Mt. of the Holy Cross

Route: Halo Ridge
Posted On: 7/16/2018, By: Kcmartinez22
Info: This is a beautiful route. The views are amazing the entire way. Once on the ridge at Notch, there isn't much of a trail most of the way. I found it easier staying higher on the ridge for much of the scrambling sections because the rock was somewhat better. However, it is necessary to test with each move as the rock is pretty unstable for most of the route. Take care as our group had two large boulders fall at different times, one could have been very serious. they aren't kidding about the spiders! They are everywhere from Notch to the end of the crux. And yes, the mosquitos are terrible. I used all natural bug spray, don't do that. Or you will be covered in bites like me. Be prepared to test your physical strength and carry as much water and food as you can manage. You will need it as this Is a long day. This all said, beautiful route and mountain. 

Route: Halo Ridge
Posted On: 7/9/2018, By: DavidEStaunton
Info: Basically summer conditions. Snow near route. How many couliors are there on MHC ? 

Route: Halo Ridge
Posted On: 7/11/2018, By: sdicenso
Info: Just went to Notch Mountain shelter. Trail was excellent. Not many on this route. Colorado 14er's Initiative is working on the Half Moon Pass route, so please be respectful of what they are working on, if you come back that way from the summit. 

Route: Halo Ridge
Posted On: 7/3/2018, By: Scott Conro
Info: Clear everywhere except a short snowfield 400ft from the summit. AMAZING route if you have the endurance and experience. Be careful as I feel this is the Bermuda Triangle of mountains. The landscape plays tricks on you the first time up. Fall creek trail and notch mountain trail may be my favorite hike below tree-line on any 14er route I've currently done. Descended the North Ridge route. Also freaking gorgeous. 

Route: Cross Couloir
Posted On: 6/26/2018, By: ScreeSurfer
Info: The approach and the Cross Couloir are in great shape. Once you leave the main Halfmoon Pass trail just after the Cross Creek crossing, the trail is very straight forward to follow as it is completely dry other than a few small firm snow banks just as you approach the Bowl of Tears basin. Heading up from the Lake to the couloir is also dry so you only need crampons and ice axe while you are in the couloir. I was on the snow at around 9:30 and could kick steps maybe 2-3 inches for great traction and easy upward movement. There are some 1-2' deep runnels you have to maneuver here and there but overall in great shape. Descended the Halo ridge route which is also dry. Photo 1: Looking at the Angelica Couloir when heading down West side of Halfmoon Pass Photo 2: Looking for the Cross Couloir from the Bowl of Tears (hiding behind right ridge line) Photo 3: View at entrance of the Couloir Photo 4: View from Notch Mountain stone cabin 

Route: Halo Ridge
Posted On: 6/24/2018, By: cdonnelly0626
Info: We did North Ridge ascent, Halo ridge descent. Getting from Holy Cross summit to the Notch Mountain shelter on the Halo ridge route took 4 hours; that part is slow due to continuous rock scrambling (not bad in terms of exposure/sketchy parts though). The trail/rocks are all dry. Descent down the Halo Ridge route after the shelter can be very quick, there is a very good trail after that part. There was better-than-average cell reception along the route which allowed us to evaluate and check the storm radar a number of times as the day went on (the original forecast was not so great). 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 6/23/2018, By: Curve
Info: Dry all the way up. Summer conditions. 

Route: Angelica Couloir
Posted On: 6/25/2018, By: Randy1983
Info: Leaving at 2:30ish am we followed the standard route down to the first camp sites where we headed off into the woods. We were able to follow the gps and a fairly faint trail most of the way. Actually the route was a lot easier than I expected. We did get off the trail and gps a bit. It was easy to pick the route back up though. Scrambling through the boulder field we made it to the snow just as the sun started hitting it. Crampons and ice axes were a must. We roped up just for training/pacing practice. Once in the still shaded couloir, the snow was super compact and icy. Lots of melt still going on though. I'd also highly recommend a helmet on this route as there is a ton of loose rock at the top of the couloir where the snow ends. We did have a bowling ball sized rock zip by within a few feet of us before we even left the snow field. The rest of the route to the summit was crowded and dry. We descended the the standard route. Perfect weather for a fun climb. 

