Columbia Point

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 5/16/2022, By: halfapackofapache
Info: Drove all the way to upper south colony TH. Route is almost completely snow free except for several small patches. I probably took less than 100 steps in snow. Trail is wet quite a lot up to the upper colony lake right now from the run off I assume. Once above tree line it feels like summer. Super dry and small snow patches are avoidable. There are TONS of downed trees on the trail from the TH to upper colony lake. It actually made the approach more interesting in my opinion with my light day pack, but I'd think with a heavier over night pack it would be a pain maneuvering around them. The views of the crestones, particularly around the bears playground area, are UNREAL. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 11/19/2021, By: zootloopz
Info: No traction needed, although some snowy rock hopping along the final stretch to Columbia Point was necessary. Extremely windy today, especially along the ridge to from the humboldt saddler to bears playground. Playing along this ridge with the snow on the north side made for some class 3 moves, and the occasional class 4 if you want to stick to the ridge proper. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 10/29/2021, By: Snow_Dog_frassati
Info: Firstly if you're trying to get up to SCL you probably have until the next storm cycle to use the road and shorten your trip. It was still drivable with a good 4x4 for sure, although some areas had snow/ice. Nothing I'd be uncomfortable with in a stock Jeep Grand Cherokee. Regretted that we didn't drive up - it was a long day. Beyond that conditions are Sangres fall conditions, most north and especially north east terrain is holding snow. In most areas not enough to slide - there was nothing on this route that was dangerous. The last pitch to Columbia Pt held snow but was navigable with just microspikes. No use for crampons or floatation. Humboldt is totally dry from the saddle onward. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 10/7/2021, By: SionaRW35
Info: Dry but northern aspects have a dusting of snow making a couple spots along the ridge to Bear's Playground sort of interesting. for those interested, north facing aspects of the Crestones have a dusting too. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 9/19/2021, By: dcsheldon
Info: Dry all the way. I thought the route was class 2+. A couple of locations in the 13290 to Bear's Playground section where you cross to/from the north side to the south side of the ridge I thought could be class 3. I thought 13290 to Bear's playground was the hardest part of the hike. Great view of Kit Carson. Seems like the drive to the 4 wheel drive parking lot at the trailhead was improved since I last visited South Colony. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 9/10/2021, By: climbingyogi
Info: Hiked Obstruction Peak + Columbia Point from S. Colony Lakes yesterday. Only one other party on the route (a group of 2). Gaining Pt. 13290 was no issue, but I found the route-finding on the ridge that leads to Bear's Playground to be difficult at times. I found myself on top of the ridge at points, which resulted in some Class 3 moves. On top of the ridge, I could sometimes find the route along the side and re-orient myself. After Bear's Playground, it's a choose your own route up to Obstruction Peak's ridge. I gained the ridge pretty far on the east side and traversed it over to the summit, which stayed at easy Class 2. From Obstruction, Kitty Kat Carson looked intimidating, but it was actually quite easy. There is a faint trail along the right-side of Kitty Kat's bowl that will take you almost to the summit. The trail then veers left to a cairn. There's cairns that will lead you to Columbia Pt. from there. Overall, it was a great day and offered amazing views of the nearby 14ers! I'm by no means a fast hiker and I did take plenty of breaks, but the route took longer than I thought it would (as usual). I left upper S Colony Lake at 7:30am, reached the summit of Columbia Pt. around 11:30am, left Columbia Pt. at 12:00pm, and returned to the lake at 3:30pm. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 9/1/2021, By: supranihilest
Info: Simple down scramble and final scramble to the summit. Ridge direct is harder, maybe Class 3 or Class 4. The south side of the ridge is Class 2+. There's no simple way back to South Colony Lakes, the easiest way back is returning over "Obstruction Peak" and scrambling the ridge back to the saddle with Humboldt. Don't try to bypass anything, it's all steep side hilling, cliffs, awful talus, or some combination thereof. 

Route: North Ridge From Kit Carson
Posted On: 6/29/2021, By: Camden7
Info: We backpacked into willow lake and climbed Mt. Adams and Columbia Point, the two centennials that I missed on my blind 14 hunt, as I passed through this valley years ago... weather was challenging, with fog and clouds constantly blocking sunshine, and highs in the low 30s. Conditions were brutal. Several inches of fresh snow clogged everything above 13,300 feet. The 3rd class couloir up Columbia's tiny northwest face was coated in verglas, and choked with snow in many places. The Kit Carson Avenue was full of snow, and full on treacherous while frozen. Challenger's standard route is pretty good but has some unavoidable snow crossings. Mt. Adams was pretty bad, with a frustrating 8 inches of powder on its upper slopes. All in all, successful trip, but only because of lucky weather windows, and comfort/competence on serious terrain with snow and verglas. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 6/25/2021, By: mtnkub
Info: Summer conditions. One small snowfield on the cairned way around Obstruction Peak will probably be gone soon and can be skirted below. 

Route: Spanish Creek
Posted On: 3/4/2021, By: blazintoes
Info: Bushwhack from Spanish Creek, meandered too high and fought with deadfall. Chose to go up Columbia Points south col. gloppy snow so came down east and cut between Obstruction and back down into Spanish Creek. Stayed lower on descent and fought with soft snow. Beautiful lonely day. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 9/27/2020, By: Danger_D
Info: Basically summer conditions. I maybe had 10 steps in snow the entire route, and all of those were on the sawtooth ridge between the Humboldt saddle and Bears Playground. This ridge also had more scrambling and route-finding than I expected; nothing bad at all but it was tedious. I combo'd this with Humboldt and its definitely doable, just a long day 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 9/20/2020, By: terrysrunning
Info: Going up around 8am, didn't use traction. Didn't even need it going to Kit Carson, Columbia, and Kitty Kat. Coming back in the pm, the thousand feet coming down off Challenger to the basin were awful. Traction required, and still uncomfortable at times. Definitely goes though. A 75 year old guy did it the same morning I did, although he didn't continue on, so went down earlier and it might have been better. See my report under Challenger for pics 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 8/21/2020, By: taylorharris50
Info: Skipped Obstruction due to weather. 13.3 miles and 4,567 vert from the upper trailhead. This was my 3rd time on the road in the last year. The removal of the drainage pipe makes it easier in 2020. No problem getting up there in a 4Runner - fun drive. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 7/24/2020, By: JasonKline
Info: Summer conditions. The winds were brutal. 

Route: Columbia and Obstruction from the East
Posted On: 7/5/2020, By: dhagan
Info: Dry, summer conditions. Long hike from 2WD TH (19 miles per 14ers.com, 20 miles per my In Reach).