After reading many trip reports and even the route description for the North Ridge Holy Cross route, I was dreading the 1000' regain of elevation past the campground back up to Half Moon Pass, especially on a 15 mile loop.
I kept looking and looking and never saw a report of anyone doing it backwards, or counter-closkwise: starting with Holy Cross then down from the shelter. I was all ready to list my pros and cons of doing it this way, since, you know, I am so smart with my reverse route.
Instead, let me list what sucks about doing it backwards.
-the afternoon views of Holy Cross from the Notch Shelter are not nearly as spectacular as (I imagine) they are in the morning light.
-for me at least, downclimbing the endless talus was more tedious and challenging than it would have been ascending.
-the worst part by far - descending PT13373.
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
Very difficult to find the right point from the summit to go down. This part sucked balls. It also nearly cost me my life. Not from any peril on the downclimb, but from my wife wanting to stab me in the eye with her trekking pole. Lesson learned. If I had to do it again, I would start on the shelter side and go around to Holy Cross. 1000' slog be damned.
