previous next 87 images


Hiking Mount Harvard

Top Elevation:14,420 feet
Trailhead Elevation:9,880 feet
Length: 12.8 total miles. Elevation Gain: 4540 feet
Read more at Trails.com: Chaffee County: Mount Harvard | Buena Vista Colorado Hikes


Departure time for the 11+ hour road trip was 2am.

We stopped for breakfast at McDonald's.

"Do not use." OK!

We all started warming up our cameras at the first sign of mountains.

Josh's GPS was overkill on I70, but it was a great help on the mountain.

Rolling out of Colorado Springs... the mountains are starting to dominate the landscape.

We picked Brad's car for the 40mpg fuel efficiency and just prayed that it would make it over the dirt road to the trailhead.

Pete took a lot of pictures. A _lot_.

Gearing up... right on schedule at 2pm Colorado time.

The trail followed a stream for much of the way.

As we were gearing up, Brad noticed his boots were giving out, so he tied his tennis shoes on.

Entering: Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, San Isabelle National Forest


Pause... breathe...

THAT is where we're headed.

I saw a nifty stick and like a little kid, I just had to pick it up.

3:45pm: It's getting steeper...


Blue sky, green forest, mountain air. Whee!


Brad, our intrepid guide

Time to leave the trail and set up camp. Elevation: 11,600 feet.



Dan, Brad, Josh, and Pete, after 11+ hours in the car and 3 hours hiking.

Setting up tents and such at high camp.

Dinner time!