E ridge of Aztec, to Columbine Pass

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d_baker
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E ridge of Aztec, to Columbine Pass

Post by d_baker »

Has anyone been on the E ridge of Aztec and gone to Columbine Pass from there?
Feasible with a backpacking setup?
I saw it could be c3, from a report by ktags (I think it was him, big link-up report he put out earlier in summer).
Just wondering how it would be carrying overnight pack across it.

Going up Lime Mesa, maybe drop into Kennedy Pass, but main goal is Grizzly.

Input anyone?
Thanks!
darin
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k_fergie
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Re: E ridge of Aztec, to Columbine Pass

Post by k_fergie »

I know someone that did it this summer, Columbine Lake all the way out to Lime Mesa TH with backpacking gear after a several day Wemi trip. No comment on difficulty, but they are on the forum from time to time, so may chime in
I thought, I taught, I wrought
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courtc43
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Re: E ridge of Aztec, to Columbine Pass

Post by courtc43 »

That’s me (and my sister)! Yeah, we went from Columbine Pass to Aztec. It was mostly loose class 2/class 3. The section between Aztec and the ridge bump wasn’t super pleasant (especially with backpacking gear), but it goes. The north ridge off of the ridge bump wasn’t as bad. We also took the trail towards Trimble Pass a bit before cutting up towards the ridge.
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Kiefer
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Re: E ridge of Aztec, to Columbine Pass

Post by Kiefer »

courtc43 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 31, 2026 4:18 pm That’s me (and my sister)! Yeah, we went from Columbine Pass to Aztec. It was mostly loose class 2/class 3. The section between Aztec and the ridge bump wasn’t super pleasant (especially with backpacking gear), but it goes. The north ridge off of the ridge bump wasn’t as bad. We also took the trail towards Trimble Pass a bit before cutting up towards the ridge.
Haven't done the ridge between Aztec and that prominent bump/13,190' (I call it 'Parseltongue Peak' because from Bullion, it has a white strip that looks like a snake's tongue), but I found the north ridge of 13,190' to have a lot of hardpan dirt with kitty-litter scree. Really rotten, crumbly rock. I was on all fours to get back to Trimble Pass Trail. Stay the ridge to Columbine Pass if you descend this way. That eastern slope (off 13,190') is 'Jank City.' I'll see if I can find my pics.
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Veory
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Re: E ridge of Aztec, to Columbine Pass

Post by Veory »

I've done this, the scrambling can be annoyingly loose with a pack but do-able. I dropped the East slope Keifer mentioned and it sucked so bad, should've stuck to the ridge but I didn't have any beta and saw the trail
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d_baker
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Re: E ridge of Aztec, to Columbine Pass

Post by d_baker »

Thanks for the input, everyone!
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