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As part of a training regiment for the long distance hikes and climbs in Utah and California to be done in August, Holy Cross with a North Ridge ascent and Halo Ridge descent looked favorable. This would finish the Sawatch Range fourteeners for me and also all fourteeners within a four hour drive from home. I arrived at the trailhead at 6:45 a.m. and parked up the road about 300 yards because of crowding. The trail heading up to Halfmoon Pass was well built and maintained (photo on right). I reached the pass after 40 minutes, and began the 970' descent to the other side of the pass. The trail sloped moderately for some time before steep switchbacks started.
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Mount of the Holy Cross looked simply beautiful from just above the switchbacks (photo on left). I took a few photos and wasted little time arriving at East Cross Creek. I kept following the trail forks to the North, and did not look around for the log bridge to cross the creek. I reached the other side over some rocks, and began the quest to attain treeline again. This happened soon enough, and the talus-strewn North Face route appeared. After several subsequent switchbacks, the trail disappeared, though the route was fairly obvious. This moderate talus slope was a nice change from the high speed trail, employing hands for balance and gaining more altitude per step.
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The views of Halo Ridge and Lake Patricia were magical. Climbing ever upward on the talus, I did not feel much of the altitude and kept a steady pace.
Reaching the top of the initial climb Southwest to 13,400', the North Ridge looms above (photo on right). The route eased up a bit for the short distance West to the North Ridge proper. I used a fairly good trail for this section which continued to about 13,800'. At this point, two other groups camped at Cross Creek had been to the summit that as I saw them on their return. |