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Peak(s):  Mt. Columbia  -  14,075 feet
Date Posted:  06/15/2009
Date Climbed:   06/13/2009
Author:  lakecityrat
 Mt. Cloumbia - Long and painful   

Hiked Mt. Columbia on June 13th. Got a late start as I was camped at Eleven Mile Resovoir. The first 3 miles in were very easy. A little snow and mud in the treed areas, but nothing needing snowshoes or even gators. The trail is very poor to Columbia. The fork where you need to turn is extremely poorly marked and we stayed on the Harvard trail much too long. You have to cross the little creek before you get out of the trees. We added a cairn about 15 feet up the Columbia trail to give you a fighting chance at finding it. This is a long hike with an almost non-existent trail and a very steep ascent. I have hiked about twenty 14ers and this was by far my least favorite hike. Also, it was incredibly windy on top. It took me about 6 hours and I am a pretty strong hiker. My two companions have both been up several 14 ers (including Harvard) and did not make the summit on this one. A bad day hiking 14ers is much better than a good day at work, but this is definitely not one of the better peaks.


Comments or Questions
climbit
User
Columbia is a hike!
6/15/2009 11:07pm
My boys, two dogs and I came up from the Three Elks trailhead (east side). It has an additional 600 ft of elevation and some good up and down along a long ridge. We were coming up the final ridge as you were solo on the summit. The wind blew me over twice. Did you see us coming up the ridge? Good job on getting to the top. It is a nice view.



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