LazyJSkwires - Oct 1, 2023 7:46 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2023
End of a long day
I think this was some of the worst I've felt while hiking. Had to take multiple breathers on the way up, felt like throwing up a couple times, didn't feel hungry enough to eat. Got a tiny amount of snow for my troubles. Went down and got the hell out of there
runbyu1 - Aug 19, 2023 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2023
Late afternoon with a speed descent
First big climb of the year for me. Took about 2 hours to get to the top. Ran down quick in just over 48 minutes, just missing the all time descent record by 18 seconds.
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
Mt Columbia
West Slopes
birdhead - Jun 15, 2021 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2021
West Slopes
First 14er for my friend and his son. The new trail segment is very nice and makes the first half of the ascent up the west slopes relatively easy. Steak taco and half a beer on top! Another day of perfect (storm free) CO weather!
aarobkol - Jun 6, 2021 2:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2021
Spring Columbia hike
Day hike to Columbia from N. Fork Trailhead. Significant slushy snow up to timberline. Then a straightforward hike up the new trail with patches of crusty snow. I spent the summer of 2017 working on the new trail so I wanted to see the finished product. Makes the hike to the ridge much nicer.
Scott - May 20, 2021 1:30 pm Date Climbed: Feb 28, 2021
Mount Columbia
February 27
With a late start, Kessler and I hiked up the Southeast Ridge of Mt. Columbia to 10,256 feet before setting up camp.
February 28
It was a cold -15F in the morning, but Kessler and I set off up the Mount Columbia (there were other people on the mountain as well). There is nothing hard about the Southeast Ridge of Mt. Columbia, but it is very long and relentless (especially in winter) with several up and downs. Eventually we were able to ditch the snowshoes and make the long rest of the climb with just boots. Because of a stove malfunction, we ended up low on water, but someone on the way down loaned us some.
We made it to the summit and took a break before the long jouney down. It was dark before we packed up camp and made it back to the vehicle.
JesseSumrak - Sep 21, 2020 9:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2020
Harvard and Columbia
Started our drive around 1am and began the hike around 4:30. Had 3 friends (Braden, Ben, and Andrea) join me, and we cruised to the top of Harvard. Seeing a lot of snow on the traverse to Columbia, we decided to descend all the way back down to the junction and reascend Columbia. Lots of wind on Columbia Ridgeline, but no bad weather and just a beautiful day. Long way down and a long day overall, but well worth the effort.
Set off from the TH at 4:30 am with my wife and friends Jesse and Braden. The goal was to do the Harvard/Columbia traverse. We summitted Harvard around 8:20 and relaxed for twentyish minutes. We decided to forgo the traverse as it looked pretty icy. Instead, we descended back into Horn Fork Basin and followed the new trail up to Columbia. What a slog. Weather was nearly perfect and we summitted Columbia shortly after noon. Back down to the TH by 3:20 pm. 14er #27 and the final of the Sawatch 14ers.
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 11:57 am Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2016
Solo southeast ridge bushwhack
Made Columbia its own challenge by climbing long southeast ridge in the snow
BradBartick - May 27, 2018 5:14 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2018
Bluebird day
Good climb, south slope was steep and relentless but not difficult. Alone on summit which is odd for a Memorial Day weekend.
Wheelbarrow - Feb 6, 2018 6:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2017
#44 First overnighter since Chicago Basin
Had a fair bit of time the day before but not enough to summit anything so I hammocked up at the base of Columbia and woke up early to chain the two. So going from Columbia to Harvard, traversing the ridge is fine as long as you can find a good place to descend to where you can meet up with the Harvard side of the ridge without rock climbing. I got as low as 12,850 feet.
kronshage3 - Aug 6, 2017 6:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2017
Columbia Traverse
Started around 4:30AM. Conditions excellent up to Harvard summit. Traverse was very long as expected. 4 or 5 small snowfields along the traverse. Thunderstorms started rolling in at 11AM. Spent minimal time at Columbia summit. Light rain all the way back to trailhead. Was back around 2:40PM.
