Mount Harvard

A mate and I climbed this last Saturday to the false summit, 4100m asl approx with 95% of the hike being in ankle to knee deep snow. This was on Memorial Day and we were the only two mad men to attempt it. Took 10.5hrs and was amazing.

Great 14er with awesome views with options. You can hike the saddle and include Mt. Columbia and bang out 2 peaks in one day. Or visit Bear lake abs enjoy a beautiful lake and scenery.

My wife and I had never summited a 14er, but I had always wanted to, and we were invited by another couple to hike to the top of Mt. Harvard. We hiked to a campground at around 11,600 feet, which was four miles or so, a fairly easy and straightforward route. After setting up camp, we hiked to a stream crossing near the tree line to fill up with water. We made a fire and dinner and had a wonderful time. Departed camp around 5 the next morning (accidentally slept in a bit) and hiked through Horn Fork basin, past Bear Lake, and finally reached the trail built into the scree below the summit. We didn't bring all our gear on this part of the trail, which was great since the trail steepens significantly once you reach the rock portion. It takes a minute for your mind to see the pattern of the path in the rocks, but there are also plenty of cairns to guide the way. It was challenging but totally doable for someone with a decent fitness level. It also helped that we spent a night in Buena Vista and then at the campground, which made it easier to hike as the oxygen level dropped. If you're wondering about the scrambling in the last 50 feet, if you have a medium-to-low fear of heights, it's fairly easy to reach the summit. My fear is medium, so after we took photos and videos and left our names in the box at the summit, I scooted down the boulders on my bum. Probably I looked like the noob I was, but hey, it was my first time to do it. It snowed while we were at the summit, which was cool. Only flurries, though, so the trail wasn't too wet. The way down is easy to follow but tough on the knees and feet. We packed up camp in light rain and started back on the so-called "easy" portion of the hike, but by then our feet and ankles and knees were screaming. You experienced hikers out there would probably find this last stretch no problem, but we were ready to get back to the car by then. Overall, I can't say enough about Mt. Harvard and the basin below. The views are spectacular and the hike is a moderately tough one that made it all the more rewarding to reach the summit. Highly recommended!

Super fun and chill climb! The trailhead being just outside of Buena Vista makes it more convenient than some of the other collegiate peaks but still maintains the secluded feeling of the Colorado Wilderness. Will be coming back to tackle Columbia soon!

Looks great from Belford, Oxford, and Missouri! Can't wait to climb it! ---Update--- Nice trailhead with plenty of parking, plus a couple port-a-potties; easy to get to with 2WD and clearance. Trail to 14ers can be very challenging to navigate into mid-June, especially when significant snow cover is still present. Amazing views from the summits though!