Tom Grundy's Mount Harvard and Columbia Page

It got cold overnight with plenty of frost in the morning. I started out around 5:40 and welcomed the sun when it finally hit me. As I got higher there was a lot of fresh snow. At first it was pretty thin or had enough of a crust that I could stay on top of it, but then I started postholing a bit near the top. There was also some careful scrambling to stay on the dry rock and off the steepest ice and snow. Someone else was ahead of me but I beat them at the 14420 ft summit as they avoided the more direct route I took. It was sunny, but there was a cold breeze at 9:35. This is the third highest peak in Colorado.

a view south to Mt Yale through the trees

frosty wildflowers

snowy trail up higher with Columbia

summit selfie

360 degree panorama from the summit of Harvard
North is middleish and the traverse to Columbia is on the right but Columbia is on the far left

the other summiter also took my picture - thanks

The traverse to Columbia was long. Sometimes there would be a bit of a trail, but other times it was covered by snow or there was no trail. Mostly it was just a long way as the clouds built up - more of an overcast build up than a thunderstorm build up. It was a little frustrating dropping so much elevation, but that is how it went. After passing the low point I went up and across a large talus and grassy field and then up the north slope. There was enough snow that it wasn't at all obvious what the best route was, so I just went up slowly and carefully. Snow on talus is rarely fun, but it was easier going up than down (but slower and more tiring). I made it to the 14073 ft summit about 12:45 and was relieved that much of the snow was gone from the top and south side.

the snowy rocky north slope of Columbia - I sort of just went straight up

panorama westish from the summit of Columbia - my approach came up this valley
the traverse from Harvard is on the right and most of the snow has melted off Harvard

The descent was long and steep but not technical. At some point there was a bit of a trail, but then I ran into where they were re-routing it. From there I was able to mostly follow a trail back to where I came up and then back to the trailhead. It was a long day with a lot of elevation change and some tiring snowy cross country travel.

home sweet home - the truck of plenty

I cooked dinner under the tarp before driving around to the next trailhead in the drizzly dark.

Summary of August 30th, two 14ers, about 15 miles and 6100 feet of elevation gain. A cold start with plenty of fresh snow as well as tedious traversing and postholing up a snow covered talus slope.

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