Arrived at the North Cottonwood Trail Head at around 5 am and started towards Harvard. Route is patchy with snow until tree line, but does not hinder progress at all. After tree line snow is a little deeper but again, it does not impede progress at all. After leaving Mt. Harvard towards Mt. Columbia, the route has a few patches of deep snow during the first descent. We decided to take an alternate south-western approach on the descent which led to some class 3 terrain, but dry nonetheless. Upon reaching the "world-of-scree" on the ridge below the "rabbit" and up towards Columbia, progress slowed significantly because of the snow-covered scree and boulders. Nothing about this was difficult, but we just had to be careful not to fall in a hole between the large boulders. After summiting Columbia, we descended the southern scree slopes which are NASTY! Minimal snow, but I could not imagine going up this way. Overall, great day and great conditions. If you can get up there before the next series of snow storms, you will enjoy it (at least Harvard!).
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