Mt of the Holy Cross

Adventures on Mt of the Holy Cross (14,005 feet)
Pictures at http://wadedara.spaces.live.com/

What an adventure it was! The Gardner family, plus Aunt Jenni and friend Sara, arrived at the Halfmoon Pass trailhead at about 1pm on Saturday, Aug 12. And it was raining. But we headed out anyway. It rained off and on all through the 3 miles in. As it turned out, we were not quite as prepared as we thought we were, and things got a little wet!

We made it to the campsite in 3.5 hours, had dinner and got the tent set up before dark. It didn’t take much convincing to get everyone in bed that night! Our friends Lori and Angela hiked in that night, and had to set up camp in the dark.

At 7am the next morning the whole group was on the trail for the 2.5 mile hike to the summit. As it turned out, over ½ that distance turned into a Class 2 hike – walking on boulders. It took us 5 hours to summit (Wade made an extra push and summited Mt of the Holy Cross Ridge, elevation 13,831’ – a top 100 peak, as well.)

It is one of those mountains that just looks too amazing to climb. But each step took us closer and closer. Our focus was on the “courage to persevere” and wow did Caleb and Anna (and everyone else!!) persevere!

With a ½ hour break on top (complete with PB&J Wheat Thin sandwiches) we were ready for the descent. Even with a 50% chance of afternoon showers, the rain held off allowing for a dry descent. It took us 4 ½ hours to descend.

With another good nights sleep we were ready to head back to the cars the next morning. What an amazing adventure. Praise God for family time, and for an incredible creation!

The cross picture is compliments of the Forest Service. The route that we took did not allow us a view of the cross. However, the cross itself only shows up when the weather conditions are just right.

Congrats to Dara, Caleb and Anna for their 3rd 14er!!!


We put this Alphabet Adventure together when we got home...

A = adventure, Angela, Auntie, alive, alert, awake
B = bananas on backpacks, boots, boulders
C = climbing a mountain, camping by the creek, Craisins, cherry, Chihuahua, cairns, cold contacts, clothes soaked, couscous and jelly
D = dogs, drop-offs
E = Everyone made it!
F= Fun! fire restrictions, filter, flowers
G= geography, geology, graham crackers and granola bars, going crazy
H= Holy Cross, hiking, huskies, headlamps, Harry’s Bump and Grind
I= ice-cold creek contest
J= jumping on the top
K= kids did great! Knife can-opener
L= Laurie
M= marmots, mushrooms
N= new warm sleeping bags, noise ;)
O= orange “friends”
P= perfect weather on summit, perseverance, pica
Q= quick, quiet game
R= rain on Sat.
S= Sara, sunburn, s’mores, spaghetti and PB, singing songs, spaghetti sauce on shoes,
T= tilting tent, “Things you wouldn’t…” third fourteener
U= umbrella and Mary Poppins
V= view!!!
W= walking sticks, water (running out), wheat thin PB&J’s, whistling, waking up early
X= excellent adventure
Y= young hikers, yellow bees
Z= zip-zip zippy, zero snow on trail

View pictures at http://wadedara.spaces.live.com/