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11 Hours on the trail - 12 miles and 5625 feet in elevation gain
Trailhead to East Cross Creek - 2 hours
East Cross Creek to summit - 3 ½ hours
Summit to East Cross Creek - 3 hours - I kinda got off the trail
East Cross Creek to Trailhead - 2 ½ hours
On Friday July 10, I headed out to the Half Moon Trailhead. Arrived there about 4:30 p.m. and was on the trial by 5:00 p.m. I made it over Half Moon pass and to the campsite at East Cross Creek in 2 hours at about 7:00 p.m. Anyone planning on this trip needs to take plenty o bug spray. The mosquitoes are thick and hungry!
Here is the first look at Holy Cross as you come over Half Moon Pass
Just before I dropped down into the East Cross Creek basin, here's a closer picture of the objective.
On day 2 and about an hour on the trail you get your first look at the summit as you come out of the East Cross Creek basin and get onto the north ridge.
As you get onto the north ridge you can see Notch Mountain to your left (East). It's easy to see how it got its name.
Headed up the north ridge. Plan on about an hour of rock hopping up and an hour of rock hopping on the way down. My feet are still sore!
9:30 a.m. Flying the 4-H Flag on Holy Cross! I made it to the summit from East Cross Creek in 3 hours. That's point 13,831 on the Halo Ridge route in the background. I know"I know"All of you 4-H Emblem police out there will notice that the stem on the 4-H emblem is pointed the wrong way. Well if you would be standing behind me it would be legal.
From the summit, here's a shot of the Notch Mountain Shelter on the Halo Ridge Route.
From the summit, here is a look down the mountain to the north. That is East Cross Creek in the bottom and Half Moon Pass behind it that I still have to climb out of.
There were about 10-15 people on the summit at 9:30 a.m. Here is a shot to the west that shows the Elk Range and the Maroon Belles in the far horizon.
Here is a look from the summit down to the north ridge.
And here is a close-up of that last picture that shows two hikers on the way up the north ridge. Look close"at the edge of the snow and about athe left 1/3 of the picture.
On the way down, here is one final look to the east at the Notch Mountain shelter.
This was a long haul. I would not recommend it as someone's first 14er. However, it is easy to see why many people call this their favorite 14er. I'd like to go back via the Halo Ridge route and bag point 13,821 some day.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Congratulations! I too loved that hike. Gorgeous area! Glad the weather cooperated so you could enjoy the views.
I have to ask, any chance you did your calculations whilst still hypoxic? Based on your times, I calculated 11 hours...you‘re not giving yourself enough credit!
I did the Halo Ridge on 7/4. Saw your comment on my trip report too late to offer any suggestions in time for your climb. Bit for future reference, my hiking partner and I agreed that it may have been easier to do the Halo backwards (summit Holy Cross first and descend on the Notch Mountain side). I know it‘s all the same distance to cover, but climbing up and over Halfmoon at the END of the hike is brutal.
Looks like you had perfect conditions to fly the 4H flag! Happy to hear your trip worked out as planned. Congratulations on a job well done. FYI - We could have used some bug repellent on the SW Slopes route on Massive too!
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