Mt. Columbia

Route: Harvard and Columbia Traverse
Posted On: 8/29/2023, By: AndrewJCraigie
Info: This traverse kicked my butt - definitely underestimated it! Going down from Harvard was a pain due to loose rock and route finding, but it made the clambering up to Columbia very satisfying. Started 3:45am, got done 3:15pm. 45 mins were spent in the AM hiding from a thunderstorm. Plan for a full day - would recommend having some 14er experience before doing this. 

Route: Harvard and Columbia Traverse
Posted On: 7/23/2023, By: wintersage
Info: Trail up Harvard is almost all dry except for a single flat patch of snow that can be crossed without any traction (see the most recent conditions report for Mt Harvard). The traverse is also mostly dry except for a couple of sections of grippy snow that cover the talus and actually make the route a little easier. No microspikes needed but I saw some people using them so it probably can't hurt. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 7/8/2023, By: Dayute
Info: Way less mud than I was expecting, all was avoidable. Feet stayed dry all day. Get after it. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: infinitealpine
Info: One firm snowfield right above treeline that didn't require traction. Some parts of the trail below treeline are muddy but avoidable. One of the nicest trails thanks to CFI! 

Route: Harvard and Columbia Traverse
Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: treyem
Info: The ascent of Columbia was easy and straight-forward, but I was not able to find the class 2 route on the traverse (it was snow covered and no one had attempted it, from what I could tell). I ended up having to do class 4 and low class 5, which I was not excited about. I only recommend doing the standard route traverse if it is completely dried out. The descent from Harvard was quiet wet (compared with Columbia). Please also note that 14ers.com route for the traverse is going from Harvard to Columbia, which my 14ers book did not recommend. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: timelessodyssey
Info: Almost no snow encountered on the West slopes - except a small stretch at ~12k feet. Can do this in running shoes without issues. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/3/2023, By: joemcglinchy
Info: Ascended via SE Ridge and it is fully clear. Trail a bit tough to follow above 11k to treeline, but since you follow the ridgeline it worked out. Descended via West Slopes. There is a large snowfield to cross at ~11600, see photo. It was solid at ~1030 but i'd imagine post-hole city later on in the day. Otherwise, until the junction at 10400 you will need to navigate off and on mud, trail rivers, and downed trees. Beautiful day out! Not dry yet, but if you're using footwear should be manageable. 

Route: Harvard and Columbia Traverse
Posted On: 7/1/2023, By: mcosby
Info: Great weather this morning. Made a quick ascent up the W Slopes on Columbia, snow free. The traverse is very snow filled below the ridge, but that helps avoid a ton of talus hopping. Spikes definitely still recommended and I also used an axe because I was slipping constantly on the angled snow. Descended the S Slopes of Harvard; fair bit of snow if you want to use it, otherwise can probably avoid if needed. The basin is saturated and the trail is super muddy, but oh well. 

Route: West Slopes
Posted On: 6/30/2023, By: szysteve
Info: 3 Miles in, it gets muddy in spots. 4 miles in theres a decent sized snowfield to cross, spikes nice to have. If anyone finds 2 sets of poles on the summit ridge next to a big rock and can get those back to somewhere in the Denver metro area, Ill provide the cold beverages of your choice. Message me on here or on IG at szysteve 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/24/2023, By: Logan5280
Info: Harvard-Columbia traverse is in excellent condition right now. Today, I ascended Columbia via SE ridge, traversed to Harvard, descended through Horn Fork Basin, then did the road walk back to Harvard Lakes TH. I started at 6:30, made quick work of the Colorado Trail section, and easily founded the SE ridge cairned turn. Route finding isn't terrible in the woods with daylight, but I lost trail segments here and there. Above tree line, the ridge is quite long, but the rock quality is excellent, and any remaining snow patches are avoidable. Easy going to Columbia summit from there. The traverse is great right now because many of the loose scree slopes are still covered in snow, making for easy glissading/microspiking. The initial Columbia headwall is mostly dry except for one large-ish snowfield, but the rock is loose and annoying as usual. From there, snowfields descended into the basin, to a dry section at the bottom of the slope on the Harvard side. This slope was mostly dry, except for a few small snowfields. Even with warm temps, the post holing was surprisingly minimal. I made the Harvard ridge more complicated than it needed to be by ascended the easternmost tower, which was fun class 3 but unnecessary. A few snow-infused talus sections led to the Harvard summit. From Harvard, there are on and off snowfields down to a little below 11k; nothing crazy, but gaiters would still be advised. There's a nice glissade from the beginning of the ridge down to the big cairn. Intermittent snowfields led back down to dry trail around 10.7k. Ended up being about 9:20 roundtrip, 16-18ish miles, and 7k vert. Shoutout to the marmot that jump-scared me on the ridge. 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/21/2023, By: ScottK
Info: Some small snow banks remain but are easily bypassed along the route. I packed microspikes but did not need them. The flowers in the high elevation grass are starting to bloom. Very easy to follow the route in the trees after the turn off from the Colorado Trail. 

Route: Southwest Couloir
Posted On: 6/9/2023, By: Crestoner
Info: Snow continuous from the trees (below "The Choke") to just below where the couloir tops out on Columbia's Southeast Ridge. Not too far above The Choke, there is a 75-foot snowless section...but you can deviate left and high to keep on snow. It was a cold night (I camped at the margin of the avy runout), and the couloir snow was rock-hard bottom to top during the shaded ascent. Not having any recent beta on the standard route, I elected to also descend the Southwest Couloir (for which I did have very recent beta) to get back to camp. Despite the sunhit, the snow was still quite hard....took me awhile to get down! The turnoff from the main trail is easy to find. There is a small cairn pile...and of course now there are footprints (some deep!) going to and back. 

Route: Southwest Couloir
Posted On: 6/14/2023, By: Levi L4
Info: First off, this is not a couloir. Second off, it skied great with 2-3 fresh inches on the top 1200 or so. Dont make our mistake and turn off the trail too soon, made for a brutal approach. Stay on the trail until it opens up into the bottom of the avalanche gully. Probably will be a bit of postholing/bushwhacking through that gully but not too bad. 

Route: Southwest Couloir
Posted On: 6/1/2023, By: Christensenje
Info: Still a fun ski! But definitely agree with a lot of the last conditions report. Quite an adventurous exit. 1. Bring socks for the post holing which starts at 10.7k. 2. Starting to dry out in the choke but still very skiable for this time of year! Coverage pictures attached. 

Route: Southwest Couloir
Posted On: 5/22/2023, By: MBosch27
Info: Trail mostly dirt from N. Cottonwood Creek for about a mile, and then about a mile of dirt/snow, and then all snow, thinning quick. From 11,000 up the snow was horrendously sticky accumulating 5-6" thick on the bottom of skins in less than 3 steps. Stick style sunscreen applied to the skins, and all was good again. Above 12,000' the snow was supportable, and flat out FUN SKIING- big GS turns... Below 11,000 the snow was fully settled, warm spring/summer conditions. Between 11,000 and 12,000, the snow was super sticky on the surface, and collapsible below even on skis if one did not maintain enough speed to keep the skis acting like skis and not snowshoes... SUPER GLOPPY and GLUE-like between 11 and 12K; survival skiing. Enjoy everything above 12K!