1990 East Slide
The East Slide on Mt. Colden is an exhilarating challenge and can be done without technical equipment. A friend and I climbed it in 2003 on a spectacular fall day. It was one of the best days I've ever experienced in 25 years of hiking. Here is a narrative from my journal.
Mt. Colden via 1990 East Slide
September 17, 2003
The trailed route from the HPIC to Marcy Dam and Avalanche Camp was uneventful. The 1.5-mile, 1200'ascent from Avalanche Camp to the L. Morgan Porter trail junction remains rough and rocky despite considerable trail improvement efforts. We continued on the yellow trail ascending through Lake Arnold Pass before descending some 500 feet over a narrow, rocky, rooty trail before reaching a bridge across the Opalescent River. At that point (40 minutes and 1.3 miles from the L. Morgan Porter trail junction), the base of the slide (clearly visible) is a short bushwhack from the trail. The slide begins as a mix of rubble, running water, sand and clean, but easily ascended slabs. The route then narrows and winds its way upward at increasingly steep pitches (at one point ascending a 20'+ waterfall) to the start of the parallel slides. Both slides are wide open and increase in ascent angle as elevation increases. The rock is relatively clean with excellent purchase. Begin on the left slide. We worked our way up the moderate right side of the left slide until the crossover point connecting the left slide and the right slide. Crossing over from the left slide to the right slide is essential to completing this route. Therefore it is important to begin the ascent of the first (left) slide on the right edge in order to be in the safest and most advantageous position to cross over to the right slide. This strategy precludes the possibility of exposing yourself to an open, unprotected L to R crossing near the steepest section of the top of the left slide. There is a small island between the two slides where we assessed our route choices up the final very steep 80' section of the right slide. We started up the left side because it was too steep at this point to traverse the slide to the (less steep) right side. After a short steep pitch, a horizontal shelf appeared that allowed us safely switch to the right side where we determined the slide to be less treacherous. It was a good decision. We could clearly see the opening of the herd path in the center of the top of the slide. The last 20 feet of unprotected climbing (as we crossed to the center of the slide to connect with the path) had our undivided attention. The footing was stable if boot treads were not impacted with dirt and debris, but the unsure handholds of twisted, scrub balsam roots tested our mettle. We were thankful to be clawing and scratching our way through the thick, but obvious herd path to the main trail junction - no more than 4 minutes from the top of the slide. A left, (south) turn and we were on the magnificent summit of Mt. Colden in a few minutes. From the base of the slide to the main trail junction took 1 hour and 22 minutes. The slide route was interesting, challenging (physically, mentally and emotionally), and very fulfilling. On the descent, we took the L. Morgan Porter trail to re-connect with the yellow trail completing the loop and returning to the HPIC the way we came.
