Ascent of Mt. Harvard August 2023
(Collegiate Peaks, Sawatch Range, Colorado)
Plan to join a group of Rocky Mountain Harvard University Club alumni
in an ascent of Mt. Harvard
Registration Will be available on this page soon
Background
In 1869, Harvard sponsored a group to explore and survey peak elevations in Colorado Territory. The members of this party traveled on the newly opened First/Great Transcontinental (Pacific) Railroad to Cheyenne, Wyoming, then went overland by stagecoach to Denver. The Harvard Geographic Expedition of 1869 to the Colorado Territory found peaks in excess of 14,000 ft, and named the two highest summits they encountered and ascended Mt. Harvard (for their sponsor) and Mt. Yale (the alma mater of the two leaders of this expedition). The group called these two the ‘College Peaks’. After subsequent naming of neighboring peaks Mounts Princeton (1873), Columbia (1916), and Oxford (1931), they became known collectively as the Collegiate Peaks.
Inspiring? Is this for you and are you willing to train ahead of time? Don’t forget the acclimatization challenges. Though not technical, this is an ascent not to be taken lightly.
If the answer is ‘yes,’ I hope you’ll join us! Our intent is to summit but, if an individual decides tree-line is far enough, no problem.
Our goal is to summit Mt. Harvard safely and return in a day, while having fun and camaraderie with our fellow classmates. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.
DESCRIPTION:
A full-day trek beginning at 5:00am to the summit and back of Mt. Harvard on the Mt. Harvard Trail (~ 14 miles round-trip, 4,540 feet of vertical climb), near Buena Vista, CO. We are aiming to have a group of trekkers who will be on the trail for 10 to 12 hours.
Summit (if desired) to be reached about midday, with ample photo opportunities along the way.
Lodging at elevation a day or more BEFORE and after is HIGHLY recommended. The latter to be arranged by participants in vicinity of mountain. There will also be a mandatory safety and logistics meeting the evening of Friday, August 18th for all attendees along with a carbo load meal.
Hiking Participants: Adults in excellent physical condition (those under 16 after consultation and approval). Others welcome to join without hiking.
Cost: $50
To help promote a safe and enjoyable experience, the number of participant for the the trek willbe limited to 25.
Note: all participants must sign a consent / liability waiver form, prior to the trek.
Click for: Slides for Information Session May 18, 2023:
Contacts: