Hello from CO

Pebblesinthecity

New Member
Joined
May 23, 2022
Messages
4
Hi all, was just doing some research into possible backpacking trips this summer in CO and someone mentioned this site in one of their videos. I highly enjoy crossing 14ers off my list but want to branch out this summer and try some backpacking. Have some reservations at the end of the summer for the 4 pass loop in maroon bells with some friends, but don’t want that to be the only backpacking trip of the year. Will gladly take any suggestions or tips and I’m sure will see you all around.
 
A few years ago, we backpacked in the Holy Cross Wilderness and enjoyed that. (Someone here on BCP gave me advice for that when we had to cancel our Weminuche trip due to fires.) We didn't go up to the top (14,009'), but you could if you wanted. If you'd like more info, let me know!
 
A few years ago, we backpacked in the Holy Cross Wilderness and enjoyed that. (Someone here on BCP gave me advice for that when we had to cancel our Weminuche trip due to fires.) We didn't go up to the top (14,009'), but you could if you wanted. If you'd like more info, let me know!
Would love some more info! Have heard so many wonderful things about holy cross!
 
Our Holy Cross trip was the beginning of July in 2018. We were with friends and parked one car at the end (Fall Creek TH) and started at Cross Creek TH. Cross Creek is lower than Fall Creek, so we gained a lot of elevation. Apparently a lot of people do it in the opposite direction, but it worked ok for us with our 50+ year old knees and for acclimating to the altitude. Here's our route: Click here to view on CalTopo. As you'll see, it's not a lot of miles for 5 days - we got a late start on day 1, and one person in our group wasn't feeling well so our pace was quite slow part of the time (and our regular pace isn't fast anyway). If you wanted to ascend Mt of the Holy Cross, you would do it differently.

Day 1 - The trail is mostly in the woods going south near Cross Creek. We camped in the woods somewhere.
IMG_5811.jpg

Day 2 - Things opened up a bit and we had some big views with more varied scenery. We camped close to the southern end of the Cross Creek trail before it turns east and heads up.
IMG_5880.jpg IMG_5883.jpg IMG_5904.jpg IMG_5911.jpg. IMG_5953.jpg

Day 3 - We went up to the Missouri Lakes junction, dropped our packs, went down into the Missouri Lakes and explored there for awhile (which we really liked), then came back up and got our packs, then went up Fancy Pass, then down to Fancy Lake where we camped for the night. Behind our camp was a ridge with fabulous views of peaks to the east.
IMG_6006.jpg
View from southern end of Cross Creek as you're heading up

IMG_6134.jpg
Treasure Vault Lake

IMG_6120.jpg
One of the Missouri Lakes

IMG_6178.jpg
View from Fancy Pass

IMG_6202.jpg
Fancy Lake

IMG_6243.jpg
Ridge behind Fancy Lake

Day 4 - We went through Holy Cross City, which was kind of intriguing, then up French Creek past Seven Sisters Lakes (beautiful), then up the pass and camped a little bit below the pass. Gorgeous!
IMG_6281.jpg IMG_6336.jpg IMG_6349.jpg IMG_6339.jpg
IMG_6353.jpg IMG_6379.jpg

Day 5 - We went down, then up the spur to Tuhare Lakes, but we couldn't get to the upper, bigger lake - it was too snowy for us to cross one part that seemed dicey, and there were rocks that were too big for us to get around. Then we came back down and made our way to the Fall Creek TH just as storms were rolling in.
IMG_4718.jpg IMG_6395.jpg
IMG_6400.jpg
IMG_6431.jpg
Lower Tuhare Lake

IMG_6447.jpg
Upper Tuhare Lake is behind the big rocks in the foreground. We couldn't get to it or even see it, but the map shows that it's much bigger than the lower one.

We loved this trip!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6167.jpg
    IMG_6167.jpg
    545.8 KB · Views: 2
Our Holy Cross trip was the beginning of July in 2018. We were with friends and parked one car at the end (Fall Creek TH) and started at Cross Creek TH. Cross Creek is lower than Fall Creek, so we gained a lot of elevation. Apparently a lot of people do it in the opposite direction, but it worked ok for us with our 50+ year old knees and for acclimating to the altitude. Here's our route: Click here to view on CalTopo. As you'll see, it's not a lot of miles for 5 days - we got a late start on day 1, and one person in our group wasn't feeling well so our pace was quite slow part of the time (and our regular pace isn't fast anyway). If you wanted to ascend Mt of the Holy Cross, you would do it differently.

Day 1 - The trail is mostly in the woods going south near Cross Creek. We camped in the woods somewhere.
View attachment 110229

Day 2 - Things opened up a bit and we had some big views with more varied scenery. We camped close to the southern end of the Cross Creek trail before it turns east and heads up.
View attachment 110227 View attachment 110226 View attachment 110220 View attachment 110225. View attachment 110219

Day 3 - We went up to the Missouri Lakes junction, dropped our packs, went down into the Missouri Lakes and explored there for awhile (which we really liked), then came back up and got our packs, then went up Fancy Pass, then down to Fancy Lake where we camped for the night. Behind our camp was a ridge with fabulous views of peaks to the east.
View attachment 110218
View from southern end of Cross Creek as you're heading up

View attachment 110224
Treasure Vault Lake

View attachment 110216
One of the Missouri Lakes

View attachment 110214
View from Fancy Pass

View attachment 110213
Fancy Lake

View attachment 110223
Ridge behind Fancy Lake

Day 4 - We went through Holy Cross City, which was kind of intriguing, then up French Creek past Seven Sisters Lakes (beautiful), then up the pass and camped a little bit below the pass. Gorgeous!
View attachment 110212 View attachment 110211 View attachment 110209 View attachment 110210
View attachment 110208 View attachment 110222

Day 5 - We went down, then up the spur to Tuhare Lakes, but we couldn't get to the upper, bigger lake - it was too snowy for us to cross one part that seemed dicey, and there were rocks that were too big for us to get around. Then we came back down and made our way to the Fall Creek TH just as storms were rolling in.
View attachment 110207 View attachment 110206
View attachment 110205
View attachment 110204
Lower Tuhare Lake

View attachment 110203
Upper Tuhare Lake is behind the big rocks in the foreground. We couldn't get to it or even see it, but the map shows that it's much bigger than the lower one.

We loved this trip!
Thank you so much! That looks awesome
 
Whether you end up doing this or something else, have a great time - and at Maroon Bells, too. We haven't hiked that yet, but it's on our long list!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
L Hello Newbies Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
K Hello Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
Z Hello from Germany Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
B Hello mountain people! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
T Hello! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
J Hello ALL! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
ww.joedirt.do Hello from Utah! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
ANelson Hello from New Jersey! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
D Hello! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
J Hello from Flagstaff, AZ Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
W Hello from Snohomish County Washington Noobs: Introduce yourself! 6
slieb Hello from Carbon County, UT! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
fiftywatt Hello from Kayenta and Kanab Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
F Hello Noobs: Introduce yourself! 5
M Hello from Idaho! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
themidwestwanderer Hello from Michigan/Tennessee! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
Rudolf_The_Red Hello from BFE, Utah! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
dennisrodman Hello from Tucson! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 6
J Hello from Missouri Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
K Hello from the Salt Lake Valley Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
RSchott Hello from Boulder, CO Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
BeeAndElle Hello from Denver!! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
The Trout Whisperer Hello Kitty General Discussion 5
Jumper84 Hello from Kearns, Utah Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
long4trails Hello from Southern California Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
Duketogo13 Hello from the East Bay! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 17
f47hom Hello all! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
A hello Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
Baddogranchaz Hello from Northern Arizona Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
garyhost Hello from Omaha Noobs: Introduce yourself! 7
Harrison1991 Hello from Ohio Noobs: Introduce yourself! 10
J Hello from Northern California Noobs: Introduce yourself! 7
GramaNana Hello from Utah - future GWT hiker Noobs: Introduce yourself! 11
D Hello from Duluth MN Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
AnneMarieO Hello from Sonoma County Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
marquis20 Hello from Boston! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
Jeremy C Hello again after a few years Noobs: Introduce yourself! 9
Snow Wolf Hello From Washington State Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
beaver-one Hello from NYC! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
DuratanZ Hello from NY! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
Laura V. Hello. I'm noob here. Noobs: Introduce yourself! 7
Gimmy Hello from Colorado Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
D New Member saying Hello Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
TheMountainRabbit Hello from CO! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
Arizona Jones Hello from Arizona Jones Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
WoodyBR549 Hello Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
G Hello All! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
Tarp Boy Hello out There! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
B Hello everyone! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
robonner Hello! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0

Similar threads

Back
Top