Conquering the Iconic Mount of the Holy Cross: A Challenging Expedition with Mountain Trail Ventures

Embark on an epic adventure with Mountain Trail Ventures as we conquer the majestic Mount of the Holy Cross! This iconic peak, located in the Sawatch Range of Colorado, offers not only a challenging climb but also a fascinating geological history.Show more

Formed during the Precambrian era, the rocks of Mount of the Holy Cross tell a story millions of years in the making. As we ascend, we'll witness the dramatic changes in rock formations, from the ancient granite base to the younger sedimentary layers that give the mountain its distinctive cross-shaped snowfield.

Join us as we navigate rugged terrain, tackle steep ascents, and marvel at the breathtaking vistas from the summit. Our journey is not just about conquering a peak; it's about immersing ourselves in the geological wonders of this remarkable mountain.

Experience the thrill of the climb and the beauty of the landscape as we climb Mount of the Holy Cross with Mountain Trail Ventures!
Our adventures of climbing Mount of the Holy Cross, 14, 007 feet occurred on 10/4/22 and 7/2/23.

My wife and I drove up from Southeast Texas on 10/2/22 and arrived at the trailhead on 10/3/22 to meet my climbing partner Connor Cummings who had been hiking the entire Sawatch Range for four weeks. A snowstorm had blown through a few days before we started on 10/4/22 from the Halfmoon Pass Trailhead, at 10, 315 feet by way of the standard North Ridge Route. The climb up Half Moon Pass skirts the NW shoulder of Notch Mountain, gains 1,350 feet in about a mile and a half and then you lose about 1,000 feet going down to East Cross Creek. Holy Cross comes into view and the views are spectacular. There is dispersed camping at East Cross Creek. The trail to the summit begins and the top of the peak is 14,007 feet. Unfortunately on 10/4/22, I was not wearing the proper footwear and my toes were freezing. I had to end my climb 250 vertical feet from the summit and begin to warm them up with hand warmers in my shoes. Connor was able to successfully summit on this day, so Congratulations to him! I returned disappointed but gaining knowledge on what went wrong and knowing I would be back.

I returned on 7/2/23 after hiking and climbing several other 14ers, being properly acclimated, wearing the proper shoes for the season, and was successful. The views of the Rocky Mountains are gorgeous. The route is well marked and has many cairns in the talus field to follow. I got caught in a slight hail storm on the way down. The total elevation gain was about 5,600 feet, roundtrip mileage was about 11.5 miles, and it took me 10 hours and 42 minutes. It was a very difficult climb. This was my 28th 14er to summit.

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