Mt. of the Holy Cross Trip Report 10/12/2012

Peak(s):	Mt. of the Holy Cross - 14,007 feet
Date Posted:	10/12/2012
Date Climbed:	10/09/2012
Author:	Kes4628

Windy Holy Cross
This is my first trip report that I've posted and I'm doing it on my iPhone while on a layover at Ohare, so please take that into account. After my wedding in Vail on Sunday my new Brother in law and I climbed Mt of the Holy Cross on Tuesday, Oct 9th. We left Vail around 4:30 am arriving at Half Moon trailhead on clear wide roads around 5:15. Ours was the only car in the lot. We departed the TH at 5:30 am. We hiked with headlamps and were treated to a great sunrise. The wind was howling but hadn't touched us yet. We descened Half Moon Pass and what a view. The best view yet of my 9 14ers. We crossed East Cross Creek which had ice on the banks and the logs (pic) that was still there in the afternoon on our return. We started our climb up the trail and as we came out of the valley it became increasingly windy. Really windy. We came across a tree that had recently fallen across the trail (pic). As we came out above tree line the wind made it difficult to talk. We made our way to the summmit with no fresh snow. The remaining snow had melted and refroze many times making the trail slick in spots. The view from the summit was amazing. After 30 mins and a quick bite we were starting to freeze up so we headed back following the same route we took in. The trip back was uneventful. We had the entire trail and mountain to ourselves not a soul to be seen all day. Upon arriving back at the TH at 4:30 pm there was one other car in the lot but we never saw anyone. We made the trip in 11 hours and we were not setting any speed records. We took our time and enjoyed it. What everyone else has written is true. It is a long day. But well worth it. Thxs Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Windy Holy Cross

This is my first trip report that I've posted and I'm doing it on my iPhone while on a layover at Ohare, so please take that into account. After my wedding in Vail on Sunday my new Brother in law and I climbed Mt of the Holy Cross on Tuesday, Oct 9th. We left Vail around 4:30 am arriving at Half Moon trailhead on clear wide roads around 5:15. Ours was the only car in the lot. We departed the TH at 5:30 am. We hiked with headlamps and were treated to a great sunrise. The wind was howling but hadn't touched us yet. We descened Half Moon Pass and what a view. The best view yet of my 9 14ers. We crossed East Cross Creek which had ice on the banks and the logs (pic) that was still there in the afternoon on our return. We started our climb up the trail and as we came out of the valley it became increasingly windy. Really windy. We came across a tree that had recently fallen across the trail (pic). As we came out above tree line the wind made it difficult to talk. We made our way to the summmit with no fresh snow. The remaining snow had melted and refroze many times making the trail slick in spots. The view from the summit was amazing. After 30 mins and a quick bite we were starting to freeze up so we headed back following the same route we took in. The trip back was uneventful. We had the entire trail and mountain to ourselves not a soul to be seen all day. Upon arriving back at the TH at 4:30 pm there was one other car in the lot but we never saw anyone. We made the trip in 11 hours and we were not setting any speed records. We took our time and enjoyed it. What everyone else has written is true. It is a long day. But well worth it. Thxs

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Exiled Michigander	Where's your wife? 10/12/2012 9:12pm Let me get this straight: you got married on Sunday and then ditched your new wife to climb Holy Cross with your bro' on Tuesday? That is AWESOME! If your new wife didn't give you hell for this, she's a keeper. However, I do hope you are with her at O'Hare on the way to a nice tropical honeymoon . . . Congrats on your marriage and the summit!
Kes4628	Keeper 10/13/2012 5:16pm Thanks. She is a keeper. Had her blessing. I think she might have needed a break from all the wedding stuff and her new hubby. It was that or the spa day in Vail with her sister. Either way it was a great day in the mountains.
zephyr_pelicante	Very nice 10/14/2012 1:48am on both accounts: marriage and summit!
14erOHOLIC	Bravo! 10/15/2012 3:56am your marriage has already out lasted mine. I am working on my trip report (video) of this tricky little sleeper of a mountain. One not to be taken for grated.

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