Things to Think About if You're Thinking About Climbing Mount Harvard in 2023
 

If you are thinking about joining the August 2023 trek, here is some information to help you ascertain whether you should consider going and to help prepare if you do.
 
Note that this is not an all-or-nothing event.  You need not aspire to reaching the summit to participate.  You can join the group before and/or after the hike, send them off from or meet them when they return to the trailhead, or hike the earlier, less strenuous parts of the trail.  If you go beyond the trailhead, you must register beforehand and complete the liability waiver.
 
That said, if your ambitions run towards a Mt. Harvard / Mt. Columbia traverse, this is beyond the scope of this hike.  In addition to being longer, it is a much more demanding route, and we are expecting that for many participants this will be their initial 14er.
 
Please review the following documents before signing up:
 

1. Thumbnail description of the hike 2023  (Does this appeal to you as a potential hiker?  Supporter of hikers?)
 
2. Suggested physical training for hiking at elevation  (Do you want to do this sort of preparation for this hike?)
 
3. Suggestions for hiking at elevation  (Do you want to do this?  What equipment and supplies do you lack, and can you acquire them easily?)
 
4. Checklist of items to take on the trek.
 
5. Sketch map of the trail  (What do the geometry and ascent look like in map view?)
 
6. Trail profile  (What do the geometry and ascent look like in vertical section view?)
Trail Routes to Mt. Harvard on 14ers.com
Trail Profile with elevations and distances
 
 
7. Possible places to stay at various price points and within easy drive of the trailhead  (Where shall I stay locally?  At least the night before (18 August), two days before if coming from below about 5,000 feet elevation.  We also recommend a day after to recover and decompress before leaving.)
* Link from Buena Vista Vistor Center website 2023: Lodging
 
8. Liability waiver 2023  (Signed version required of each hiking participant)


If you're not a member, get your membership now! Prior to purchasing membership or tickets, please sign in to the  rmhuc.clubs.harvard.edu  website with your HarvardKey credentials.  This applies whether or not you are in Colorado.  Signing in validates your Harvard affiliation.  We may cancel your registration if we cannot validate that you are an alum; please help us avoid that hassle!

Click here to join the RMHUC
 
 
 
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