Mt. Belford Trip Report 09/12/2010

Peak(s):	Mt. Belford - 14,202 feet Mt. Oxford - 14,158 feet Missouri Mountain - 14,071 feet
Date Posted:	09/12/2010
Modified:	05/04/2012
Date Climbed:	09/09/2010
Author:	MONDOMD

B/O/M - Redemption in the Sawatch
Thursday, September 9, 2010 Trailhead: Missouri Gulch SOLO climb Roundtrip distance: ~16 miles Elevation gained: 7300 feet Trailhead departure: 4:45 AM Time to cabin: 5:30 AM Belford summit: 7:15 AM Oxford summit: 8:30 AM Missouri Mtn summit: 11:40 AM Return to TH: 2:15 PM Total time: 9h 30min This trip report will serve as a follow-up to one I posted last week. With my original plans foiled, and having returned home with our tails between our legs (I did bag two peaks, but humor me) my mind soon turned to thoughts of redemption in the Sawatch range. I had one, final opportunity to get back to the mountains before I left town for the weekend to visit some old friends, and the choice between Harvard/Columbia and Belford/Oxford/Missouri was obvious. The latter combo had more bang for it's buck, and an attempt earlier this year had resulted in a turnaround in heavy snow conditions (my first snow attempt). So I had it out for these mountains. This also would have been a great combo hike for Boudreaux, but given that he still wasn't 100% after our Shav/Tab endeavor arrangements for him had to be made. This day's hike would be a solo endeavor. I made good time to the TH and arrived around 4:30 AM, noticing only a few more vehicles besides my own. It was much cooler this morning, approximately 43F, and the precipitation the night prior had left the trail/foliage damp with a lot of humidity in the air. Fortunately a clear, starry sky was present when I set-out. Fifteen minutes later I was ready to go & struck out on the trail. My breath fogged immediately in the beam of my headlamp which occasionally clouded my view of the trail but otherwise my trek up the switchbacks was uneventful. I was making good time, arriving at the cabin in 45 minutes. The Cabin (on return to TH) The choice is obvious I continued to make my way up the gulch and upon arriving at a the sign above kept left and began my ascent of Belford's northwest shoulder. During my snow ascent in May we had essentially bee-lined up this shoulder -- which quickly became exhausting -- but the now obvious switchbacks made the ascent much easier. The general route up Belford's shoulder Morning's first light was caught about halfway up my ascent, and looking up towards Belford's summit I noticed fast-moving/wind-blown clouds quickly moving in from the west. An early look at Emerald Peak As I approached the summit it quickly became enveloped in cloud cover accompanied by frigid, high-speed winds. Less-than-ideal conditions Upon summiting Belford I had a moment of disorientation -- the cloud cover completely hid Mt Oxford & it's connecting saddle from view, and for some reason I was under the impression that the route to Oxford & Elkhead Pass took off separately from Belford's summit. However, I could only see a single route heading off towards west so I took a few minutes to wander around the summit looking for an alternative trail but could find none. After returning to the summit I waited a few minutes until a break in the clouds revealed Oxford's general direction which could be reached from Elkhead Pass -- I left the summit to take this path. After approximately 100-150 yards the trail leading to the Belford-Oxford saddle veers to the left. The hike over to Oxford was relatively uneventful with the exception of high-speed winds that would occasionally knock me off balance, but the views of the surrounding mountains were awesome. Belford-Oxford saddle Approaching the summit At this point I hunkered amongst the talus on the summit to grab a bite to eat. It was still pretty cold, and the winds were still gusting at pretty high speeds. I made it back across the saddle quickly as my legs were still feeling pretty good, and hoped that as I lost some elevation on Elkhead pass the weather conditions would improve. The hike back to Belford from the saddle Fortunately the cloud cover started to dissipate during my descent but the high-speed winds would persist throughout the day. Missouri Mtn's west ridge. Elkhead Pass courses left along the upper border of the gulch, then turns east & runs along t The trip down to the Missouri Mtn trail took longer than I expected, and by the time I began my third & final climb for the day my legs were getting tired. Starting the Missouri Mtn ascent Particular caution had to be paid to certain spots along the summit ridge where loose footing in the setting of high winds could be a dangerous combination. Coming upon the summit ridge The end did justify the means, however, as the views from the Missouri mountain summit were spectacular. At this point the weather had significantly improved and things were warming up -- a welcomed change given poorer conditions earlier. Looking back down Missouri gulch from Missouri Mtn's summit Mt. Belford from Missouri's summit A look back at the summit ridge I took my time at the summit, and wrapped up my hike with the uneventful trip back down the gulch to the TH. With the exception of my Belford ascent under nightfall (when I could see another headlamp behind me in the distance) I did not see any other hikers the remainder of the day. Perhaps they decided to attempt another day when early winds/clouds blew in.... Just before reaching the trailhead I noticed a grave off the trail -- if anybody knows the story behind this I'd be interested to know. Finally, some victory photos: Belford Oxford Missouri Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

B/O/M - Redemption in the Sawatch

Thursday, September 9, 2010
Trailhead: Missouri Gulch
SOLO climb
Roundtrip distance: ~16 miles
Elevation gained: 7300 feet
Trailhead departure: 4:45 AM
Time to cabin: 5:30 AM
Belford summit: 7:15 AM
Oxford summit: 8:30 AM
Missouri Mtn summit: 11:40 AM
Return to TH: 2:15 PM
Total time: 9h 30min

