This was more of a scouting mission than anything ... had never been on this side of Gothic Basin before. Took the 5mi bike approach in with far less people traffice. Made it to Poodle Dog Pass late enough in the day for a single day push to be too much. Lots of snow, much punching through and cursing. Silver Lake was still totally frozen over and cloud level was low. Looks like a sweet later summer option!
lots of loose crap toward the top. the ledge was my favorite part.
jacobsmith - May 31, 2015 10:57 am Date Climbed: May 30, 2015
spring ascent
Quite a bit more snow than most seem to face, led to some steep, no-falls, snow climbing toward the top. 14-ish hours car to car
thundercloud - Sep 1, 2014 7:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2014
West Ridge
Excellent scramble. The short c4 step was interesting, and was a bit awkward on the down-climb, but it's only a move or two. Not as loose as feared, but still lots of bowling alley potential.
Josh Lewis - Oct 14, 2012 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2012
Nice Fall Colors
This was a fun climb. A little bit of loose rock near the summit but nothing too bad. Some nice fall colors were seen along the way.
awilsondc - Oct 13, 2012 12:56 am Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2012
Route Climbed: West Ridge
Did this one with Josh Lewis. This was a great hike and scramble. We biked in which is highly recommended. Excellent fall colors accentuated the scenery and it was a beautiful October day. I thought the "loose rock" in the scramble section was overrated while on the way up. We didn't knock a single rock loose on the way up. While we were at the summit, I tossed a rock into the gully and it went down FAST! If you're climbing up and something breaks loose above you it will be on top of you before you are able to even look up after hearing it. I put on the helmet for the way down and we did have a couple rocks break loose on the way down the gully. 9 1/2 hours car to car with bikes for the approach and several breaks along the hike as well as 30 minutes on the summit.
JLuthanen - Jul 6, 2020 5:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2020
Soggy Covid filled cloudy (*&$#(*& summer 2020This was more of a scouting mission than anything ... had never been on this side of Gothic Basin before. Took the 5mi bike approach in with far less people traffice. Made it to Poodle Dog Pass late enough in the day for a single day push to be too much. Lots of snow, much punching through and cursing. Silver Lake was still totally frozen over and cloud level was low. Looks like a sweet later summer option!
chandlerhaberlack - Aug 21, 2017 4:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2017
West Ridgelots of loose crap toward the top. the ledge was my favorite part.
jacobsmith - May 31, 2015 10:57 am Date Climbed: May 30, 2015
spring ascentQuite a bit more snow than most seem to face, led to some steep, no-falls, snow climbing toward the top. 14-ish hours car to car
thundercloud - Sep 1, 2014 7:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2014
West RidgeExcellent scramble. The short c4 step was interesting, and was a bit awkward on the down-climb, but it's only a move or two. Not as loose as feared, but still lots of bowling alley potential.
Josh Lewis - Oct 14, 2012 10:46 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2012
Nice Fall ColorsThis was a fun climb. A little bit of loose rock near the summit but nothing too bad. Some nice fall colors were seen along the way.
awilsondc - Oct 13, 2012 12:56 am Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2012
Route Climbed: West RidgeDid this one with Josh Lewis. This was a great hike and scramble. We biked in which is highly recommended. Excellent fall colors accentuated the scenery and it was a beautiful October day. I thought the "loose rock" in the scramble section was overrated while on the way up. We didn't knock a single rock loose on the way up. While we were at the summit, I tossed a rock into the gully and it went down FAST! If you're climbing up and something breaks loose above you it will be on top of you before you are able to even look up after hearing it. I put on the helmet for the way down and we did have a couple rocks break loose on the way down the gully. 9 1/2 hours car to car with bikes for the approach and several breaks along the hike as well as 30 minutes on the summit.
tcingrum - Sep 18, 2012 9:11 am
ColumbiaAlways good to be in the Monte Cristo area. Loose rocks go downhill fast.
kevinsa - Sep 15, 2012 9:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2009
Columbia PeakAwesome mountain. I don't wear my helmet as much as I should, but I would wear it on this peak.
gimpilator - Sep 9, 2012 12:27 am Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2012
Columbia and Twin PeaksBeware of loose rubble on the scramble. This is a very fun route and extremely scenic in good weather. We used bikes for the approach.