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TR of the Week: Harvard + Columbia

January 8, 2010 Hike No Comments
south ridge of columbia, yale in back

Descending the south ridge of Columbia, with Yale in the clouds. Photo by Kevin Baker

Kevin Baker and four friends climbed two Collegiate Peaks 14ers, Harvard and Columbia, to greet the New Year. During the three-day trip into Horn Fork Basin, they trekked 23 miles and gained more than 8,000 vertical feet, bagging the two peaks over  subsequent days. Baker has posted a nicely illustrated trip report at 14ers.com and Fourteener World (members only for the latter), giving a wonderful look at these Sawatch Range giants in midwinter. Adam McFarren, also along on this trip, has posted more photos from the climbs at his blog, The Journey is Home.

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  • Steveo: I agree the platte has so much to offer, but Hass, there are going to be a lot of locals looking over your shoulders mak...
  • MoJo: These stories have not been collected in book form, though there is a manuscript. We obtained the manuscript and permiss...
  • MJ: Is this available as a book for purchase anywhere? These are great stories!...
  • Jared Wolney: I skinned, hiked and skied the east face of Peale solo on April 9th. I started hiking and skinning at 7:00, and made it...
  • MoJo: Yes, Dorothy Collier was struck by lightning inside the cabin, but she was not killed. Merrrill Mattes, another Longs Pe...
  • Clare Cone: Was Dorothy struck by lightning up there ? Is that to follow is subsequent stories ? I was just yesterday telling my 9 y...
  • Amelia: Very excited to read these stories! Thanks for publishing them....
  • Wick: Really? Are there THAT many people skiing this route? Its only right off of 550...go in deeper if you don't want to be...
  • Joseph Crotty: Jason, Nice job and congrats on the send! Clearly a labor of love....
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The News

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Firsts

A Fine Line on Arrowhead

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A Fine Line on Arrowhead

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Shelf Road’s Hardest Route Climbed

March 10, 2010

Shelf Road’s Hardest Route Climbed

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New Route Likely Platte’s Hardest

February 14, 2010

New Route Likely Platte’s Hardest

Jason Haas, who’s working on a new guidebook to South Platte rock climbs, has just redpointed what’s likely the Platte’s hardest pitch, a roof seam that’s protected with removable pro and might be 5.14a. The new route, Comprometido, took about a year and a half to complete. Here, Haas tells the story.
While researching routes [...]

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Classics

Brain Freeze on Mt. Otis

March 18, 2010

Brain Freeze on Mt. Otis

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Lake Agnes–Seven Utes Loop

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Lake Agnes–Seven Utes Loop

Kevin Landolt is a skier/climber/student, based in Fort Collins, who writes the fun Alpine Ambition blog for the Mountain Shop. Here, Kevin describes a favorite midwinter ski tour near Cameron Pass offering a little of everything.
Trailhead: Lake Agnes Road, 2.5 miles west of Cameron Pass
Tour Distance: 7.3 miles
Total Vert: ca. 2,900′
Season: Midwinter to spring; two [...]

Mr. and Mrs. Mesa

January 28, 2010

Mr. and Mrs. Mesa

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East Ridge of Mt. Bancroft

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Mt. Bancroft’s rocky east ridge is a terrific mountaineering adventure for Front Range climbers, beginning less than an hour from Denver. The 13,250-foot peak is relatively close to the road, and avalanche danger can be easily managed, making this perhaps the most accessible technical winter summit on the entire Front Range. The east ridge offers [...]

Wild

Rarities: Wolf Moon, Arapaho Peaks

February 5, 2010

Rarities: Wolf Moon, Arapaho Peaks

Photographer James Beissel sent us this fantastic dawn-patrol shot of the full moon setting over South and North Arapaho in the Indian Peaks, shot from Flagstaff Mountain. Said Beissel: ”The first full moon of the New Year is often called the Wolf Moon. The name comes from Native American culture, in which it was associated with [...]

New Deal for Great Sand Dunes

January 20, 2010

New Deal for Great Sand Dunes

By Bob Berwyn
Stakeholders in the San Luis Valley have taken a giant step toward protecting Great Sand Dunes National Park from mining, energy development, and water exports. Lexam Explorations has agreed to sell its mineral rights if a $9.7 million deal can be finalized by May.
Great Sand Dunes National Park was created by Congress [...]

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