Mount of the Holy Cross
Mount of the Holy Cross is a mountain of the Rocky Mountains in the
state of Colorado. It was named for the distinctive cross-shaped
snowfield on the northeast face. The mountain was formerly a U.S.
National Monument but lost that status in 1950 when the cross formation
had lost much of its distinction due to erosion and rock slides.
Mount of the Holy Cross is a remote Colorado Fourteener. Its cross is
comprised of a 1,500 foot vertical couloir, intersected horizontally by
a 750-foot bench. Both of these features tend to collect more snow than
the surrounding rock, so the cross tends to appear distinctly white.
The cross formation can only be seen from the summit of Notch Mountain
(13,237 ft.), a mountain which stands immediately east of Holy Cross.
The mountain was discovered in 1869, and its notoriety progressively
increased. Organized Christian pilgrimages to the mountain began in the
1920's, and by the 1930's these pilgrimages were attracting thousands
of participants.
Both Notch Mountain and Mount of the Holy Cross are climbed from the same trailhead, located north of the mountains.
Overview
- Elevation: 14,005 feet
- Range: Rocky Mountains
- State: Colorado
- Latitude: 39.4681
- Longitude: 106.479
- Difficulty: Walk up
Convenient Center: Leadville, Colorado
Nearest major airport: Denver, Colorado
41F