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Holy Cross Ridge – 13,831 ft.

April 18, 2014 Sawatch, Trip Reports


Holy Cross Ridge. It may not be the most creative name for one of Colorado’s Centennials, but as a ski objective the mountain is definitely inspiring.

Lying a half mile south of the 14er Mount of the Holy Cross, Holy Cross Ridge, 13,831 ft. seems to have earned its named unintentionally. On a map, Holy Cross Ridge is the name assigned to the entire long ridge that runs south from the 14er. There are several ranked sub-summits along the ridge, the highest of which has come to be known as Holy Cross Ridge, the mountain.

Centennial Skiers, east cross creek
Once over Halfmoon Pass and down in East Cross Creek, it was a beautiful skin below Mount of the Holy Cross.

Much like a visit to it’s taller neighbor, some hurdles are involved in skiing Holy Cross Ridge. The Halfmoon Pass trailhead is tough to get to in winter and spring, it’s an eight mile trip via snowmobile, skin, or even bicycle depending on the state of the road. (If you think snowmobile is easiest of the three, just ask me how it went next time you see me.) From there you have to get over Halfmoon Pass, and descend to the valley floor where the actual climb up the mountain begins. That’s not a big deal at the start of the day, but ascending 1000 vertical feet back up to the pass is never a thrilling prospect in the afternoon.

halo ridge, Centennial Skiers
Up in the cirque, an enticing couloir led us up to the summit ridge.
bowl of tears lake, christy mahon
We skinned up the couloir until it made more sense to start kicking steps. Bowl of Tears Lake is down in the valley below.

But that’s part of coming here, and looking back on the day, Christy, Dav, and I, along with Dave Bourassa and Mark Cavaliero, wouldn’t have had it any other way. As the five of us made our way up the valley we passed under the famous Cross Couloir, and skinned across Bowl of Tears Lake to where the cirque opened up and the couloirs on the north side of Holy Cross Ridge came into view. And it was suddenly all worthwhile.

We counted ten different couloirs to ski on the north side of the mountain. Unfortunately we only had time for one, but we all agreed it was a great one.

Give Holy Cross Ridge a visit. You won’t be disappointed.

Centennial Skiers, holy cross ridge
The five of us on the summit, another awesome day in the mountains.
Chris Davenport, Holy Cross Ridge
Dav
mark cavaliero, Centennial Skiers, holy cross ridge
Mark’s turn. Mount of the Holy Cross stands tall in the background.
Dave Bourassa, Centennial Skiers, holy cross ridge
Dave Bourassa in his element.
Dave
christy mahon, holy cross ridge
Partway down the couloir, Christy skis.
Christy
Dav, already reminiscing. We almost didn’t want to leave. “Maybe a good place for a spring basecamp.” was the thought.
The skintrack-turned-booter from below.
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Ski the Centennial 13ers trip reports

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  • #2 Stewart Peak -13,983 ft.
  • #3 Columbia Point – 13,980 ft.
  • #4 Pigeon Peak – 13,972 ft.
  • #5 Mount Ouray – 13,971 ft.
  • #6 Ice Mountain – 13,951 ft.
  • #7 Fletcher Mountain – 13,951 ft.
  • #8 Pacific Peak – 13,950 ft.
  • #9 Cathedral Peak – 13,943 ft.
  • #10 French Mountain – 13,940 ft.
  • #11 Mount Hope – 13,933 ft.
  • #12 Thunder Pyramid – 13,932 ft.
  • #13 Mount Adams – 13,931 ft.
  • #14 Gladstone Peak – 13,913 ft.
  • #15 Mount Meeker – 13,911 ft.
  • #16 Casco Peak – 13,908 ft.
  • #17 Red Mountain – 13,908 ft.
  • #18 Emerald Mountain – 13,904 ft.
  • #19 Horseshoe Mtn. – 13,898 ft.
  • #20 “Phoenix Peak” – 13,895 ft.
  • #21 Vermillion Peak – 13,894 ft.
  • #22 Cronin Peak – 13,870 ft.
  • #23 Mount Buckskin – 13,865 ft.
  • #24 Vestal Peak – 13,864 ft.
  • #25 Jones Mountain – 13,860 ft.
  • #26 North Apostle – 13,860 ft.
  • #27 Clinton Peak – 13,857 ft.
  • #28 Dyer Mountain – 13,855 ft.
  • #29 Crystal Peak – 13,852 ft.
  • #30 Mount Edwards – 13,850 ft.
  • #31 California Peak – 13,849 ft.
  • #32 Mount Oklahoma – 13,845 ft.
  • #33 Half Peak – 13,841 ft.
  • #34 Atlantic Peak – 13,841 ft.
  • #35 Hagerman Peak – 13,841 ft.
  • #36 Turret Peak – 13,835 ft.
  • #37 PT 13,832
  • #38 Holy Cross Ridge – 13,831 ft.
  • #39 Jupiter Mountain- 13,830 ft.
  • #40 “Huerfano Peak” – 13,828 ft.
  • #41 Jagged Mountain – 13,824 ft.
  • #42 “Lackawanna” – 13,823 ft.
  • #43 Mount SiIverheels – 13,822 ft.
  • #44 Rio Grande Pyramid – 13,821 ft.
  • #45 Teakettle Mountain – 13,819 ft.
  • #46 PT 13,811 – 13,811 ft.
  • #47 Dallas Peak – 13,809 ft.

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