the trail. I continued along for 1.5 miles to a bridge and trail junction. I continued on towards Horn Fork Basin on a good trail. After a few more miles and stream crossings I reached tree line and split off the trail towards Mount Columbia. The views of Mount Yale and Mount Harvard were great. I noticed a few more climbers ahead of me on the talus slope I had to ascend. This was a nightmare due to all the loose rock, making route finding difficult. I reached the group on the western slopes of Mount Columbia and chatted with them for a bit. I followed them up the rocky "trail" to the ridge. From the ridge, I still had a bit of a ways to go. Weather was clear so I was feeling confident. After a bit more effort the summit was in view. I made the summit around 9:30 AM. I didn't linger too long, as clouds were building around the summit. I made my way down the same way I came up. Steep, loose scree. I made it back to timberline at 11 AM. I followed the good trail back to the trail head, and made it back to my car by 12:30 PM. Around 4,250 ft of elevation gained over 7 1/2 hours and a total of 11.5 miles. Successful day!

pchernik - Jan 20, 2015 11:19 pm Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2015

Columbia/Harvard traverse  Sucess!

On Sat Jan 17 we hiked up from Buena Vista to Horn Fork Basin via North Cottonwood (parked around 8500 as we didn't have chains and our 4WD had trouble going up the snow). Snowshoes are a must from North Cottonwood trailhead to the base. By our campsite there was nearly 3 ft of snow. Camped around 11500. Sunday, we went up Mount Columbia via West Slopes. Traverse from Columbia to Harvard was difficult, with much snow. The trail would be very hard to follow without GPS (cairns weren't easy to spot - we saw only a couple the entire way). We got to Mount Harvard by sunset and went down via South Slopes. We went up in microspikes, but I'd probably go with crampons if I had to do it over.

Climbing Jack

Climbing Jack - Jul 21, 2014 9:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2013

The scree wasn't that bad.  Sucess!

Via the west slope

yadahzoemtn

yadahzoemtn - Jul 4, 2014 11:17 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2014

In Combination w/ Harvard  Sucess!

Loved this mountain but Greg, Colette and I had summited Columbia first and come across the ridge to Harvard. The combination of the two is demanding, to put it lightly. Next time I think I will do them separately and enjoy them both a little more.

MissH

MissH - Jun 30, 2014 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2014

Graduation!! (SE Ridge)  Sucess!

Closed out the Collegiates (and Sawatch range 14ers) with a successful ascent/descent of Colubmia via the steep SE ridge. Interesting way to go, especially if you don't require the security of a marked trail. Scattered cairns provide confirmation that someone else was there before you, but do little to keep you on the "trail." If you decide to go this way, just aim for the ridge and negotiate each "obstacle" as it comes up - as long as you're on the ridge, you can't go wrong! GPS claimed we did 11.8m miles and 6100 ft elev gain (not sure how reliable it is). Clear, sunny skies but quite windy - beautiful day overall.

ericd

ericd - Jun 29, 2014 5:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2014

A ridgeline assault  Sucess!

Started at Harvard Lakes trailhead to grab the SE ridgeline trail (no snow) all the way up. A 5.5hr ascent and 3.5hr descent on solid-rock (no scree). Sky on both sides of trail with the occasional skirting around high rock piles. Summit was nicer than expected, out of wind, and with aerial view of Harvard's basin.

DanielL

DanielL - Oct 9, 2013 12:22 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2008

Harvard to Columbia traverse  Sucess!

Climbed Harvard's standard from Horn Fork Basin, and then traversed to Columbia (17 miles RT), which was a fun route. The early evening descent down the ultra-loose face into the basin was definitely not fun, but it was a rewarding day nonetheless.

cdevenney84

cdevenney84 - Sep 22, 2013 6:30 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2013

Combo. West Slopes trail = terrible  Sucess!

Harvard was a pleasure, the traverse was fun, but the West Slopes "trail" coming down Columbia sucked. Worst trail I've seen on a 14er by far - I can't believe it's the standard route. There were people all over the side of the mountain looking for it, and once we did find it, it was thin and steep with bad erosion. Expect to fall on your ass half a dozen times. Honestly, do Harvard and skip Columbia unless you are determined to do all the 14ers.

rockymountaindiva

rockymountaindiva - Jul 26, 2013 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2011

Talus and scree  Sucess!

After Harvard the prior day, Columbia seemed like a job. Won't be going back any time soon.

Fletch

Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 1:29 pm Date Climbed: Mar 20, 2011

Big glissade  Sucess!

probably shouldn't have... lessons learned...

pyerger

pyerger - Dec 10, 2012 4:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2012

Columbia  Sucess!

Nice day out! upper part of the Standard route was not very pleseant

telemarkdude

telemarkdude - Nov 22, 2012 11:33 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 1999

East RIdge  Sucess!

Was planning on continuing on to Harvard. Columbia's east ridge took a little longer than anticipated and I ran out of time.

ajberry

ajberry - Oct 27, 2012 5:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008

From Harvard  Sucess!

With Katie and Megan, both 11. Camped in Horn Fork Basin. Great conditions.

milan - Oct 18, 2012 5:50 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2008

Long day  Sucess!

This was a long day of hiking after Harvard the day before. Scree slope was relentles. Again, a storm formed at around the time we were about to leave the summit.

Sarah Simon

Sarah Simon - Sep 30, 2012 10:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2012

Southeast Ridge  Sucess!

Oh, holy shit, the southeast ridge is a beautiful route! Descent mileage (over 12 miles) and lotsa ups and downs made for a pretty long day. Beautiful weather, incredibly aesthetic route!

PeakLizard

PeakLizard - Aug 19, 2012 11:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2012

Three Elk Creek - Full Crest Hike  Sucess!

Beautiful hike day originating from the trail along the still gushing Three Elk Creek (East approach). Third summit of Mt. Columbia and this time hiked the entire crest of the bowl - NE to Summit and around to SE (no trail after you pass the Cottonwood Creek trail connection (SW side). Big horn, marmots and coyote sighted. Long and challenging, but gorgeous tour, rare to see other hikers - no one on a Summer Saturday!

bighornmonkey

bighornmonkey - Aug 2, 2012 11:23 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2012

Twofer  Sucess!

did harvard first, then columbia as a twofer.
5th 14er this year.

Matt Lemke

Matt Lemke - Feb 5, 2012 1:10 pm Date Climbed: Feb 4, 2012

SE ridge in winter  Sucess!

What a long ridge! Lots of breaking trail as well.
14 hours car-to-car from the Harvard Lakes TH

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