Mount of The Holy Cross • Hike • Colorado • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Jul 14 2022

LJW

Routes 154
Photos 1,505
Triplogs 266

31 male

Joined Jun 02 2019
Phoenix, AZ

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Hiking		Jul 14 2022
		LJW • Triplogs 266

Hiking	15.25 Miles	5,400 AEG

Hiking	15.25 Miles	7 Hrs 45 Mns	2.35 mph
	5,400 ft AEG	1 Hour 15 Mns Break

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Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Only ended up with enough time in the week's stay to loop Elbert and Mount of the Holy Cross. I used the Halo Ridge Route, and it ended up one of the best trips I've ever taken into the mountains.

The mountain got it's name from the intersecting couloirs on its face, and they're visible from an old cabin used historically by Christians on pilgrammage to see the mountain. There's a lot to read on the subject, and I'm far from an expert. To gain the summit and see the cabin in one day, this is the route.

Got a super early start since I didn't know how long it would take me. I hiked through the forest in the dark and ascended with the sun on the switchbacks below the cabin. Trail conditions were awesome, but it was too dark to say more.

The cabin was open, and there were marmots in the surrounding rocks. It's used as a lightning shelter mostly but also as far as I know is available for reservation. I was a week late to see the whole cross, but the view is amazing regardless.

Headed down the ridge. There's three little peaks to climb before reaching the Highpoint of the Holy Cross Ridge, which though not a 14er is one of Colorado's 100 highest peaks. Each "little peak" is lung busting, bouldery, and brutal, but this is offset by simply incredible views of Tuhare Lake and down the Holy Cross Ridge, along with of the Bowl of Tears lake that the route wraps around from above.

Maybe my hottest take leaving Colorado was that the highpoint of the ridge has a better view than MOTHC. The climb between there and the mountaintop was easy by then but rocky on the edge of the remaining snow. There were a few people on the summit when I got there discussing the couloir routes. It's a most interesting summit area that's cliffy with fractured rock.

Down the ridge on the main route. Lots of trails in the rock, but it's easy to figure out where to go. The rest of the trails were through the forest and absolutely superb. Well maintained, lots of big diverse trees, streams and a waterfall. Rain fell just as I got back to the car. Road in is good for everybody but probably a little rough in a sedan.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bowl of Tears East Cross Creek Mount of the Holy Cross Tuhare Lakes

Wildflowers Observation Light

4 archives

Sep 17 2018

Pivo

Guides 2
Routes 512
Photos 5,579
Triplogs 4,277

69 male

Joined Mar 01 2009
Aztec, NM

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Hiking		Sep 17 2018
		Pivo • Triplogs 4,277

Hiking	11.08 Miles	5,619 AEG

Hiking	11.08 Miles	7 Hrs 39 Mns		1.50 mph
	5,619 ft AEG	17 Mns Break	20 LBS Pack

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Birthday Hike. This one has been on the radar for quite awhile. Definitely the most work of any of the 14er’s in my very limited experience. Not doing any strenuous hikes in the past 7 weeks and hiking at 7000’ of elevation didn’t help the effort. In addition, getting old too.
Nice day, and only ten hikers and four dogs on trail today.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Holy Cross Wilderness Lake Patricia Mount of the Holy Cross

Autumn Foliage Observation Light

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1 archive

Sep 07 2014

BobP

Guides 2
Routes 251
Photos 4,593
Triplogs 3,212

63 male

Joined Feb 26 2008
Scottsdale, AZ

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Hiking		Sep 07 2014
		BobP • Triplogs 3,212

Hiking	11.31 Miles	5,646 AEG

Hiking	11.31 Miles
	5,646 ft AEG

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fricknaley

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.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ Food HAZ PicMimic Historical Photograph

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] East Cross Creek Grouse Mountain Holy Cross Wilderness Lake Patricia Mount Jackson Mount of the Holy Cross

