7/18/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/19/2015, By: pinhead Info: It seems the notorious mosquitoes on East Cross Creek have relented somewhat. Also, the trail is superb to 13400, and manageable above that, so that a route description is not needed. Some snow on the southern approaches immediately below the summit. |
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7/16/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/17/2015, By: yooper10 Info: Overall, the North Ridge route is in great shape, snow free, and easy to follow thanks to hard trail work from Colorado Fourteener‘s Initiative. Expect some mud, puddles, and a veritable mosquito fiesta on both sides of Half Moon Pass. The East Fall Creek drainage is one of the most beautiful in the state, so expect a weekend crowd of competitors for designated camp sites. Early monsoonal rain (and tons of hail) made my trip a bit more interesting, and the trends looks like it‘s staying around for a while. Angelica Couloir is quickly melting out and now revealing talus. Cross Couloir still holds snow at the summit, although I can‘t speak to conditions below what you can see from the top... don‘t slip peering down the Cross. Enjoy! |
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7/11/2015 Route: Cross Couloir Posted On: 7/12/2015, By: TylerButler Info: The approach to Cross Couloir was in good shape. Snowpack in the couloir was pretty easily traversed in the daylong shaded areas and much softer in areas which receive sunlight. Snow at the top of the couloir was very soft resulting in several postholes. Sporadic postholing throughout couloir. In areas the couloir snowpack has been divided by the runnels. Unsure how long the couloir will be under snowpack... |
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7/10/2015 Route: Cross Couloir Posted On: 7/11/2015, By: benglish Info: Climbed Cross Couloir from Half Moon TH and descended Halo Ridge. The approach was 99% dry and the clouds of mosquitoes near cross creek relented just above treeline. The Couloir had amazing and rapidly dwindling continuous styrofoam to the summit. There were a few patches of mandatory snow on Halo Ridge. Judging by the size of the runnels I‘d wager that the couloir will be discontinuous in a matter of days. GO GET IT NOW! |
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7/5/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 8/10/2015, By: ds925 Info: This is was first 14er and would diffently rec doing this trip. It was so beautiful and the trail was accurate. We didn‘t have great weather but did summit by 11:30 RT took 10 hrs being my first so I was happy for that. This was a hard hike but so worth the pictures. |
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7/4/2015 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 7/4/2015, By: Rcizzle Info: Not to sound like a broken record, but lets be real. When someone here says you should bring mosquito repellent, its for good reason/mandatory. The mosquitos are heavy (anywhere from 20 to 50 trying to land when while tying your shoe) to 12,000 ft. and then moderate to 13,000. If you don‘t bring repellent/or long sleeves and pants you WILL be miserable! (learn from the fool don‘t be the fool) The trail conditions for Halo: muddy with standing running water in the trail in isolated areas below treeline. All snow crossing (3 or 4 very short 10 yard sections) and are soft. You will posthole. Like the previous report mentioned that the crossing toward MOTHC is pretty sturdy. If you do want to find solitude on the MOTHC, Halo Ridge to HCR and back to MOTHC is your best option right now. The North Ridge is pretty much snow free on the trail, just a bunch of gneiss shist, don‘t take it for granite. (geology pun sorry) Also noted in another previous trip report the log at East Cross is very slippery. It is, I would recommend another pair of socks for your pack (again don‘t be the fool, I‘m the fool). |
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7/3/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/3/2015, By: zsmith Info: Near-summer conditions. The trail is dry and clear of snow until the ridge. Any remaining snow is either off-trail or easily circumvented. No traction required. Mosquitoes are thick and aggressive from the top of Half Moon Pass, into the basin and up to the ridge above treeline. The river crossing is very full. Bring at least one trekking pole and waterproof shoes as the log is floating and unstable. The pool is mid-thigh deep (yes, I fell in). The road is passable by nearly all cars, although there are several places that passenger cars will have to slowly navigate. The last 150ft of the Cross Couloir is melted out. |
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7/3/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/4/2015, By: Cheyenne 14 Info: 1 - North route is very well maintained and the route is very easy to follow. No need for snow shoes, crampons or other items. 2 - There is a very large population of mosquitos in the wooded areas on both sides of the river crossing. 3 - I would strongly recommend bringing lots of mosquito repellent. 4 - This is a long hike for one day so either bring lots of water and plant or bring your filtration system and you can make water from the river. 5 - The river crossing is manageable but take extra socks encase you dip a foot or two. 6 - I would recommend staying off the snow on the ridge up to the base of the peak as it has a cornice that you can not see until you are on top. |
