At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
- Pearl Jam
Apparently this is what I do while "working from home".
Notch Mountain: Elevation 13,237
Mount of the Holy Cross: Elevation 14,005
...and all Points in between
Distance: 14.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 5,593 ft.
Solo Mission
After reading about this route in Gerry Roach's book, I figured it would be a good way to change things up on a day where the weather was predicted to be just about perfect. As a bonus, this variation of the Halo Ridge route was also a great way to escape the crowds.
Note: To the many time stamp haters 
: Time stamps have been removed from most of the pictures, except those where I thought they could be helpful. Thanks for the recommendation!
My route in blue.
The Notch in Notch Mountain
Upper left: Looking back at the traverse across Notch Mountain's 2 summits as seen from the summit of Holy Cross later in the day.
I left the Jeep about 1/4 mile and 40 cars down the road and hit the TH about 7 AM. This route actually begins at the Halfmoon TH and uses the standard route until you reach Halfmoon Pass.
Treeline
Approaching the top of Halfmoon Pass. I left the trail here and headed south, a sharp left straight up the talus towards Point 12,743
Looking back down toward Halfmoon Pass on the way up.
Top of Point 12,743 with the Northern summit of Notch Mountain in the distance. Holy Cross comes into view to the right.
Summit of Notch Mountain (northern terminus, the higher of the 2) - Elevation 13,237 with Holy Cross in the background.
My 1st look at the Notch Traverse. It is listed at Class 2+. My route finding skills are still a work in progress. There was certainly some Class 3 scrambling on my way through. Like anything, you could probably make it more difficult.
About halfway through the Notch looking up at the southern summit of Notch Mountain.
I navigated around the cliff walls and reascended the ridge through a narrow opening pictured far right to the left of the large rock.
The north face of the southern end of Notch Mountain as seen from inside the "Notch". It is very impressive.
A look back toward Notch Mountain's true summit to the north.
View towards the Notch Mountain Shelter as seen from the southern summit of Notch Mountain - Elevation 13,224
At the shelter I joined the actual Halo Ridge route
Looking northeast back on the Notch Mountain Shelter and Notch Mountain (far left) from Point 13,248 (ranked) along the Halo Ridge route.
Point 13,373 as seen from Point 13,248
A look back on Point 13,248, the Notch Mountain Shelter and Notch Mountain from Point 13,373.
A look ahead to Point 13,831 - Holy Cross Ridge - from Point 13,373
The remaining route to the summit of Holy Cross from Point 13,831
Summit of Mount of the Holy Cross - Elevation 14,005 - August 4, 2012
Summit of Mount of the Holy Cross - Elevation 14,005 - August 4, 2012
After a pop tart and a long rest I still hadn't decided which route I wanted to take on the return. Weather was not a factor. Seeing that all but one of the other 45 people on the summit chose to descend the standard route, my decision was easy... back the way I came! The only difference being that once I reached the shelter, I descended the Halo Ridge route using the switchbacks along the Notch Mountain Trail, rather than reascend Notch Mountain.
A few pictures along Halo Ridge on the way back:
The Bowl of Tears Basin, Notch Mountain, Notch Mountain Shelter, Point 13,248
THE END
Thanks for reading!
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