Holy Cross Ridge

[whoopi_cat]

Hello all,

Does anyone know the classification of the ridgeline between Holy Cross and the high point named "Holy Cross Ridge." There are several trip reports on 13ers.com, and I'll keep reading them, buy I haven't yet found the classification.

We're doing Holy Cross on labor day, and I'm wondering if we should also run over and "bag" this ridge point. Any and all comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Whoopi Cat

[Ramfan24]

I don't know the "official" classification but having done it I would say 2 or 2+

[CO Native]

Class 2. No way it's even 2+. Most people just follow the ridge line over to Holy Cross Ridge and then traverse on the way back to avoid re ascending Mount of the Holy Cross. If you do this be careful not to lose too much elevation as you traverse.

[whoopi_cat]

Thanks so much, gents.

I seem to remember rather stern warnings about EVER taking any short-cuts in the area of Holy Cross. "Bermuda Triangle of the Rocky Mountains" is what I think I remember.

Thanks again,

Whoopi Cat

[Chicago Transplant]

I would just re-summit Holy Cross on the way back, its not much extra elevation, about 305' (505' total from saddle). The saddle between Holy Cross Ridge and Holy Cross is 13,500', but the part where you leave the ridge on the standard Holy Cross route before you go up the face to the summit is at 13,700' (top of Angelica Couloir). If you try and traverse below the summit you would still have to gain 200' in the process to try and hit the trail on the ridge, so with the "Bermuda Triangle" reputation, I would say the 305' is better than risking being too low on an ascending traverse across talus that all looks the same. You can't see the north ridge route as you wrap the back of the summit cone, so its easier route finding to hit the route from above than below, probably takes less time too seeing as sidehilling on talus boulders kind of sucks anyway.

[highpilgrim]

I seem to remember rather stern warnings about EVER taking any short-cuts in the area of Holy Cross. "Bermuda Triangle of the Rocky Mountains" is what I think I remember.

I know that it happens a lot, but getting lost up there is hard to do if you just stay to the right on your way down the ridge. Most of the prolems stem from descending too quickly and to the climber's left. NO Stay right along the ridge until you hit the giganto karens...

And I think you have to work pretty hard to exceed class 2 on this route. A lot of up and down but not difficult, just long.

[argothor]

I seem to remember rather stern warnings about EVER taking any short-cuts in the area of Holy Cross. "Bermuda Triangle of the Rocky Mountains" is what I think I remember.

I know that it happens a lot, but getting lost up there is hard to do if you just stay to the right on your way down the ridge. Most of the prolems stem from descending too quickly and to the climber's left. NO Stay right along the ridge until you hit the giganto karens...

And I think you have to work pretty hard to exceed class 2 on this route. A lot of up and down but not difficult, just long.

The saddle between Holy Cross Ridge and Holy Cross is class 2.

I don't know of any giganto karens in the area, but there are some decent sized cairns. highpilgrim is correct, stay right along Holy Cross' north ridge and you shouldn't have any trouble with getting lost.

[highpilgrim]

I don't know of any giganto karens in the area, but there are some decent sized cairns.

A reference to this thread and others regarding karens.

http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... ns#p310011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;