lilmantis - Jul 11, 2017 1:36 am Date Climbed: May 28, 2017
Looper
Long day of 17 miles or so doing a loop we did not intend to do but we missed the SE ridge trail from the Colorado Trail so we went all the way to Harvard Lakes and then caught the ridge on the north side after climbing in the snow to gain it. Great traverse on good snow conditions all the way to the summit and we were able to take the SE ridge down to the main trail on the descent.
skorpeo - Dec 13, 2016 11:30 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2016
I reached the summit about 9:30 just as another climber finished the traverse from Harvard. Not a cloud in the sky. It was an easy decision to continue to Harvard.
SchwartzOn - Jun 11, 2016 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2016
Snow fields to South Ridge Columbia
I think I was here in the right month. The creek was roaring and the trail was mostly visible. Used GPS to get to the South Ridge, which looked like the nicest. Glad I did, it was schoss coming back down. Nice easy day hike 10 RT. The snowfields were easy to walk through, not much wind loading. We'll see which month I get to Harvard.
scgrant - Nov 30, 2015 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2015
Harvard and Columbia
From North Fork TH, we did Harvard first, then traverse to Columbia. Beautiful loop hike hitting these two impressive 14er's.
Moogie737 - Aug 13, 2015 7:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2015
West Slopes-Harvard Combo
#1 8-11-15 W/ Brent. A long two-fer with the weather being nearly as challenging as the west slopes scree fest and the subsequent journey to visit the teeny Harvard summit. Saw 2 other hikers the entire day. Total loop time was 11+47. It rained on us for two hours beginning with the descent from Harvard.
LazyJSkwires - Oct 1, 2023 7:46 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2023
End of a long dayI think this was some of the worst I've felt while hiking. Had to take multiple breathers on the way up, felt like throwing up a couple times, didn't feel hungry enough to eat. Got a tiny amount of snow for my troubles. Went down and got the hell out of there
runbyu1 - Aug 19, 2023 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2023
Late afternoon with a speed descentFirst big climb of the year for me. Took about 2 hours to get to the top. Ran down quick in just over 48 minutes, just missing the all time descent record by 18 seconds.
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
Mt ColumbiaWest Slopes
birdhead - Jun 15, 2021 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2021
West SlopesFirst 14er for my friend and his son. The new trail segment is very nice and makes the first half of the ascent up the west slopes relatively easy. Steak taco and half a beer on top! Another day of perfect (storm free) CO weather!
aarobkol - Jun 6, 2021 2:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2021
Spring Columbia hikeDay hike to Columbia from N. Fork Trailhead. Significant slushy snow up to timberline. Then a straightforward hike up the new trail with patches of crusty snow. I spent the summer of 2017 working on the new trail so I wanted to see the finished product. Makes the hike to the ridge much nicer.
Scott - May 20, 2021 1:30 pm Date Climbed: Feb 28, 2021
Mount ColumbiaFebruary 27
With a late start, Kessler and I hiked up the Southeast Ridge of Mt. Columbia to 10,256 feet before setting up camp.
February 28
It was a cold -15F in the morning, but Kessler and I set off up the Mount Columbia (there were other people on the mountain as well). There is nothing hard about the Southeast Ridge of Mt. Columbia, but it is very long and relentless (especially in winter) with several up and downs. Eventually we were able to ditch the snowshoes and make the long rest of the climb with just boots. Because of a stove malfunction, we ended up low on water, but someone on the way down loaned us some.
We made it to the summit and took a break before the long jouney down. It was dark before we packed up camp and made it back to the vehicle.
