Cross Couloir - Ski
Cross Couloir - Class 3
Partner: Alan Palmer
Date: 5/25/18
Alan and I drove from Denver to Minturn to ski Mt. of the Holy Cross.
The first leg of our adventure was on Pivot and Mondraker e-bikes courtesy of www.goldenbikeshop.com
We road the bikes 8.4 miles and 2700 vertical from the highway to the Half Moon trail head. Boost!!!
From the trailhead we hiked and skinned over Half Moon Pass to the East Cross Creek campsites. This leg of the trip was roughly 3 miles and 1300 vertical.
The next day we skinned 2 miles/ 3400 vertical up the North Ridge to the summit.
From the summit we skied the Cross Couloir to the Bowl of Tears. After skiing the couloir we skinned, scrambled and hiked a tedious 2 miles down the East Cross Creek drainage back to camp.
At camp we rested and packed up before hiking/skinning back to the TH.
Once at the TH we dusted off the bikes and cruised 8 miles of downhill back to the highway under clear skies and a 3/4 moon. Woot!!! Thanks again www.goldenbikeshop.com !!!
The entire trip (including e-biking) was roughly 27 miles and 8500 vertical over two days.
Cross Couloir Route
Alan Palmer stoked to be riding a Mondraker E-Crusher on the 8 miles to the Trailhead... Boost!!!
Alex enjoying the views on the way to camp.
We spent the night at camp spot #4
The summit comes into view while skinning the North Ridge
The perfect tools for ripping the Cross Couloir
Looking down the rollover from the summit was intimidating.
Alex excited to ski
Looking down the couloir we could see the exit point
Looking back to the top of the couloir after a turn or two
Alan skiing the couloir
Alan skiing the couloir
A view of the Gore Range after exiting the couloir
Alan skiing to the Bowl of Tears
Alex and the Bowl of Tears
Alan skiing back to camp along East Cross Creek
Mt. of the Holy Cross from the East Cross Creek drainage
Alan crosses East Cross Creek on the hike back to the trailhead
The hike in/out from the trailhead had plenty of challenges
Alex and Alan stoked on the hike out.