Mt. Harvard Trip Report 07/19/2009

Peak(s):	Mt. Harvard - 14,424 feet
Date Posted:	07/19/2009
Date Climbed:	07/19/2009
Author:	4HClimber

Wake Up Call for 30 people at 4:30 a.m.
Trailhead Wake Up Call 4:30 a. m. Depart the Trailhead - 5:00 a.m. Fork in trail to Columbia - 7:00 a.m. Summit - 10:00 a.m. Depart Summit - 10:45 a.m. Return to Trailhead 2:30 p.m. Total RT - 9 � hours To all of you that I woke up at 4:30 a.m. at the North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead on July 16th"it was my first mistake this year. I was fumbling around in the vehicle at 4:30 and accidently set off the alarm on my vehicle. It took 5 minutes for me to figure out how to shut it off. During the 5 minutes of headlights flashing and horn sounding, the 3 guys that were in their tents just in front of my vehicle probably were not too happy with me. I'm sure that the guy in the Blue Durango was being called some names that cannot be repeated in this forum. Maybe it was karma at work as the three guys just in front of my vehicle getting the 4:30 a.m. wake up call, gave me a 10:00 p.m. wake up call the night before. You see they pulled in right next to me"when there were many spaces to spread out in. The flashlights and discussions two feet from my open window were a bit aggravating. So maybe what goes around does come around? Here is the first look at the objective after a 2-hour hike through the woods. Here is a peek at the summit block after nearly 5 hours on the trail. You can see Johnny Cash from Wichita, KS and/or his climbing partner scrambling up the fun little summit if you look close. And of course the flag waving has to happen. Here is a look over to Columbia. I'm planning on climbing it on July 23 and after looking at the scree slope on the west side trail, I've decided to tackle it from the east slope from the Three Elk Creek Trailhead. A look to the south at the rest of the Swatch Range. I must have counted at least 16 14ers from the summit--even Uncompahgre in the San Juans! Here's a look back down the valley from the summit. A good clear day but a long haul. Doing the Harvard/Columbia combo would be a dang long day! Sorry to everyone that I woke up at 4:30 a.m.! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Wake Up Call for 30 people at 4:30 a.m.

Trailhead Wake Up Call 4:30 a. m.
Depart the Trailhead - 5:00 a.m.
Fork in trail to Columbia - 7:00 a.m.
Summit - 10:00 a.m.
Depart Summit - 10:45 a.m.
Return to Trailhead 2:30 p.m.
Total RT - 9 � hours

To all of you that I woke up at 4:30 a.m. at the North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead on July 16th"it was my first mistake this year. I was fumbling around in the vehicle at 4:30 and accidently set off the alarm on my vehicle. It took 5 minutes for me to figure out how to shut it off. During the 5 minutes of headlights flashing and horn sounding, the 3 guys that were in their tents just in front of my vehicle probably were not too happy with me. I'm sure that the guy in the Blue Durango was being called some names that cannot be repeated in this forum. Maybe it was karma at work as the three guys just in front of my vehicle getting the 4:30 a.m. wake up call, gave me a 10:00 p.m. wake up call the night before. You see they pulled in right next to me"when there were many spaces to spread out in. The flashlights and discussions two feet from my open window were a bit aggravating. So maybe what goes around does come around?

Here is the first look at the objective after a 2-hour hike through the woods.

Here is a peek at the summit block after nearly 5 hours on the trail. You can see Johnny Cash from Wichita, KS and/or his climbing partner scrambling up the fun little summit if you look close.

And of course the flag waving has to happen.

Here is a look over to Columbia. I'm planning on climbing it on July 23 and after looking at the scree slope on the west side trail, I've decided to tackle it from the east slope from the Three Elk Creek Trailhead.

A look to the south at the rest of the Swatch Range. I must have counted at least 16 14ers from the summit--even Uncompahgre in the San Juans!

Here's a look back down the valley from the summit.

A good clear day but a long haul. Doing the Harvard/Columbia combo would be a dang long day! Sorry to everyone that I woke up at 4:30 a.m.!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Presto

Bwahahahah!
11/30/2010 5:20pm

I laughed out loud at your first paragraph. I can just hear (vicariously) the alarm blaring and the fumbling to get it turned off.

And, I'm with you on the "why do these people park right next to me when they've got all this room elsewhere to park". It happens in camping areas too ... you've got the whole friggin basin and you have to camp next to me!?!?!

I purposefully pick campsites AWAY from others. Happy trails!

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