2024
I have not listed every trip report, just ones that I thought would be of value to those seeking more information.
Click on any of the links below to jump to their report.
Mount of the Holy Cross
Missouri Lakes
Pyramid Peak
Inca Trail
Mount Ritter
Mount Whitney
Toubkal Circuit
Mount Mitchell
Volcan de Fuego
Sawatch Range, Colorado
Via Halo Ridge & North Ridge in a Loop
14,009ft 4,270 m
Total Mileage: 14 miles / 22.5 km
Elevation Gain: 5,500 feet / 1,676 meters
Class 2 Mountain
22/08/24
Mount of the Holy Cross
Whitaker and I flew into Denver from Miami the day prior, gathering the necessities for our journey before proceeding through Minturn and up the mountain pass to Half Moon Campground. There are ample dispersed camping sites, each with its own allure. We arrived at the campground around 5 p.m. on Saturday; only one spot was taken. However, we opted for a dispersed site further up the road. From there, we set up camp as the evening enveloped us. This report is more so anecdotal; for accurate references on the route, please see here.
Awaking at 4:30 a.m., we made haste to break our homestead, eat, and get on our way. Our parking spot was slightly farther from the trailhead, so we started on the Fall Creek Trail around 5:45 a.m. Due to the favorable weather prediction, this timing seemed adequate. The sun’s wake perforated the forests we walked through soon after; the trail is well-kept and offers a rather floating experience. After reaching the Notch Mountain trail split, we ascended through switchbacks that gave way to an influx of meadowed space, eventually breaking the tree line into a dreamscape. Through the meadows, we hiked up into the ridge’s beginnings. The switchbacks continued until a rather radiant reveal of the ridge proper and the Notch Mountain shelter appeared. From here until you descend the peak into the valley, you are exposed, so being wary of the weather is paramount for your safety—there are few places to bail. An earlier start than ours is recommended. There is also a lot of elevation gain and loss on this route. The first five miles ride a well-established trail, but the path between the shelter and the peak relies on your route-finding on boulders. Coming from the lowlands of Miami, my antidote for elevation comes in the form of LMNT packets and Advil.
Here we took a rest to take in the world around us. The shelter is robust, equipped with anti-lightning devices, offering us security from the roaring winds. The peak in question looms steadfast, a beacon as the rest of the route to the summit is paved ahead. The journey continued over easy class-2 boulder walking, requiring some navigation depending on the adventure you chose. Down the ridge and up another. And again. And again. Each with its own essence and perspectives. You ascend multiple 13ers; I found the boulder hopping to be enjoyable. This was Whitaker's first 14er, and he remarked that, technically, it was very doable—the crux being the long distance the route demands. Up until the shelter, we had seen no one—only voices carried on the air. More parties came into view as we rode the ridge, an approach reminiscent of the Lulu Gulch route to Mount Huron. In the photo above, the peak sits on the far right of the frame.
The route is beautiful, through and through. I will allow you to indulge in the sights that you earn as you traverse. There were groups heading down the Halo Ridge direction and some continuing in the same loop as us. We also spoke to a woman who ascended via the North Ridge route and was planning to descend from the Halo Ridge into the lakes that lay next to it—a possibility for another time. Upon reaching the summit, you can see a plethora of other peaks; one that spoke to me was Pyramid and the Maroon Bells, which I had ascended weeks prior. We took our time on the summit and then began the descent down the standard route. This offered us the firm realization and confidence in our decision to do the loop clockwise. I would recommend it; however, both directions will yield their own adventures. By going up Halo Ridge, you conquer sections that demand a level of focus and stamina. The way up, and subsequently down, the standard route is very much a direct line on the ridge that enters the woods below—also very similar to the standard route on Mount Huron in terms of appearance and application. The standard route is a solid trail that you can follow all the way to the trailhead, opposite to the Halo Ridge.
After arriving at the campground in the basin, we saw the beauty of the sites and the appeal of hiking in via the standard route. Something to note is that the last place to refill your water supply is about 1 mile before the Notch Mountain trail split. I carried 5L with me for the day just in case, and I ran out when I arrived at the creek by the basin campsites. We took a moment to bathe our feet and enjoy the fauna, then the final ascent was on. The 1,000 ft gain out of the valley is often commented on; however, it is not bad at all. After the initial set of switchbacks, which may prove challenging to one’s fitness, the uphill turns into a gradual ascent where you get a new perspective on the wilderness and the way in which you came. By this time, there were a multitude of storms brewing, so we walked with pace.
