Hailstorm began just after leaving summit so took shelter. Eventually decided not to wait for it to quit which was just as well as it was still hailing back at parking lot.
bjd5578 - Sep 14, 2006 3:07 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Harvard and Columbia
Climbed Harvard and Columbia together in one day (then camped below treeline). Harvard was fun - Columbia, not so much. 3 hours to summit Harvard, 5 hours to get from Harvard to Columbia. My advice: do this one separately!
Ryan Kowalski - Sep 9, 2006 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
East Ridge from Three Elk TH
A gorgeous day where we climbed the ridge and were suspended above the clouds. Didn't see a soul all day on a 14er on Labor Day Weekend?!?!?! Unheard of.
belexes - Sep 1, 2006 12:15 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
North Cottonwood TH
Hoo Boy. Lots of character-building on this one. The weather was lousy pretty much all day long, and I was not prepared for it. We had a few episodes of steady rain on the way up, but then a storm rolled in as we were coming down. The wind really picked up, and we had some pelletized snow. That was not pleasant at all. There were a few crashes of very loud thunder as well. The sky did clear up as we arrived back at treeline.
cftbq - Aug 17, 2006 9:46 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 1976
Bypassed the Rabbits
14er #5; same day as Harvard. Tried the connecting ridge, but had to bail into Frenchman Creek drainage. Summitted from the NE about 6 pm. My first twofer.
Brad Snider - Aug 9, 2006 3:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
From Harvard
Loose tedious traverse b/c I stuck w/ middle of the slopes which was not much fun. Descent from Columbia on steep rotten trail not much fun either.
Camped in Horn Fork. Bad mosquitos. Summited Harvard the following morning in under 3 hours. Followed the entire ridge over to Columbia. Rapped once down 30 feet or so of some real exposed technical stuff. Went unroped over 3rd, 4th and some low 5th the rest of the way. Didn't get to climb the rabbit :(
Ascending the west slopes of Columbia will go down as probably my most unpleasant experience in the mountains to date.
Very hot and clear day. Great views all around, tricky and interesting connecting ridge. Mosquitoes weren't afraid to tag along for the ride below tree line to and from camp at North Cottonwood TH.
Very hot and clear day. Great views all around, tricky and interesting connecting ridge. Mosquitoes weren't afraid to tag along for the ride below tree line to and from camp at North Cottonwood TH.
ElliottDavis - Jun 26, 2006 3:08 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
Harvard to Columbia via "Rabbits" Ridge
Tip for heading South on the connecting ridge: the trail hugs the ridge and heads for the sketchy towers called the Rabbits. If you don't want to do them, leave the ridge early. There is a long slash of a ridge heading down into Frenchman Creek basin, and it will block your way, offering you unpleasant rocky footing and steep, loose scree. You can't see this ridge from the Harvard side till you're on it. If you want to avoid it, head down the grassy slopes, which will feel early.
Michael Hoyt - Jun 19, 2006 12:13 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2003
North Cottonwood TH, Ascend Harvard S Slopes to Columbia N Slopes, Descend Columbia W Slopes
This double is a long hard hike, especially doing Harvard first. The descent from Columbia is a down climb on braided trails of skree. If I ever do this again it will be an ascent of Columbia and a descent on the "stairs" from Harvard. Someone has done some "serious" work on the Harvard trail. It's great!
crzyjt - Jun 6, 2006 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2006
North Cottonwood Creek TH with traverse from Harvard
A lot of snow still on the upper slopes below the ridge. Downclimbing this mountain sucks. Lots of loose scree. Found a snow chute to glissade though, which was nice. Would recommend this when its still somewhat snow covered to avoid the scree. 14er #20.
Did the traverse from Harvard. The descent route was nothing more than a scree chute with an 1800 vertical foot drop that ended in a boulder and talus field. Lovely.
markhyams - Mar 4, 2006 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 1997
W Slopes
Struggled through much snow below treeline in my terrible snowshoes. Quite the talus slog to this summit, but since it was early season I had the mountain to myself. Great views of still snowy peaks before all the melt-off of summer. This was special too, because it was my last Sawatch 14er.
RMdaytripsgrl - Feb 27, 2006 4:40 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2002
Route: N Cottonwood TH, Harvard/Columbia Combo with ridge traverse
Harvard - piece of cake. Class 3-4 ridge traverse, took a while but fun, Chad LOVED it. Columbia - gave it all I had to get up it after the ridge...descent - a screeful mess in the rain! (My only savior was a stack of cookies I had saved from lunch) This area is really pretty, but this one is on the "never again" list.
I camped overnight with the sister & husband and girlfriend at some good spots across the creek. The next morning, I was the only one to bother to summit. Everyone went up to the lake and I bushwacked up a rockfall and cut to gain the east ridge and an easy walk to the summit.
Route Climbed: Traverse from Harvard Date Climbed: July 05, 2005
This traverse took a while, probably because we made such an effort to stay as high as we could on the ridge. It seems that easier passage could be found if one drops a bit lower than suggested in the guide books. In July, we found boulders and snow slowing us a bit near our low point. Also, if traversing high as we did, I would be consious of rock fall. That ridge looks loose.
royswkr - Sep 14, 2006 5:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 1987
Day hike in iffy weatherHailstorm began just after leaving summit so took shelter. Eventually decided not to wait for it to quit which was just as well as it was still hailing back at parking lot.
bjd5578 - Sep 14, 2006 3:07 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Harvard and ColumbiaClimbed Harvard and Columbia together in one day (then camped below treeline). Harvard was fun - Columbia, not so much. 3 hours to summit Harvard, 5 hours to get from Harvard to Columbia. My advice: do this one separately!