Route: Cross Couloir
Posted On: 6/3/2018, By: Buddyboy27
Info: Was inspired by the recent trip report by alexhenes to give the Holy Cross a go in a single day trip. The Tigiwon road to the trailhead is closed to all motorized traffic until June 20th. Starting at 12:15 AM, I took the mountain bike 7.5 miles from the road closure to the trailhead. The road is in good shape and took just under 2 hours to get from truck to TH. From there, I ditched the bike and began the standard route up the North Ridge. The route is virtually snow free/avoidable until the 1000' descent to Cross Creek. Currently, the trail is covered in unavoidable patchy snow for approximately 1/4 mile. I was post-holing up to my waist occasionally in this area, even at 3AM with a good (relatively) freeze down to ~11k. There are patches of good supportable snow (no post-holing at all) around 11k as you make your way up the north ridge. The final 600' to summit is bone dry. Skied the Cross Couloir at 8:20AM, The snow was very soft at this point and I probably would have bailed had I tried to ski between 9 and 9:30. The Cross Couloir had good skiable snow from summit to the exit. The entrance to the Cross is beginning to suncup (~1 foot deep right now). The runnel is present in the middle of the couloir and is 1-2 feet deep at the moment and gettin g bigger fast. Suncups near the exit are getting bigger at around 2' deep. Cross Couloir exit to Bowl of Tears does not have a continuous ski-able line and down climbing is a must unfortunately. The remaining couple miles from Bowl of Tears to standard route intersection is a horrible combination of bush whacking, route finding, and junk snow. Including 1-2 hours of naps on the way back, gear changes, breaks, etc. I didn't make it back to the truck until 3:15PM, bringing the grand total to a 15 hour trip, 8,200' vertical, and 30.5 mile round trip. Even without skis on the back, this one is a bear at the moment. Make sure your legs are ready to rock n' roll because they won't get much rest on this mountain at the moment. Apparently everyone else got that memo but me. I think i was the only one past the trailhead sign that day. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 5/26/2018, By: seoulman
Info: Maybe I'm the only one in community who didn't get the memo, but the approach road to HC was barricaded/chained off. This might be a seasonal thing. So I knocked out Massive instead. See next posting. 

Route: Cross Couloir
Posted On: 5/9/2018, By: dustj
Info: Tigiwon road is gated at the bottom for the seasonal closure until June 21 but it's clear for the first four miles. We biked up that portion and then switched to skins where the snow started. We made it to the drop into East Cross Creek and then had to throw the skis on our back until the bottom of the drainage where we set up camp. The steep decent is a mixture of dirt, mud, and soupy snow. The next morning, from the creek we were able to skin to 13,850 via the North Ridge where we transitioned and talus hopped the last 150'. The cross itself, skied really well. I made a cut across the top portion and the top couple of inches from the most recent storm slid off. The bottom half had already shed its layer a day or two prior. The way back to the tent was good skiing above the Bowl of Tears back to the trees. The trees to camp were pretty uneventful and route finding was pretty easy, though the snow was very saturated by late morning. After, we packed up and headed back to the car. The bikes were well worth bringing as the last four miles of the trip only took 20 minutes. All in all, it was 27.5 miles and 8800'. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 2/28/2018, By: jscully205
Info: Did a 4 day trip with 3 others taking the standard route using A/T skis for everything except the summit ridge where there was exposed rock and wind slab. From there we just hiked up in AT boots and light traction. You'll have to park at the bottom of Tigiwon road where the snowmobile trailer is. The road up is groomed and from the summer TH on is deep 3+ ft of snow. We laid down a nice skin track through the valley and up through timberline to the ridge that may or may not still be there. Also 2 camps are established at the main TH and down at E Cross Creek. 

Route: Halo Ridge
Posted On: 11/14/2017, By: Dose
Info: Halo Ridge is in great shape. Nearly continuous snow from trailhead to 13K. Didn't need traction or flotation though. Ridge has waist deep snow in spots but was able to talus hop easy enough as rocks were dry and clear of ice. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 11/13/2017, By: dustham
Info: Bring a map or GPS. The trail is hard to find once you get to treeline. Watch your step, post-holing up to our waist through the boulder field on the backside, just out of the treeline. The ridge has some deep snow in parts too, but it was easier than the boulder field at treeline. The final stretch up the summit was pretty clear. We were fine with our spikes and poles. Snowshoes not needed yet. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 11/11/2017, By: lawzac
Info: No crampons or snowshoes needed. Partially snow covered but trail finding is easy up to Cross Creek. After that, be sure to follow your map! Boulder field up the back of the peak and along the ridge are semi snow covered and treacherous if you step in the wrong spot!