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7/2/2015 Route: Halo Ridge Posted On: 7/2/2015, By: Daniel Joder Info: Again, tomorrow late I‘ll have a trip report up with pics (link to my blog, actually). I did Halo to North Ridge (clockwise). The Reader‘s Digest version...For Halo you just need poles, sturdy shoes (or ankles), and stamina. Oh, and water. I carried and drank about 4 liters for my 2a.m. to 2p.m. hike. On Halo no need to walk on snow unless you want to--although there is a snow field just below Holy Cross summit that would be hard to avoid (I just walked across it). Same with the North Ridge route--there is a huge snowbank on the ridge itself, but the trail goes beside it, so you have basically summer conditions. And, yes, the mosquitoes are out--especially by East Cross Creek. Someone asked about the Notch Mnt traverse route--I think you would be fine as the snow is disappearing rapidly. Look at my pictures Thu or Fri and see what you think. |
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6/29/2015 Route: Cross Couloir Posted On: 6/29/2015, By: Fishscale Info: See the previous report - sums it up perfectly. All I have to add is stay away from exposed rocks in the couloir, even if there are steps kicked in near them. The snow around them goes slushy way before everything else. |
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6/29/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 6/30/2015, By: The_Flex Info: First of all, thanks to those who worked improving the trial; the many stone steps take away a lot of misery. I don't mind getting burned in the sun, but those mosquitoes (described in previous reports) are as bad as can be! They chase you when you walk, and swarm you when you stop. Doesn't stop until you get above tree line, which is a big chunk of the route. I put on repellant, but should have brought more. And they don't go away in daytime sunlight. Anyway, the conditions: the river is high but still crossable walking on a loose log. Snow is no longer to worry about. You get to walk along a long cornice approaching the top that occasionally covers the path, but just move over a little and your fine. I didn't go back by way of the Halo route, but could see a little easy snow to cross (see picture). |
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6/27/2015 Route: Cross Couloir Posted On: 6/28/2015, By: yingyangsoup89 Info: Ascended the cross couloir and descended halo ridge. Cross couloir is still very filled in. The snow was perfect for kick steps and was softening up near the top around 8:30am. At the bottom, the snow was icy (lack of sunlight early am). Halo ridge was fun. Just used hiking poles to descend the ridge. Plenty of scrambling and talus hopping. No snowshoes required. Used 2 axes on the cross couloir. Get on that cross while it‘s still good! Did not need crampons or micro spikes or an axe at all on the ridge. |
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6/27/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 6/28/2015, By: tracie_marie Info: Very little snow remaining. About half of the summit is snow covered but can be easily avoided. Don't forget bug spray, the mosquitoes are relentless. Creek crossing is pretty high but can be done, was very happy to have poles to help cross, if I can make it across without falling in I'm sure anyone can! |
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6/27/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 6/29/2015, By: ranthal Info: BRING THE BUG SPRAY! Mosquitoes will be all the motivation you need to keep moving on the trail right now. Aside from being constantly snacked on it was pretty good conditions. No spikes, snowshoes etc needed or even useful to summit. Creek is running pretty high at the moment but wasn‘t an issue to cross. I stayed in my boots and used my poles, a lot of people (even ones who brought poles) were going barefoot, both worked whatever you are more comfortable with. Met people on the summit coming up the couliers, not sure how much longer that will be an option as the snow is melting quick. All in all a great day. |
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6/22/2015 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 6/22/2015, By: ekviatnie Info: Climbed the North Ridge in t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes (no need for flotation, I did not use traction but I imagine some people might be more comfortable with microspikes). Left the Half Moon Pass TH at 0818. Summit at 1002. Random, easily by-passable sections of snow up to Half Moon Pass. Descending to East Cross creek still has snow that has slid down from Notch ridge. Mobs of mosquito‘s around East Cross creek until above tree-line. Between 11,000 and 11,800 the trail was nearly entirely snow covered- I made a track that approximates the summer trail. Between 11,800 and 13,000 there is intermittent snow. Above 13,000 to the summit is almost continuous snow, but by-passable by walking off trail. The summit is entirely snow covered. You could easily ski Holy Cross Couloir off the summit. In fact, I saw a lone skier boot-packing up the couloir. The central runnel is about one metre deep. I left the summit at 1100 and the couloir was still frozen. I imagine it would not have corned-up until at least noon. |