JesseSumrak - Sep 21, 2020 9:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2020
Harvard and ColumbiaStarted our drive around 1am and began the hike around 4:30. Had 3 friends (Braden, Ben, and Andrea) join me, and we cruised to the top of Harvard. Seeing a lot of snow on the traverse to Columbia, we decided to descend all the way back down to the junction and reascend Columbia. Lots of wind on Columbia Ridgeline, but no bad weather and just a beautiful day. Long way down and a long day overall, but well worth the effort.
BKiser90 - Sep 19, 2020 7:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2020
Final Sawatch 14er and #27Set off from the TH at 4:30 am with my wife and friends Jesse and Braden. The goal was to do the Harvard/Columbia traverse. We summitted Harvard around 8:20 and relaxed for twentyish minutes. We decided to forgo the traverse as it looked pretty icy. Instead, we descended back into Horn Fork Basin and followed the new trail up to Columbia. What a slog. Weather was nearly perfect and we summitted Columbia shortly after noon. Back down to the TH by 3:20 pm. 14er #27 and the final of the Sawatch 14ers.
mickeyCs - Mar 27, 2020 7:18 pm
--2019
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 11:57 am Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2016
Solo southeast ridge bushwhackMade Columbia its own challenge by climbing long southeast ridge in the snow
BradBartick - May 27, 2018 5:14 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2018
Bluebird dayGood climb, south slope was steep and relentless but not difficult. Alone on summit which is odd for a Memorial Day weekend.
Wheelbarrow - Feb 6, 2018 6:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2017
#44 First overnighter since Chicago BasinHad a fair bit of time the day before but not enough to summit anything so I hammocked up at the base of Columbia and woke up early to chain the two. So going from Columbia to Harvard, traversing the ridge is fine as long as you can find a good place to descend to where you can meet up with the Harvard side of the ridge without rock climbing. I got as low as 12,850 feet.
kronshage3 - Aug 6, 2017 6:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2017
Columbia TraverseStarted around 4:30AM. Conditions excellent up to Harvard summit. Traverse was very long as expected. 4 or 5 small snowfields along the traverse. Thunderstorms started rolling in at 11AM. Spent minimal time at Columbia summit. Light rain all the way back to trailhead. Was back around 2:40PM.
lilmantis - Jul 11, 2017 1:36 am Date Climbed: May 28, 2017
LooperLong day of 17 miles or so doing a loop we did not intend to do but we missed the SE ridge trail from the Colorado Trail so we went all the way to Harvard Lakes and then caught the ridge on the north side after climbing in the snow to gain it. Great traverse on good snow conditions all the way to the summit and we were able to take the SE ridge down to the main trail on the descent.
skorpeo - Dec 13, 2016 11:30 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2016
Graduating ColumbiaHiked with my son from the east. Nice route.
utclimber - Oct 16, 2016 5:16 pm
Harvard and ColumbiaHiked Harvard and then continued on to Columbia.
Hyadventure - Jul 11, 2016 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2016
Blue bird weatherI reached the summit about 9:30 just as another climber finished the traverse from Harvard. Not a cloud in the sky. It was an easy decision to continue to Harvard.
SchwartzOn - Jun 11, 2016 9:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2016
Snow fields to South Ridge ColumbiaI think I was here in the right month. The creek was roaring and the trail was mostly visible. Used GPS to get to the South Ridge, which looked like the nicest. Glad I did, it was schoss coming back down. Nice easy day hike 10 RT. The snowfields were easy to walk through, not much wind loading. We'll see which month I get to Harvard.
scgrant - Nov 30, 2015 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2015
Harvard and ColumbiaFrom North Fork TH, we did Harvard first, then traverse to Columbia. Beautiful loop hike hitting these two impressive 14er's.
Moogie737 - Aug 13, 2015 7:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2015
West Slopes-Harvard Combo#1 8-11-15 W/ Brent. A long two-fer with the weather being nearly as challenging as the west slopes scree fest and the subsequent journey to visit the teeny Harvard summit. Saw 2 other hikers the entire day. Total loop time was 11+47. It rained on us for two hours beginning with the descent from Harvard.