Mt. Yale (8/6/00)

Route Name: Southwest Slope (Denny Gulch TH)
Start Elevation: 9,900 ft.
Summit Elevation: 14,196 ft.
Total Elevation Gain: 4,296 ft.
Round-trip Mileage: 8.75 mi (books)

TRIP REPORT:

We took this hike about 36 hours after finishing our backpacking trek in the wilderness of Holy Cross. For us this meant we were greatly acclimated to the altitude and our legs were really in shape. We've read that for many Yale can be one of the more challenging Sawatch because of the abrupt altitude gain. For us, because of the circumstances in which we hit Yale, it was by far one of the easiest for us.
This hike began at the Denny Gulch Trailhead. From there it is a great trail through the forest. It was easy to follow in the woods and we made good time on the ascent. It isn't until about 12000 that the trail finally leaves the woods in a clearing. At this point you are ascending north and prepping to make a traverse across the southwest slope to the western ridge of Yale. We were feeling so good from about 13,000 on up the steep slope we were cruising on this trail. We hit the summit ridge at around 13,900. It is a brief stroll amongst the rocks on the summit ridge until you are completely on top. From there we had great views of the Sawatch, Harvard and Columbia in particular.
We cruised on the descent. This may well have been one of our quickest 14er descents. We jogged off and on at most parts above treeline. And in the trees we jogged a good portion of it feeling great and cruising to the bottom. For all the distance and altitude, we will always remember Yale as one breeze of a climb.

TRACK:

I do not have the original track from this hike so I have included one from a more recent hike:

PHOTOS:

My photos from this hike are embedded here:

Holy Cross-Seven Sisters Lakes (7/31-8/4/00)

Trail: Fall Creek Pass Trail to the Seven Sisters Lakes
Trailhead: Half Moon Trailhead
TH Elevation: 10,356ft.
Trip Mileage Total: ~22 miles

TRIP REPORT:

This backpacking trip was from July 31 to August 4 in 2000. We spent the time in the Holy Cross Wilderness centered around the Seven Sisters Lakes. In the middle of the trip we hiked Mt. of the Holy Cross.

Mt. of the Holy Cross (8/2/00)

Route Name: Holy Cross Ridge from Seven Sisters Lakes
Start Elevation: 12,140 ft. (estimated)
Summit Elevation: 14,005 ft.
Elevation Gain: 2357 ft. (estimated)
Round-trip Mileage: 5.3 mi (estimated)

TRIP REPORT:

From July 31 to August 4, 2000 we were on a wonderful backpacking trip in the Holy Cross Wilderness. Our main stopping point was the Seven Sisters Lakes and then of course, Mt. of the Holy Cross. We hiked Holy Cross in the very middle of this trip on August 2.