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Peak(s):  Mt. of the Holy Cross  -  14,007 feet
Date Posted:  03/16/2009
Modified:  12/03/2009
Date Climbed:   03/14/2009
Author:  doumall
 Cross Couloir Winter Ski Descent   

3-14-09
8 mile (16 RT) Snowmobile Approach using Tigiwon Road
Climb to Halfmoon Pass, Descent to Cross Creek, Climb of North Ridge
Ski Descent of Cross Couloir and Cross Creek
5600 vert
11.5 miles
11.5 hours

Crew: JCWhite, doumall


Holy Cross has been skied in July from the summit, but not in POW. After Jordan chewed my ear a bit about getting it while it was good, I took the bait. The short drive and prospect for another winter teener were the frosting on the cake.

Holy Cross from the Gore:

Photo: iskibc 3-14-09

We unloaded the sleds at the gate and zipped up the groomer 8 miles to the summer trailhead. I would have felt like such a bad ass mountaineer walking up this road.


Photo: doumall

At the trailhead, we found light and dry. Some breaking was in store.


Photo: doumall

We quickly set track to Halfmoon Pass...


Photo:JCWhite

...where the Northern Sawatch came into view:


Photo: JCWhite

The traverse over toward Cross Creek involves an extended trip through the slide zone. Today the snow was behaving:


Photo: JCWhite


Photo: doumall

The goal came into view just past the open snowfield, which was still a long ways off:


Photo: doumall

After a trap crust ski down into Cross Creek we skinned up again and began the breaking toward the North Ridge. This area must have been heavily glaciated at some point; pillowed boulders and cliffs populate the landscape.


Photo: JCWhite

Once on the ridge, the plowing got serious, 12-18" of steep plowing. I actually felt like we earned our winter stripes on this one despite the unseasonable temps. At treeline, we finally felt like we were getting close.


Photo: doumall


Photo: JCWhite

We fiddled around trying to keep the skins on:


Photo: doumall

Eventually giving up the ghost on that thought, we switched to booting.


Photo: doumall

Back to skinning as the peak draws near:



Photos: doumall

And finally some talus hoping (kicking, screaming, yelling, cussing, coughing, pissing, burping, farting, lots of farting, etc..):


Photo: doumall

Had us to the summit; a snowy summit.


Photo: doumall

We ate lunch and I took a stroll over to the top of the Cross Couloir. Holy Cr... this was going to be good. There was no cornice, no sign of heavy loading, and no sign of baking. I tossed a large rock at the roll over and nothing but plop. The smiles grew:


Photo: Summit Boulder

We started our ski at 3:30pm.

Jordan dropping off the summit:


Photo: doumall

After ski cutting and jumping around for a bit, it was clear sloughing would be the snowpack demeanor. Smiles grew into perma-grins:


Photos: doumall

Jordan got firsts:



Photos: doumall

Check out that slough train!


Photo: doumall

The slough was tough to manage up top due to the limited territory for turns on skiers right and skiers left being a bit sun effected. We found a way to deal with it, he he:




Photos: JCWhite




Photos: doumall





Photos: JCWhite

We played leap frog a bit finding good safe zones in the couloir wall nooks. The only thing that could have made this better would have been better lighting. The pics are a bit dark as a consequence, but hey, it's a free show right?


Photo: JCWhite


Photo: doumall



Photos: JCWhite



Photos: doumall




Photos: JCWhite


We easily found the exit above the cliff.


Photo: JCWhite

Out on the rocky SE face...


Photo: doumall

...we found a mix of crust...


Photo: JCWhite

...and cream.


Photo: JCWhite

Our final turns were made into the sun on the Bowl of Tears...


Photo: JCWhite


Photo: doumall

...and then in powder conditions following Cross Creek:


Photo: JCWhite

An epic day with epic snow. The Couloir from below...


Photo: doumall

...and the sunset on the way out.


Photo: doumall

Jordan's TR can be found over on Teton:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154514



Comments or Questions
doubleA
Sick!!!
3/16/2009 11:10pm
Great TR. How steep did it get?


dcbates80911
User
Lift ticket???
3/16/2009 11:29pm
Do you really need a lift ticket to ski Holy Cross???

Nice pictures. I can‘t wait until I can get out again.


mjsherman
User
Beautiful day!!
3/17/2009 1:45am
Great climb and ski with another picture packed report. Great job.


Easy Rider
User
Nicely!
3/17/2009 4:19am
Done!


bckcntryskr
User
Very nice
3/17/2009 4:28am
great climb, ski, weather and TR


Jcwhite
User
Steve...
3/17/2009 2:28pm
I think it is because we were both fluctuating in energy level at different times...I was feeling good, then Joe, then me, then Joe...It‘s just kind of how the day went.


Chicago Transplant
User
Now that is a ski day!
3/17/2009 4:51pm
Looks like this is the ski day you guys have been waiting for, great snow and weather conditions! Daytime temps later this week are going to start hitting the low 50‘s in town, seems the corn is on its way


PKR
User
Holy crap what a sweet ride!
3/17/2009 6:33pm
Well done, you two are prime time entertainment!
Have fun this spring.
Ken


dsunwall
User
bad ass mountaineer
3/18/2009 1:56am
I would have felt like such a bad ass mountaineer walking up this road.”

thats good, I understand.

impressive photo‘s, and congrats on another winter 14er ski.


USAKeller
User
Nice job guys
3/18/2009 7:04pm
Looks like it was a beautiful day and some nice powder skiing. The Cross Couloir is one I really want to ski. Congrats on another winter summit and ski!


deckerrachi
A question or two
3/20/2009 2:53am
Great trip report. Thanks! Can you tell me, was the road up to the Trailhead all snow covered? Also, how tough would this climb have been with snowshoes and no skis considering the snow conditions? Thanks!


doumall
User
Thanks for all the comments!
3/20/2009 2:58pm
deckerrachi, the Tigiwon Road is used by a snowmobile outfitter and is groomed all the 8 miles to the trailhead. There are many spurs roads to navigate. The breaking with snowshoes would be tedious in places on the way to Halfmoon Pass as well as on the North Ridge prior to treeline.


deckerrachi
Thanks
3/20/2009 10:13pm
Thanks Doumall. This helps.


MUni Rider
User
Excellent.
7/4/2009 8:42am
My favorite 14er ski trip report to date.

Inspiration to get an AT skiing set-up for next year if I can afford it.

Thanks for posting.

(Now I know where Jcwhite‘s avatar is from.)


sunny1
User
Amazing!
7/13/2009 2:15am
Photos and write up.
Looks like an awesome day - lots to enjoy here, even for the armchair reader!
(I have the broken leg Steve hopes to avoid...!)


Dancesatmoonrise
User
Inspirational....
2/19/2010 8:06pm
Pretty amazing trip, you guys!!


sgladbach
User
As soon as you finish your 14er ski goal,
11/30/2010 5:28pm
you're going to teach me to ski! I don't need t be able to ski the Cross Couloir. I'm tired of blisters and I just want to be able to ski the road back to my car with a full pack (and it would be nice if I could do it w/o breaking a leg.) On your ascent photos, how did you each manage to get so many photos with the other guy out front?

Good job to both,

Steve


maverick_manley
User
delicious and nutritious...
11/30/2010 5:28pm
I can't stay upright in pow, but that still looks like a fairly tasty dish. Nice trip dudes.


BillMiddlebrook
User
Mmm, mmmm, good....
2/5/2011 12:22am
Powder, sunset and short-sleeves! Way to go!



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