Holy Cross Wilderness, Continental Divide

I descended Monarch Pass along the Monarch Crest. High above the treeline and totally exposed, the hike here provided views of the Arkansas River Valley below that extended for miles. I began my descent, following sparkling streams down through the alpine pine forests until I reached the campgrounds of Marshall Pass.

I enjoyed a lovely evening by the fire with fellow hikers here, replenished my water and then tackled about a week of wilderness trekking, from the heights of Marshall Pass, through the wild Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, until finally reaching the scenic Twin Lakes Area.

The Twin Lakes are the perfect place to take a break. These two large bodies are popular all across Colorado for a litany of different outdoor activities, whether it's fishing, biking, paddleboarding, or simply bringing up the family for a picnic or a barbeque. I just rested for a while, going for a quick swim to refresh myself before setting off on the trail once again, heading for the Holy Cross Wilderness.

Established in 1980 as a federally protected area, the Holy Cross Wilderness is one of the newer wilderness areas in the USA. The altitudes are high here, with its highest peak, Holy Cross Mountain, reaching 14,005 ft (4,269 m) above sea level. This is one of the most truly remote stretches of the CDT, and as meeting other hikers here is rare, a thru-hiker must learn to enjoy the solitude. 

The wilderness is a famous home for lynx. This large felid, with its elegantly pointed ears and long, dense fur, is an ambush predator, so I’m unlikely to meet one. I may hear its call, a very odd yowling scream that you can hear on the Alpine Wildlife local spot. Both species of American lynx are found here, the bobcat and the Canadian lynx. The Canadian lynx is distinctive for its huge feet, which act as snowshoes, allowing it to spread its weight out when running through the snowdrifts.

I trudged through the mountains until I came to Tennessee Pass, then it was a short walk to Leadville, the USA’s highest town. Here, I can put my feet up for a while, replenish my supplies, and prepare for my next adventure over the two highest peaks in Colorado.