Holy Cross

This weekend (July29-30), we backpacked and hiked in the Holy Cross Wilderness area, Whire River National Forest near Vail, CO. The mountain is named "Mount of Holy Cross", due to a white cross formed by the snow in summer making a shape of a cross.We started Friday afternoon around 4:00 pm, but reached the trialhead only around 8:00 pm. 70 W to vail then 24 S towards leadville, left on Tigwon road to Holy Cross Wilderness area. The last part of the drive is Tigwon road (unpaved) goes through a thick grove of aspens for 8 miles. Trailhead elavation 10320 ft. Others were even slower and we could not start until 9:00 pm when it was already dark. We had flashlights and did not want to camp at the trailhead but at the half moon creek about 2.5 miles away. We started climbing in flashlight with our backpacks and ascended about 1200 ft and 1.5 miles to half moon pass. It was starry night and nice view of sky. Then there was a steep descent into valley with narrow trail and cliffs. It was scary. Somehow around 11:00 pm we reached the creek and camped in the dark (10700 ft). Night was usual in the tent after a tiring day - turning and tossing. It was not cold but quite chilly. Woke up around 7:30 am and started hiking around 8:30 am. First part with several switchbacks was quite steep. But there wasn't much trouble to get above treeline (11700 ft). After this, it was a ROCKY ride all the way. My knee started aching as we climbed but somehow reached the summint (14,005 ft) around noon. There was a picnic on the summit. I am sure there were more than 40 peple. You could see many 14ers including quandry, maroon bells and snomass and many more. Some cliffs were so deep that I couldn't even dare look down. Spent about 45 minutes there and then started climbing down. It was even tougher on my knees to climb down. Once we reached the treeline around 2:00 pm, it was much better. We reached at the campsite around 3:00 pm and were exhasued. By the time we reached to the creek a "monsoon" storm had already built up near the peak. Lot's of lightning and thunder. In mouantains I guess with echos and all it is very loud and is an experience. I tried to relax in my tent as it thundered. There was only a slight drizzle. Around 5:00 pm the storm was gone away although it was still cloudy. We folded the tents and started our hike back around 5:40 pm. The steep hike up about 1000 ft from was ok due to the rest. There were amazing wild flowers around half moon pass. I had never seen so many before. Too bad I packed my camera in due to the storm :( Anyways reached back safely around 7:15 pm to the trailhead.

For details of the Mount of Holy Cross check out
http://www.14ers.com/photos/MtHolyCross/p_mtholycross_route1.html

Enjoy!