7/8/2017 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/8/2017, By: sky_high Info: Ditto to the comments on summer conditions; the entire trail is snow free. Just wanted to add some detailed comments: -The cross is rapidly melting. The snow in it is still about 15' wide and total junk. Don't think you're going up the couloir in crampons or anything else. -Bring bug spray. We had mosquitoes over Half Moon Pass all the way up 12,500 just as the treeline ended. Couldn't hardly stop to take a drink of water without killing a dozen of them. -Trail condition is very good and the new staircase on the pitch above tree-line is in great shape. Was really happy to see that. -Thunderstorms are developing daily now. Today they held off until 5pm but threatened all day. If you see a forecast with more than 10kt winds expect them to be on the mountain no later than 1pm. |
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7/8/2017 Route: Cross Couloir Posted On: 7/26/2017, By: Eponder Info: *Don't just follow pictures* If you're taking the couloir route, split off the standard route at camp 4 (to the left). My friend and I turned onto the route after this and ended up wandering for several hours trying to find the trail. If you split off for the couloir route at camp 4, you'll cross the creek and make your way to a thin, but clear and gentle trail that takes you on a very direct route. |
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7/4/2017 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/4/2017, By: AcornMan Info: Summit of Holy Cross was bone dry on 7/4/17. Summer conditions are in full effect there (and on the entire trail up, with the exception of a few snow patches that can be easily avoided). No need to bother with traction. |
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7/3/2017 Route: Cross Couloir Posted On: 7/7/2017, By: Gadbaw Info: Summer conditions with little to no snow on the trail up to the couloir. The couloir is in GREAT condition...full snow coverage, no cornice at the top, and firm but not icy snow when I headed up the last 1,200' at 10am on 7/3. |
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7/2/2017 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/3/2017, By: BigC Info: Excellent hike with perfect conditions. Easily avoidable snow still lingers above 13,000'. Some small patches of mud on the trail as well, but nothing serious. Cross Creek is easy to cross now as the Spring melt has tamed significantly. There is a patch of snow at the summit, but it's also avoidable if you choose. Get out there! |
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7/1/2017 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 7/2/2017, By: falcon568 Info: Did the Halo Ridge up and the North Ridge down. Route is almost 100% summer conditions. There are maybe 3 small snow crossings on the Halo Ridge route, traction/axe not needed. The North Ridge is almost entirely dry except for a couple melting snow patches on flat parts of the trail. |
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6/29/2017 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/1/2017, By: summit21 Info: Trail in good shape. Able to cross East Cross Creek w/o getting feet wet. A few snow patches as you ascend out of East Cross creek that are easily passable without traction. Some snow on summit, but nothing that requires traction there either. |
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6/25/2017 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 6/26/2017, By: JarodSnowden Info: Fall creek trail is mostly snow free and easy to follow with the little snow that remains. The stream crossing is pretty intense due to snow melt but manageable. PT 13248 was snow free. PT 13373 still has snow towards the top as well as the top of PT13831 but they don't require ice ax or traction as long as you take time to kick steps. Mount of the holy cross was mostly snow free. |
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6/24/2017 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 6/25/2017, By: CraigB2013 Info: Snow, water and mud. That is what you will find. In the trees there are many snow crossings. Hard and icy in the morning. Soft in the afternoon. Above tree line the snow is mostly avoidable but there is a large snow field the can be climbed. It is sun cupped. The final pitch to the summit is dry. |
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6/10/2017 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 6/13/2017, By: apkue98 Info: My beta is limited, however I did bike up the road and hike to Half Moon Pass on Friday/Saturday. Patches of snow for the first 3/4 miles or so of the trail, snow gets more and more consistent towards Half Moon Pass. Everything is melting fast up there though, wouldn't be surprised if the trail to HMP is mostly dry by the time they open the road. Didn't use snowshoes or traction. |
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4/19/2017 Route: Cross Couloir Posted On: 4/19/2017, By: sstratta Info: Good spring conditions in the Cross. Tigiwon road is mixed dirt/snow; dirt down low and snow up high. Gate is closed till June 21st. |
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3/4/2017 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 3/6/2017, By: SnowAlien Info: Tigiwon road is perfectly groomed by snowcat (was as of yesterday). Nice trench afterwards. Springlike conditions on the descent off Half Moon pass. Deep snow in the trees, down by the creek and ascending the North ridge. Ridge is mostly windblown, but plenty of snow between boulders. With strong winds last week, signs of windloading on all the steep lines. We didn't ski the Cross, although it looked absolutely beautiful. |
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11/19/2016 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 11/20/2016, By: getwrenchy Info: Fresh snow on the ground all the way from the first gate. Started hiking without microspikes but soon put them on and wore them the entire trip. Didn't use crampons or snowshoes since there wasn't enough snow yet. Hiking got more difficult above tree line where it gets rocky and from 13,000 to the top there was 1.5 feet of fresh snow. Ended up going very slowly to be careful and what would have normally taken me 8 hours took me 12. |
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11/12/2016 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 11/14/2016, By: kaoetjen Info: Submitted in 7.5 hrs. Didn't bother putting on my microspikes. There was 2-5 in of snow at the max but most of the route was snow free. Felt like Sept. hiking. |
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11/5/2016 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 11/7/2016, By: RE2012USAF Info: Recent snowfall proved to be challenging. I made the RT in 10 hours because of difficult snow conditions from 12000' and up. There was anywhere from 3"-10" of snow depending on the area. After 12000' I ran into snow for about 3 hours where another 2"-3" was dropped. At this time of the year, snowshoes are unnecessary but I would HIGHLY suggest Micro Spikes and gaiters or Nano Spikes at the least. You will not enjoy the hike without them. Also, it goes without saying but dress warm as well as with rain gear. I coupled down gear and thermals with rain gear to keep the snow from melting through. I also covered my pack to keep the snow from melting through it. The road to the Half Moon TH is still accessible with very light snow in the parking lot. There were a lot of hunters around the area camping. I assume that the road will be open through hunting season. At this time in the year, Holy Cross is very doable still but much more difficult than say back in August. Plan for more time on the route and be aware that you may be the only one on the mountain. I saw no one else all day on the North Ridge. Sorry for the pictures with me in them. Most everything else I tried to take you could not see conditions because of the snow coming down. |