This led to the conclusion of the trek. It was lovely, and I highly recommend it. The Holy Cross Wilderness has a plethora of places to explore; we went up to the Missouri Lakes the next day, another recommendation, with a much easier climb both in distance and elevation.
My kit for the journey:
-Black Diamond Distance 15 Pack-Pack Cover
-x2 Trekking Poles
-Rain Jacket
-Mid-layer fleece
-Light Gloves
-Water Filter
-District Vision Koharu Sunglasses
-GPS via Fatmaps on iPhone and downloaded route on 14ers app
-Sun Hoody (Worn)
-Convertible Pants (Worn)
-NNormal Tomir 2.0 Shoes (Worn)
-Basic Medical Supplies
-5L of Water via Bladder and Bottles
-Paracord
-Knife
-Lighter
-Snacks
Elk Mountain Range, Colorado
Via Northeast Ridge
14,025ft 4,275 m
Total Mileage: 8.25 miles / 13.3 km
Elevation Gain: 4,500 feet / 1,372 meters
Class 4 Mountain
21/07/24
Pyramid Peak
View of the peak as you transition from the switchbacks into the rocky ampitheatre. This was my first go at a Class 4 Colorado 14er. I did extensive research on the route and felt fully comfortable going in. This report will be rather comprehensive. I flew into Denver from Miami the Saturday afternoon prior, collected my rented car, and headed to a dispersed camping site near Aspen at Woody Creek (Forest Service Road 534). You can find details here. I awoke and drove to the Maroon Lake trailhead, having acquired a midnight-to-midnight parking pass via this [site]. Please note that they open 10 new spots three days before your desired arrival date. I left the parking lot at 6 a.m., amazed by the illustrious Maroon Bells in the morning light. There were many people gathered already with their cameras, ready to capture the moment in digital form.
The initial hike up was swift. I encountered a fox carrying its prey in its mouth. The turn-off towards Pyramid Peak is on your right side in the form of a massive cairn; you will also see it clearly on Fatmaps or other dedicated GPS applications. You traverse quickly across the valley and then up a set of switchbacks, all well-trailed. At the top, you enter the amphitheater. Here, there is a trail you may identify, but you can also select your own route as you go. I did a combination of traversing over the snow and up the boulders, with the destination revealed in front of you. The ascent up to the saddle is rather steep; my pole was helpful here. I arrived at the ridge at 8:30 a.m., with the route towards the summit clear to my eyes. By this point, I had already seen a mountain goat above me, much to my jubilation. I would go on to interact with a few more as I ascended and descended. I will leave the more intricate details to the description found here; that, along with this video, will give you the necessary foreknowledge and insight for the venture.
Looking up at the route to gain the ridge.
In my experience, I found this to be a very digestible Class 4. I enjoyed it the entire way through. Should you have Class 3 experience and fancy a Class 4 route I think this is a very viable option. Perhaps perform it with a partner if there are any worries, and you may always turn back should the climbing deem too daunting at any point. On the way up to the summit, I was able to follow the trail outlined in other reports, traversing over classic sections such as the gap and the green wall. There are multiple cairns along the way that denote different measures of passage. Be wary of them, as some do not permit the same ease as others. On the descent, I found myself off the trail I came up, and I had to finagle my way down, incurring many more Class 4 moves that could have been avoided. A recommendation would be to map your way up on whatever GPS utility you have so that you have a reference for the descent. From the top, the routes available are much clearer to assess than during the ascent.
I had the summit all to myself, being the final person to approach that day. It is absolutely stunning, with the stark view of the Bells in front and multiple iconic peaks around your line of sight. There is a traverse available to Thunder Peak, but needing to return to Denver that same day to depart back to Miami, I opted to shelf it for a future adventure. It took me 4.5 hours to ascend and 2.5 hours to descend. At the time I did it, there was no need for any technical gear. I brought a single trekking pole, which proved useful in the earlier parts of the ascent and later descent. There is no water source pretty much the whole route, so be prepared. The mountain goats made the day for me—their presence is always powerful. Do be wary of them, and always bring your helmet for this route.
My kit for the journey:
-Black Diamond Distance 15 Pack-Pack Cover
-x1 Trekking Pole
-Rain Jacket
-Mid-layer fleece
-Light Gloves
-Water Filter
-District Vision Koharu Sunglasses
-GPS via Fatmaps on iPhone and 14ers App Information
-Sun Hoody (Worn)
-Convertible Pants (Worn)
-NNormal Tomir 2.0 Shoes (Worn)
-Basic Medical Supplies
-5L of Water via Bladder and Bottles
-Paracord
-Knife
-Lighter
-Snacks