Harvard & Columbia
Harvard South Slope - Class 2
Columbia - Traverse from Harvard - Class 2
We started hiking at 5:00am and summited Harvard at 8:30am. After a half hour on the summit we made our way to Columbia via the traverse. We summited Columbia a little after noon and spent another half hour on the summit. We made it back to the trailhead by 2:45pm. Our day covered 14.8 miles and 6450 vertical in a little under 10 hours with breaks. The weather was perfect and the views were amazing. We were also very happy we did not climb Columbia's steep and loose west slope route.
Partners: Kristi Henes, Solo
Here is a link for the GPX file from our trip.
We started hiking at 5:00am and summited Harvard at 8:30am. After a half hour on the summit we made our way to Columbia via the traverse. We summited Columbia a little after noon and spent another half hour on the summit. We made it back to the trailhead by 2:45pm. Our day covered 14.8 miles and 6450 vertical in a little under 10 hours with breaks.
Kristi making her way to Harvard with the morning sun on the peak
Rabbit ears on the ridge between Harvard and Columbia. It wouldn't be long until we were on the other side of this ridge looking up at the ears.
Looking back to Mount Yale
Kristi with Princeton, Yale and Bear Lake behind her.
Krist and Mount Columbia
Getting close to Harvard's summit. The views didn't stop
There was some easy scrambling just below the summit
Fun on Harvard's summit
Alex heading from Harvard to Columbia
Traversing from Harvard to Columbia
Traversing from Harvard to Columbia
Traversing from Harvard to Columbia
Traversing from Harvard to Columbia
Awesome views along the ridge
The rabbit ears
Kristi below the ears
Kristi on Columbia's summit. Princeton Left... Yale Right
Harvard and Bear Lake from Columbia's summit
Alex leaving Columbia's summit
Kristi getting ready to head down Columbia's nasty west slope. If you can avoid it... don't climb this route... steep, loose and not fun.
Alex happy to be off of Columbia's west slope. Had to stop and empty rocks from both boots. So glad we only came down this way. Going up Columbia's west slope route would be a nightmare.