Holy Cross Ridge is the high point of the long ridge running south-southwest from Mount of the Holy Cross, part of the Halo Ridge that wraps around the Bowl of Tears. Few people climb it on its own. It is usually the reward for stretching a Holy Cross day, and the curving crest gives some of the best perspectives on the big peak and the basin below.
Both common approaches involve plenty of rock. The Halo Ridge route leaves the Half Moon trailhead on the Fall Creek and Notch Mountain trails to the 1924 stone shelter on Notch Mountain, the classic viewpoint for the cross couloir, then circles the bowl over Points 13,248 and 13,373 to this summit before finishing on Holy Cross. Figure about 15 miles and 5,210 feet of difficult Class 2 talus round trip, or about 13 miles and 5,420 feet as a loop descending the North Ridge. A shorter out-and-back climbs Holy Cross by its North Ridge, drops southwest to a saddle near 13,500 feet, and scrambles through large boulders to the top, about 13 miles and 5,835 feet round trip. Approaching from the south means more than two miles of boulders and is rarely recommended.
The Tigiwon road to the trailhead closes from November 22 to June 21, so this is a summer objective. Once committed to Halo Ridge there is no safe way down toward the Bowl of Tears, with cliff bands and loose rock below, so judge the sky before leaving the shelter.
