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| Report Type |
Mini |
| Peak(s) |
Mt. Columbia - 14,075 feet
|
| Date Posted |
07/30/2016 |
| Date Climbed |
07/30/2016 |
| Author |
Ecocrazy |
| Columbia - East Ridge -> SE Ridge |
It seems nobody likes the standard route up Columbia or the traverse from Harvard, plus Roach calls the east ridge the "cardinal Colorado climb". I don't know what that means, but it enticed me.
The final road up to Three Elks TH, from the 368a/368 intersection (the second time you turn onto 368) are pretty rough. My Outback made it without issue, but I was nervous. For a passenger car, parking at that intersection would add an extra 0.8 miles roundtrip and 450' vertical. Three Elks TH is well signed and the trail is obvious all the way up into the basin between Columbia's E and SE ridges. Really nice wildflowers today, especially up in the basin. I ended up not hitting the ridge until 13k'; probably would cut back to hit it lower. The ridge up to the summit and around the other side is straightforward. Didn't see anyone except on the short stretch of overlap with the standard route. Started down off the E ridge way too early -- Roach says to start descending at 12.6k', but I suspect the ridge rises and falls across that elevation several times. Anyway, really don't start descending until you see the bristlecones. It turned out alright for me, but there was a lot of cross sloping and some tight squeezes through pines and willows.
Beautiful route. Entirely pleasant for a Saguache climb. ;) Haven't done the others, but seems like a great alternative to the constantly whined-about standard route and traverse (including by 3 of the 4 groups I saw up high).
Also, House Rock Kitchen in BV is rocking. Healthy, delicious, creative options on offer and half price drafts from 3-5.
https://www.strava.com/activities/658941494
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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