Ryan Kowalski - Sep 9, 2006 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
East Ridge from Three Elk THA gorgeous day where we climbed the ridge and were suspended above the clouds. Didn't see a soul all day on a 14er on Labor Day Weekend?!?!?! Unheard of.
belexes - Sep 1, 2006 12:15 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
North Cottonwood THHoo Boy. Lots of character-building on this one. The weather was lousy pretty much all day long, and I was not prepared for it. We had a few episodes of steady rain on the way up, but then a storm rolled in as we were coming down. The wind really picked up, and we had some pelletized snow. That was not pleasant at all. There were a few crashes of very loud thunder as well. The sky did clear up as we arrived back at treeline.
cftbq - Aug 17, 2006 9:46 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 1976
Bypassed the Rabbits14er #5; same day as Harvard. Tried the connecting ridge, but had to bail into Frenchman Creek drainage. Summitted from the NE about 6 pm. My first twofer.
Brad Snider - Aug 9, 2006 3:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
From HarvardLoose tedious traverse b/c I stuck w/ middle of the slopes which was not much fun. Descent from Columbia on steep rotten trail not much fun either.
seth@LOKI - Jul 26, 2006 8:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 1999
nice camping and smooth ascentrolling!
lindasyh - Jul 24, 2006 10:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2003
North Cottonwood TH, Ascend Harvard S Slopes to Columbia N Slopes, Descend Columbia W SlopesDid the double but it was tough. Absolutely ran out of steam.
slowpoke - Jul 24, 2006 4:57 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2006
Harvard to Columbia - Ridge RouteCamped in Horn Fork. Bad mosquitos. Summited Harvard the following morning in under 3 hours. Followed the entire ridge over to Columbia. Rapped once down 30 feet or so of some real exposed technical stuff. Went unroped over 3rd, 4th and some low 5th the rest of the way. Didn't get to climb the rabbit :(
Ascending the west slopes of Columbia will go down as probably my most unpleasant experience in the mountains to date.
kylerlott - Jul 17, 2006 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2006
Very hot and clear day. Great views all around, tricky and interesting connecting ridge. Mosquitoes weren't afraid to tag along for the ride below tree line to and from camp at North Cottonwood TH.Very hot and clear day. Great views all around, tricky and interesting connecting ridge. Mosquitoes weren't afraid to tag along for the ride below tree line to and from camp at North Cottonwood TH.
ElliottDavis - Jun 26, 2006 3:08 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
Harvard to Columbia via "Rabbits" RidgeTip for heading South on the connecting ridge: the trail hugs the ridge and heads for the sketchy towers called the Rabbits. If you don't want to do them, leave the ridge early. There is a long slash of a ridge heading down into Frenchman Creek basin, and it will block your way, offering you unpleasant rocky footing and steep, loose scree. You can't see this ridge from the Harvard side till you're on it. If you want to avoid it, head down the grassy slopes, which will feel early.
Michael Hoyt - Jun 19, 2006 12:13 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2003
North Cottonwood TH, Ascend Harvard S Slopes to Columbia N Slopes, Descend Columbia W SlopesThis double is a long hard hike, especially doing Harvard first. The descent from Columbia is a down climb on braided trails of skree. If I ever do this again it will be an ascent of Columbia and a descent on the "stairs" from Harvard. Someone has done some "serious" work on the Harvard trail. It's great!
crzyjt - Jun 6, 2006 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2006
North Cottonwood Creek TH with traverse from HarvardA lot of snow still on the upper slopes below the ridge. Downclimbing this mountain sucks. Lots of loose scree. Found a snow chute to glissade though, which was nice. Would recommend this when its still somewhat snow covered to avoid the scree. 14er #20.
ClearSkiesAhead - Apr 27, 2006 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2003
From North CottonwoodOne of my first 14'er climbs, Loved every minute of it.
km_donovan - Apr 16, 2006 1:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2002
North Cottonwood TrailheadDid the traverse from Harvard. The descent route was nothing more than a scree chute with an 1800 vertical foot drop that ended in a boulder and talus field. Lovely.
markhyams - Mar 4, 2006 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 1997
W SlopesStruggled through much snow below treeline in my terrible snowshoes. Quite the talus slog to this summit, but since it was early season I had the mountain to myself. Great views of still snowy peaks before all the melt-off of summer. This was special too, because it was my last Sawatch 14er.
RMdaytripsgrl - Feb 27, 2006 4:40 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2002
Route: N Cottonwood TH, Harvard/Columbia Combo with ridge traverseHarvard - piece of cake. Class 3-4 ridge traverse, took a while but fun, Chad LOVED it. Columbia - gave it all I had to get up it after the ridge...descent - a screeful mess in the rain! (My only savior was a stack of cookies I had saved from lunch) This area is really pretty, but this one is on the "never again" list.
Mountain Jim - Feb 9, 2006 11:58 pm
Route Climbed: From Harvard Date Climbed: August 1968Round tripped Harvard & Columbia via Horn Fork basin in about 8 hours. That connecting ridge is interesting.
Kiefer - Jan 23, 2006 10:44 am
Route Climbed: Horn Fork Date Climbed: June 2003I camped overnight with the sister & husband and girlfriend at some good spots across the creek. The next morning, I was the only one to bother to summit. Everyone went up to the lake and I bushwacked up a rockfall and cut to gain the east ridge and an easy walk to the summit.
A great day. I was the only one up there!
1mvertical - Jan 10, 2006 12:25 pm
Route Climbed: Traverse from Harvard Date Climbed: July 05, 2005This traverse took a while, probably because we made such an effort to stay as high as we could on the ridge. It seems that easier passage could be found if one drops a bit lower than suggested in the guide books. In July, we found boulders and snow slowing us a bit near our low point. Also, if traversing high as we did, I would be consious of rock fall. That ridge looks loose.