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| Hiking | 11.31 Miles |
5,646 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.31 Miles | | | |
| 5,646 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | I first learned of hiking 14ers from an article written by Harvey McKay in 2007. In 2008, I hiked my first one. I keep the article in my pack at all times and occasionally read it because it has a great message. Harvey lives in Paradise Valley and he is an owner of an envelope company in Minnesota and is also an author and one of the most sought after public speakers’. I've spoken to him a few times over the years and I have a great deal of respect for him. The article mentions Mount of The Holy Cross which would become my 25th unique CO 14er and also my 50th new peak of 2014.
The first picture ever taken of MOTHC is in the Smithsonian. It was taken by William H. Jackson in August 1873. I have a copy of the picture in my pack which I will probably frame now that I’ve completed it. We started our 3rd and final 14er of the weekend early Sunday morning. I quickly posed at the wilderness sign in the freezing cold. As with our two previous hikes, I stayed with Nick for a short time and then couldn't keep up with him. At times, he had me lead but I didn't want to slow him down and just let him jet by. It worked out fine and we both were able to summit all the 14ers we attempted.
This hike had it all. The remarkable beauty of MOTHC haz to be witnessed in person; words and pictures cannot begin to illustrate its awesomeness. The hike climbs about 1,300 ft in the first 1.75 miles and then descends about 900 ft to Halfmoon where there are secluded campsites. There is a point during the descent that takes your breath away. Seeing this iconic mountain for the first time is legend…wait for it…dairy. From that point on, it’s thru the forest then thru a boulder field and then to the ridgeline. At the ridgeline, it snowed and hailed and I was contemplating turning back. That thought lasted briefly as a few in front of me turned back. Two others hunkered down to wait it out. I forged forward for the final 1.2 miles and 1,800 AEG and successfully summittted. Nick was up on the summit during the storm with a few others. Just like the other two summits this weekend, I had the whole thing to myself.
The views were great. You could see 13 of 14 14ers of the Sawatch Range with the exception of Mt. Columbia. My beer and food was other worldly and I reflected on quite a few things. The descent was great to the boulders and then it rained pretty annoyingly on and off after that. Just before the climb back up out of Halfmoon, I zipped off my pant legs and put my music on and enjoyed the final climb out in exercise mode. I took a couple of picmimics and said farewell to the mountain. The Sawatch Range and its 15 14ers is now complete and what a way to end it. Most books and websites have this route at 12 miles and 5,600ft of AEG. My gps stats were 11.3 miles and 5,646ft of AEG. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