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https://www.seeitourway.org
Always pronounce Egeszsegedre properly......
If you like this triplog you must be a friend of BrunoP

Sep 07 2014

fricknaley

Guides 93
Routes 397
Photos 4,984
Triplogs 4,124

49 male

Joined Jun 20 2003
Tucson, AZ

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Hiking		Sep 07 2014
		fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124

Hiking	11.31 Miles	5,646 AEG

Hiking	11.31 Miles
	5,646 ft AEG

no routes

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BobP

this was the last of our planned hikes and the one i was most looking forward to. the forecast was the best of the three days we were there so i was happy about that too. as soon as we got out of the car, it was pumpkin cold but you could just feel the awesomeness in the air

the hike starts with a climb up to halfmoon pass which is good for getting you warmed up. then it drops almost all the way back down to east cross creek. when you drop down you are greeted by magnificent views of mt. jackson. i was loving that, then i rounded a tree covered corner and was left looking straight at the majestic mt of the holy cross. i literally stopped in my tracks and stood there with a big grin...wow. it literally blew my mind. the hike down to the creek gets steeper at the bottom and you are back in the woods.

as i climbed back above tree line i noticed a storm building beyond mt jackson and thought "pumpkin". i tried to kick it up a notch but this baby climbs like 3500 feet in the last couple miles so i was still not really moving too fast. i knew the storm would catch me...just where and when? i kept a constant eye on it and never heard thunder or saw lightning, plus i could see the other side of it so i made the decision to keep going and just deal with whatever happened.

i was on the final summit push up the rocks and talus about 400 feet from the top when the storm hit me. wind and snow/hail kicked in. so did the adrenaline and i shot to the top thinking it was going to be a woefully short visit. to my amazement the storm was gone as fast as it hit me and my summit conditions were actually spectacular. absolutely amazing views.

met bobby on the way down the summit block and decided to chill some more and have a snack and my summit brew (Dales) before continuing on down. got rained on for a couple miles on the way down. was gorgeous when i finished. the climb back up to halfmoon pass nearly killed me.

thanks for joining me for this trip Bob, it couldn't have been better :y:

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Lake Patricia Mount of the Holy Cross

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hi

1 archive

Sep 10 2006

MtnGeek

Guides 9
Photos 134
Triplogs 75

48 male

Joined May 01 2002
Denver, CO

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Mount of The Holy Cross

Northwest, CO

Backpack		Sep 10 2006
		MtnGeek • Triplogs 75

Backpack	11.50 Miles	5,600 AEG

Backpack	11.50 Miles
	5,600 ft AEG		40 LBS Pack

no routes

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This hike was my 1st 14er I hiked after moving to Denver. Took 2 1/2 days off work to do this hike. I drove from Denver with it lightly raining the whole way there. I met my dad and his friend Tom (they came in from Flagstaff) at the base of Tigiwon Road. We then carpooled up Tigiwon Road. THe hike up to Halfmoon pass was not so difficult, but heading down into the basin was really steep. Mt. of the Holy Cross was coated in a few inches of snow.
The next day it was cloudy the whole way up and there was a bit of snow on the summit. We had almost no views, however, the clouds would part and give us a quick view before closing back up again. We got a few miner views because of this. We were on the summit for more than an hour.
The following day the clouds had parted and we had a really good view of the Gore Range from our camp. We packed up and headed up half moon pass. Tom and I decided to hike notch Mountain to get a good view of the cross. My dad needed some rest, so he stayed back. Once Tom and I got to the ridge line, Tom decided to stay there while I proceeded to the summit. The cross had a dusting of snow in it making it fully visible. It was impressive.
I headed back down, met Tom and we went back down to meet my dad at half moon pass to finish the hike.
After they took me back to my car, I raced home to get ready for work while My dad and Tom headed south to hike La Plata Peak.

This was my 8th 14er and last I would ever do with my dad. (RIP)

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Mountains are there to be hiked!

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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