Mt. Belford Trip Report 05/29/2006

Peak(s):	Mt. Belford - 14,202 feet Mt. Oxford - 14,158 feet
Date Posted:	05/29/2006
Date Climbed:	05/26/2006
Author:	caveman_ug

Belford/oxford standard route
I rolled up to the trailhead at about 7pm Friday the 26th With my partner Bill and headed up the trail arriving at the old cabin near treeline at about 8:30pm. Don't let the time fool you. This approach was a serious grunt. 2.2 miles of unabating sometimes muddy hill. Whew! The weather at the time was breezy but warmish. We hit the trail on Belford at about 4am Saturday morning to an unwelcome guest, WIND. The trail was dry other than a few small snowfields that were easily avoided. The same was equally true of the saddle and trail over to oxford. Did I mention the blasted WIND? We were blasted all day by sustained winds in the 35 mph range (just an estimate) and gusts of 60 mph or better quite often. At one point I was hit by a rock about as big around as a fifty cent piece that the wind picked up off of the ridge at face level. BULLSEYE! Right between the eyes! It also knocked down several trees on the trail below camp and branches in camp. I was forced to forego the summit of Missouri due to a sprained knee and from the looks of the mountain from Belford a lot of snow. On the bright side of things the people we met camping near the cabin were a laugh riot! Not to mention the friend of theirs that brought up Cognac and made a huge Cheesecake for us!!! All hail the lady Birgit. All in all it was a good weekend. Everybody was safe and we nailed 2 of the 3 in the neighborhood.

Belford/oxford standard route

I rolled up to the trailhead at about 7pm Friday the 26th With my partner Bill and headed up the trail arriving at the old cabin near treeline at about 8:30pm. Don't let the time fool you. This approach was a serious grunt. 2.2 miles of unabating sometimes muddy hill. Whew! The weather at the time was breezy but warmish. We hit the trail on Belford at about 4am Saturday morning to an unwelcome guest, WIND. The trail was dry other than a few small snowfields that were easily avoided. The same was equally true of the saddle and trail over to oxford. Did I mention the blasted WIND? We were blasted all day by sustained winds in the 35 mph range (just an estimate) and gusts of 60 mph or better quite often. At one point I was hit by a rock about as big around as a fifty cent piece that the wind picked up off of the ridge at face level. BULLSEYE! Right between the eyes! It also knocked down several trees on the trail below camp and branches in camp. I was forced to forego the summit of Missouri due to a sprained knee and from the looks of the mountain from Belford a lot of snow. On the bright side of things the people we met camping near the cabin were a laugh riot! Not to mention the friend of theirs that brought up Cognac and made a huge Cheesecake for us!!! All hail the lady Birgit. All in all it was a good weekend. Everybody was safe and we nailed 2 of the 3 in the neighborhood.

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