Mt. Columbia Trip Report 02/12/2013

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Mt. Columbia - 14,075 feet
Date Posted	02/12/2013
Date Climbed	02/07/2013
Author	SnowAlien
Additional Members	semitrueskerm

Columbia via SE ridge (a photographic journey)
Route: SE Ridge from Harvard Lakes TH Distance: ~14 miles (according to the GPS) Elevation gain: ~5,400 feet Time: ~12 hours Participants: Natalie (nkan02) and Jim (semitrueskerm) Jim and I arrived to the Harvard Lakes TH the night before within an hour of each other and promptly went to sleep. We agreed to an early start (around 5am) as we had hopes to make it back to Denver for 14ers.com happy hour. Colorado Trail sign marks the turn off to the SE ridge route (taken on the way down). Follow the arrow that points "North" Catching the sunrise from the beginning of the ridge (~10,500k) Mt. Yale Another view of Yale Jim with the valley behind him Finally approaching the end of the tree line Taking a break on a nice winter day Mt. Yale Another view of Mt. Yale and another one Jim is contemplating the route ahead Approaching the ridge ~12,500k Following a faint trail Jim Gaining the ridge Jim is working his way up SE ridge The route traveled so far Jim on the SE ridge Point 13,300 Point 13,300 up close The remaining route becomes visible (another 1.7 miles to go) One of many bumps on the ridge Remaining mile to the summit SW gully - the summit is just 0.7 miles from there The never ending SE ridge Looking back at the ridge me (as seen by Jim) Jim (as seen by me) Near the summit - it becomes clear that nobody has been here for days. No reason to get excited about the small trail - those are animal tracks. I slowly make my way, almost hitting the false summit on the way (the summer route bypasses it to the right). False summit with the true summit ahead Harvard-Columbia traverse Summit views (R-L: Missouri-Iowa-Emerald) Jim on the summit Another look at the ridge Shadows are getting longer (Jim) Trees on the way down Approaching the treeline Approaching the treeline - Jim Our snowshoe track, complete with nice switchbacks Thankful for the pre-existing trench, all the way to 12,000 ft Sunset to cap the spectacular day Sunset Thank you for reading. Jim's additional photos are here My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map...

Columbia via SE ridge (a photographic journey)

Route: SE Ridge from Harvard Lakes TH
Distance: ~14 miles (according to the GPS)
Elevation gain: ~5,400 feet
Time: ~12 hours
Participants: Natalie (nkan02) and Jim (semitrueskerm)

Jim and I arrived to the Harvard Lakes TH the night before within an hour of each other and promptly went to sleep. We agreed to an early start (around 5am) as we had hopes to make it back to Denver for 14ers.com happy hour.

Colorado Trail sign marks the turn off to the SE ridge route (taken on the way down). Follow the arrow that points "North"

Catching the sunrise from the beginning of the ridge (~10,500k)

Mt. Yale

Another view of Yale

Jim with the valley behind him

Finally approaching the end of the tree line

Taking a break on a nice winter day

Mt. Yale

Another view of Mt. Yale

and another one

Jim is contemplating the route ahead

Approaching the ridge ~12,500k

Following a faint trail

Jim

Gaining the ridge

Jim is working his way up

SE ridge

The route traveled so far

Jim on the SE ridge

Point 13,300

Point 13,300 up close

The remaining route becomes visible (another 1.7 miles to go)

One of many bumps on the ridge

Remaining mile to the summit

SW gully - the summit is just 0.7 miles from there

The never ending SE ridge

Looking back at the ridge

me (as seen by Jim)

Jim (as seen by me)

Near the summit - it becomes clear that nobody has been here for days. No reason to get excited about the small trail - those are animal tracks. I slowly make my way, almost hitting the false summit on the way (the summer route bypasses it to the right).

False summit with the true summit ahead

Harvard-Columbia traverse

Summit views (R-L: Missouri-Iowa-Emerald)

Jim on the summit

Another look at the ridge

Shadows are getting longer (Jim)

Trees on the way down

Approaching the treeline

Approaching the treeline - Jim

Our snowshoe track, complete with nice switchbacks

Thankful for the pre-existing trench, all the way to 12,000 ft

Sunset to cap the spectacular day

Sunset

Thank you for reading. Jim's additional photos are here

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Comments or Questions

screeman57	Beautiful! 2/12/2013 4:09pm Looks like a great day--this mountain seems much more appealing with a little snow on the ground (emphasis on ”little”).
Dancesatmoonrise	Nice! 2/12/2013 4:20pm ”Like” button is not working - Consider it ”liked.” : )
semitrueskerm	Thanks, Nat! 2/12/2013 4:46pm Good pics, Nat! I didn't have the best cardio or conditioning, but it was still worth it. Thanks for your patience. Columbia SE Ridge is long! Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCTnNqbhi0c
d_baker	nice recap w/pictures 2/12/2013 5:25pm What's with the helmet?!
semitrueskerm	Warmth 2/12/2013 5:48pm Warm and comfy!
Monster5	Gopro 2/12/2013 6:28pm takes surprisingly nice pics. I haven't researched the editing or calendar quality, but they seem to be fine. Nice picture report of a looong ridge.
SurfNTurf	Comment 2/12/2013 10:05pm I refuse to ”Like” anything including the words ”Mount” and ”Columbia” used in conjunction, but because I like both you and Jim, I'll at least comment. GREAT photos!
DaveSwink	Way to go 2/12/2013 10:11pm That ridge is a long, long hike above 12K. Nice pics.
Dancesatmoonrise	Fond Memories 2/13/2013 12:39am It was my first winter 14er, a solo effort. Though 'twas the standard route, my quarry. Thanks for bringing back the great memories. "Like me two times baby, Like me twice today..."
MtnHub	Very nice!! 2/13/2013 4:19am Some truly excellent shots; lots of great ones of Yale but I love the 3rd image the best with the approach from the SW and what I assume is Mascot on the right. That is a LONG ridge, but a lovely route in winter. Great job! Thanks for posting! :D
zephyr_pelicante	Cool 2/16/2013 3:29pm Looks like a pretty decent day for a Columbia hike. Nice photos too!
RockyMountainMustang	Awesome 3/18/2013 12:56am Thinking of doing this over 2 days sometime in the next 2 weeks. Were there any areas with bad avalanche risk on that route? It doesn't look overly dangerous for the most part. Don't know what conditions are like now...
MissH	Thx 4 gpx 6/27/2014 11:30pm Thanks for posting the GPX. Armed with this, I hope we have a better time route finding than others' have reported. Nice pics and report.
SnowAlien	Helmet 4/2/2015 7:45pm It has GoPro on it. Jim can't hike without it. It is 11th essential.
SnowAlien	avy risk 4/2/2015 7:45pm RM Mustang - SE ridge is considered a reasonable route for winter. Ridges tend to be windblown. You can probably find some avy danger if you go look for it, but we didn't see anything of concern. SW Gully (route #6) is another story...

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