14ers.com • Trip Report - Night Hike

Peak(s):	Mt. of the Holy Cross - 14,005 feet
Date Posted:	09/12/2018
Date Climbed:	09/08/2018
Author:	kpwissler93

Night Hike - Standard Route
This was my first night hike to see the sunset and it was definitely worth it. I completed it with two other friends in my party. Left Denver on a Friday at about 11 PM and was able to hit the trail head at 1:30 AM. The initial hike in to Half Moon is really not that bad and a great opportunity to see some serious stars at night. You could see the milky way clear as day. We continued past the campground and found ourselves above treeline. This part gets pretty steep up until the ridge that connects with final ascent to the summit. The final scramble is not very defined but a very fun scramble up. We hit the summit moments before the sunrise at 6:30 AM and had the most unforgettable and most deserved sunrise I have ever seen. The way back to camp is a little hard on the knees but nothing terrible, but its here where the brutal part starts. We had a 14er virgin in our party and I would not recommend cherry popping anyone on this monster due to the ending. It is nothing more than regaining 1000, but without the thrill and reward of summiting a 14er at the top, it can be pretty demoralizing. Beautiful hike and would definitely recommend camping instead of doing it in one shoot like we did. Trail was lightly trafficked and great spots nearby in Vail and Minturn to grab a beer and bite afterward. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Night Hike - Standard Route

This was my first night hike to see the sunset and it was definitely worth it. I completed it with two other friends in my party. Left Denver on a Friday at about 11 PM and was able to hit the trail head at 1:30 AM. The initial hike in to Half Moon is really not that bad and a great opportunity to see some serious stars at night. You could see the milky way clear as day. We continued past the campground and found ourselves above treeline. This part gets pretty steep up until the ridge that connects with final ascent to the summit. The final scramble is not very defined but a very fun scramble up. We hit the summit moments before the sunrise at 6:30 AM and had the most unforgettable and most deserved sunrise I have ever seen. The way back to camp is a little hard on the knees but nothing terrible, but its here where the brutal part starts. We had a 14er virgin in our party and I would not recommend cherry popping anyone on this monster due to the ending. It is nothing more than regaining 1000, but without the thrill and reward of summiting a 14er at the top, it can be pretty demoralizing. Beautiful hike and would definitely recommend camping instead of doing it in one shoot like we did. Trail was lightly trafficked and great spots nearby in Vail and Minturn to grab a beer and bite afterward.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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