Holy Cross Pictures and Trial Report 7/7/05

[SCAMPER ZJ]

Did a day trip up to Holy Cross this last Thursday, been wanting to do it for the last couple of years. First time for me, went with a buddy who has done the trail several times as well as some other experienced wheelers. Man, it was a BLAST!! Things are beautiful up there, you can definitely tell we've had a lot of moisture this year.



This was one of the obstacles before the city. It is sort of a wedge, and you have to be careful not to let your downhill side tire get too far over the edge of the rock or you can slide and get hung up. There is a bypass below it.




Speaking of moisture, the whole trail had little streams running through it so that pretty much every time you approached an obstacle, your tires got wet. Made things kind of interesting! I might have made it all the way up this next optional one if I didn't have to dip my MT/R's in a mud puddle first:




It wasn't long before we arrived at French Creek, where the sign warns you the trail goes from "difficult to extreme" - which depending on what line you take, it can get pretty tough. There are winch points available for folks wanting to pull their way through. I decided to take the "easy" line along the far bank. On the way up AND back, I dinged my doors on the same boulder. Too much body roll - might be time to look into some Currie Antirocks!







OK, so the carnage could have been a LOT worse. Anyway, we made it up past the Roots of Evil (pictured below) to the city without further incident. Took a few pics of the mining equipment and buildings before heading further up the trail:





This first obstacle past the city was particularly scary (the picture just doesn't do it any justice) - real off-camber with loose stones between me and the edge of a sloping mountainside (good for at least 5-6 rolls, I'm sure). I slowly crawled over it with the front tires, thought I was in the clear, and then my rear tires started going sideways - had to gun it to get through and avoid the serious carnage!



We made it as far as the second obstacle above the city. My friend's front ARB wasn't working, so I tried the obstacle by myself. Got about 75% of the way up before I started sliding off the line. It was getting kind of late in the day, so we decided against winching everyone up.



The last obstacle was up just a little further. Beyond that the trail pretty much ended, but a short hike over the ridge revealed some spectacular views.




Guess we'll just have to try it again next year!

More pics at
jeepsite.net/holycross

[ELLLLLIOTTTTT]

I'm bumping this because I want to. Also, haven't heard from Stan lately. Hope all is well!

[Colorado 5.9]

I tallked to him in june before GSW. He was fine then. I think he's just busy being a Dad & Dr.

[ArloGuthroJeep]

I read the first sentence saying "You can tell we had a lot of moisture this year" and then immediately looked at the date to confirm it was an old post

[mud duck]

A trip to Holr Cross after the snow season would be sweet ...I have some get right to be had on Cleveland Rock ...lol