PT 13768
S Slopes - Class 2+
Trailhead: Holy Cross City: 727 - 759 Intersection
Distance: 10.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 4200
Time: 7 Hours 15 Minutes
Partner: Robby Grace
A hike up tough 4x4 road to an incredible basin filled with lakes and fun slabby rock. After hiking the road we did a bit of bush whacking before finding the trail. Plenty of creeks to cross, lakes to walk around and easy slabs to climb. Even the talus to the the slab below the summit was blocky and stable.
After summiting 13768 headed over to Whitney to climb the boulder at the top then down Whitney's south slopes back to where we started. More bush whacking as we got lower on Whitney... but not too bad.
Here is a link to the GPX file from our trip.
GPX
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Distance: 10.8 Miles - Elevation Gain: 4200
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After hiking the road and wandering through marsh and bush a peak appeared... but that's not it!
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Reflecting on Whitney
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Over streams, around lakes, up slabs
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an extra pair of socks wouldn't be a bad idea on this one
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The summit of 13768 appears... top left with the snow below it
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Seven Sisters Lakes
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More creeks and slabs. The summit top center
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Robby having a good time
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We were startled by this cornice fail and it's thundering boom. Pretty cool to see
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Even more lakes at we got higher. Summit in full view
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We thought the climb up with talus field was going to be heinous but with a concerted effort to stay on stable blocky stuff it wasn't too bad.
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Last bit of slab to the summit made for fun climbing
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The summit of Holy Cross behind the summit of Holy Cross Ridge.
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Jackson!
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Looking southwest to the Elks. Capitol, Snowmass, the Bells etc.
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Taking in the views of Tuhare Lakes
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to get from 13768 to the saddle with Whitney we wrapped around 768's east ridge and didn't give up unnecessary vertical. Everything went with some down climbing. it was pretty much read and run.
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it was now all cruising to Whitney
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Robby about to start running... lol!!!
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Holy Cross from Whitney
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Alex walking Whitney's summit
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Get up on it
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After descending a bit of scree Whitney's south slopes where gentle. However there still was some bushwhacking to be had.
