Bob Cooper from UNITED STATES writes:

Try hiking Columbia from the east side to avoid the west face scree and the Harvard/Columbia traverse. Start at the Elk Creek trail head and hike west through the forest on a good trail (it gets very faint right before tree line - just keep going west into the basin). When you clear tree line and hike up a ledge, the entire basin comes into view. Look for a large rock outcropping on the right and climb to the top of the ridge anywhere along there. Then follow the ups and downs along the ridge until you get there. It is strenuous but you will probably be the only people on that route. It is a great hike.

2013-11-28