This trip report will serve as a follow-up to one I posted last week. With my original plans foiled, and having returned home with our tails between our legs (I did bag two peaks, but humor me) my mind soon turned to thoughts of redemption in the Sawatch range. I had one, final opportunity to get back to the mountains before I left town for the weekend to visit some old friends, and the choice between Harvard/Columbia and Belford/Oxford/Missouri was obvious. The latter combo had more bang for it's buck, and an attempt earlier this year had resulted in a turnaround in heavy snow conditions (my first snow attempt). So I had it out for these mountains. This also would have been a great combo hike for Boudreaux, but given that he still wasn't 100% after our Shav/Tab endeavor arrangements for him had to be made. This day's hike would be a solo endeavor.

I made good time to the TH and arrived around 4:30 AM, noticing only a few more vehicles besides my own. It was much cooler this morning, approximately 43F, and the precipitation the night prior had left the trail/foliage damp with a lot of humidity in the air. Fortunately a clear, starry sky was present when I set-out. Fifteen minutes later I was ready to go & struck out on the trail. My breath fogged immediately in the beam of my headlamp which occasionally clouded my view of the trail but otherwise my trek up the switchbacks was uneventful. I was making good time, arriving at the cabin in 45 minutes.

I continued to make my way up the gulch and upon arriving at a the sign above kept left and began my ascent of Belford's northwest shoulder. During my snow ascent in May we had essentially bee-lined up this shoulder -- which quickly became exhausting -- but the now obvious switchbacks made the ascent much easier.

Morning's first light was caught about halfway up my ascent, and looking up towards Belford's summit I noticed fast-moving/wind-blown clouds quickly moving in from the west.

As I approached the summit it quickly became enveloped in cloud cover accompanied by frigid, high-speed winds.

Upon summiting Belford I had a moment of disorientation -- the cloud cover completely hid Mt Oxford & it's connecting saddle from view, and for some reason I was under the impression that the route to Oxford & Elkhead Pass took off separately from Belford's summit. However, I could only see a single route heading off towards west so I took a few minutes to wander around the summit looking for an alternative trail but could find none. After returning to the summit I waited a few minutes until a break in the clouds revealed Oxford's general direction which could be reached from Elkhead Pass -- I left the summit to take this path. After approximately 100-150 yards the trail leading to the Belford-Oxford saddle veers to the left. The hike over to Oxford was relatively uneventful with the exception of high-speed winds that would occasionally knock me off balance, but the views of the surrounding mountains were awesome.

At this point I hunkered amongst the talus on the summit to grab a bite to eat. It was still pretty cold, and the winds were still gusting at pretty high speeds. I made it back across the saddle quickly as my legs were still feeling pretty good, and hoped that as I lost some elevation on Elkhead pass the weather conditions would improve.

The hike back to Belford from the saddle

Fortunately the cloud cover started to dissipate during my descent but the high-speed winds would persist throughout the day.

Missouri Mtn's west ridge. Elkhead Pass courses left along the upper border of the gulch, then turns east & runs along t

The trip down to the Missouri Mtn trail took longer than I expected, and by the time I began my third & final climb for the day my legs were getting tired.

Particular caution had to be paid to certain spots along the summit ridge where loose footing in the setting of high winds could be a dangerous combination.

The end did justify the means, however, as the views from the Missouri mountain summit were spectacular. At this point the weather had significantly improved and things were warming up -- a welcomed change given poorer conditions earlier.

Looking back down Missouri gulch from Missouri Mtn's summit

I took my time at the summit, and wrapped up my hike with the uneventful trip back down the gulch to the TH. With the exception of my Belford ascent under nightfall (when I could see another headlamp behind me in the distance) I did not see any other hikers the remainder of the day. Perhaps they decided to attempt another day when early winds/clouds blew in....

Just before reaching the trailhead I noticed a grave off the trail -- if anybody knows the story behind this I'd be interested to know.

Finally, some victory photos:

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Doctor No	Nice work! 9/13/2010 2:14pm Love the first shot of Emerald. As for the grave, as I understand it, that was the location of the cemetary for the town of Vicksburg. If I remember right, there are other gravestones, but you have to look for them.
hberry	Nice Job 9/13/2010 3:25pm I did this exact same route yesterday - its a long day - but its nice to know you will never have to drive back to that trail head unless you want to ski!
MONDOMD	Thanks! 9/14/2010 12:42am Exactly. Doctor No, thanks for the FYI.
ChrisM	Route Question and Great Job! 9/20/2010 11:52pm I am interested in trying your route. Did you go up Missouri's east ridge and return that way down into the gulch? I'm not sure I can do all three in the same day. I did Havarvard and Columbia in one day and it wore me out! However, it might be a good route up the gulch and up the east ridge. What do you think? Chris M
MONDOMD	Chris M 9/28/2010 2:47am Sorry Chris, just now seeing this...I did ascent the traditional route up the eastern slope. I haven't done Harvard-Columbia (yet) but I imagine if you accomplished that you would have a good shot at bagging these three. It's all about timing & an early start (I'd say no later than 5:00 AM) -- once you've reached the Belford summit the rest of the hiking isn't as intense IMO but it certainly wears on you throughout the day, especially after you've begun the Missouri ascent.

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