Mt. Belford

Route: Elkhead Pass
Posted On: 9/25/2017, By: benlen
Info: Ascended and descended via Elkhead Pass. Water crossings are the most irritating part to deal with in Missouri Gulch, as in the early morning the rocks ice up. And as Rambler mentioned below, hard to navigate in the dark.

I don't know why Elkhead Pass isn't the standard route on this peak––I was the first to ascend both peaks Sunday I believe, as I left the Missouri Gulch Trailhead at 5:30am and encountered no one.

Elkhead Pass is a beautiful route, with great views of Missouri, and not punishing like the standard route is. I met a few folks on the way out who had been turned around due to intense winds on the standard route.

Someone did Missouri either Saturday, or even earlier on Sunday than me, as I saw their tracks until the split up Elkhead Pass, where from there I was breaking trail in wind drifted snow in some places to the tops of my boots.

I hit Oxford before 10am, breaking trail in snow drifts across the ridge, and met a guy heading to Oxford around 10:30 as I was headed down the ridge.

Be careful on the ridge––the combo of snow and some loose rock can lead to slips it you're not wary. Expect winter conditions if you head up there. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/24/2017, By: Rambler
Info: Area where you cross logs across the creek (first pic in route description) is pretty washed out and not super obvious in the dark with a headlamp. Other than that easy to follow, but super steep, to both Oxford and Belford. Hour and ten min between peaks. Elkhead Pass on the way down was longer but super easy on knees and didn't have to go down the switchbacks. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/10/2017, By: heathcliff
Info: Snow free the entire route (besides a 50 foot patch going to Oxford that can be avoided). Waterproof shoes recommended for creek crossings.
If hiking super early, lookout for logs frozen over. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/3/2017, By: stevevets689
Info: Previous conditions still stand, but multiple dog poop bags lining the trail add some treacherous trail conditions. Watch your step and hold your nose.

I carried one down but more remain. If you're feeling extra give-backy then bring a big trash bag and gloves with you and help pick up after some irresponsible pet owners. I've added trash bags and gloves to my regular summer kit going forward, unfortunately. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/28/2017, By: Terraphilia
Info: The route up to Belford is 99.99% snow free; the creek crossing was a little high, just step on the right logs. The traverse to Oxford was snow free except for one small patch. Summer conditions. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/17/2017, By: alpinesnowdevil
Info: Completely dry for the most part, with a few patches of snow that are no challenge to get through or go around. I did not need gaiters or microspikes. A pair of waterproof hiking boots will be good for going back down, because those patches will turn to mud around 11,000 by the stream later in the day. Oxford traverses virtually dry. Summer conditions!! 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/18/2017, By: JQDivide
Info: Bel/Ox: No Traction or Snowshoes needed. You'll cross 8-10 patches of snow that are either flat enough or you can go around, too short to waste time putting on spikes.
Melting fast.
Might want bug spray: mosquitoes in the trees.
The creek crossing has some unstable logs, just pick the right ones to step on.
Bel to Ox virtually no snow. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/19/2017, By: kscycler
Info: Snow is almost gone, although there are several remaining patches to cross, but no additional equipment needed. Bug spray is a good idea before starting or toward the end, as skeeters are hungry in the trees. Be careful crossing the creek, especially in the afternoon (as it warms and snow melts and creek rises). Pick your log to step on carefully, lest you get a wet shoe. It was windy toward the top, but YMMV. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 6/12/2017, By: IsaacD
Info: A few small patches of snow on the trail, easily navigable without traction or flotation. Don't expect the snow to be there much longer - it was melting fast by the time I was heading down. Essentially summer conditions on Belford & Oxford. 

Route: South ridge
Posted On: 6/4/2017, By: laxcountrypiper
Info: South ridge/ SW Face patchy snow still ski-able from just below the summit.
NW gully(s) - looked great

Snow is patchy but firm and supportive. I was on it from 9:00-11:00 on Saturday.

For the best continuous ski line, look for a rib of rocks just SW of the summit and ski close to them. From there a maze of patchy snow can be found to the valley.

For ascending, I selected an angled path from just below eklhead pass. It's less steep than the descent line 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 5/30/2017, By: supranihilest
Info: From the trailhead to the creek crossing is mostly dry. There are several patches of snow which can be skirted around or walked directly over as they are consolidated. From the creek crossing to treeline there's still tons of snow, most of it in a state of sloppy, wet, half-melted posthole trash. The trail itself is covered but one can follow basically any of the now several social trails through the snow. Once to treeline (at the hut) much of the trail is visible, despite the snow over the weekend. From treeline to the toe of Belford's northwest ridge is mostly clear, and where the trail disappears one can simply walk towards the ridge and rejoin the trail where needed. The first fifth or quarter of the ridge is mostly snow free but is wet, muddy, and slick. Some of the trail is eroding. Once the snow starts on the ridge it's either a climb on easy snow or through talus mostly still frozen together. If you aren't wearing stiff boots that you can easily kick steps with I would recommend microspikes. Snowshoes will be of marginal usefulness. Be careful descending in warmer, slushier conditions as you may find dangerous, slippery footing; an earlier start is recommended for firmer snow conditions. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 5/15/2017, By: jjwright
Info: Trail starts out dry but quickly turns to snow. We started early (5am) and had a heck of time keeping on the trail through the snow below treeline. The snow was really soft and we were postholing our way up since we decided to leave the snowshoes at the car (mistake). It was easier once above treeline and we didn't need traction. Summit was 55+ mph wind gusts with a wicked cold wind chill. Wanted to traverse over to Oxford but there is one small section on the ridge that looked a bit dicey with the snow and high winds so we saved it for another day. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 5/7/2017, By: My-Therapy
Info: 75-80% of the trail is snow covered and was difficult to stay on standard route in a few spots. Started at 6:00 a.m. and the snow was solid all the way to summit. On the way back down (after 9:30) the snow was softening up quickly. I brought microspikes but never took the time to put them on, they would have been helpful in some areas, however I managed just fine in boots all day. Bluebird day with no wind and mild temps. Only saw about 10 people all day from car to car. The off season with plenty of snow still on the trails is the way to bag these more popular peaks! 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 4/25/2017, By: BenThom11
Info: Climbed Belford via the NW ridge on Sunday. Easy access to TH, no snow at all.
Put on microspikes about 1/2 a mile in and kept them on until just above tree line. Basically continuous snow from TH to treeline as you switchback through the forest. After treeline, patches of snow but nothing crazy. Brought snowshoes but never needed them. Did not even use spikes on the descent, as the snow was soft enough to get a grip. It was extremely windy above treeline, and got very cold at around 13,500. Wanted to continue to Oxford, but hands got cold and I could not warm them up, even with my ski gloves.

Hit the trail at 7:17, Belford summit at ~11:30, back to my car at 1:55. Was almost 70 degrees at my car, quite a bit different than the summit 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 4/17/2017, By: cloudkicker
Info: Get 'em while the getting's good! (Or just wait for the conga line to form once summer hits).

Compared to the prior reports I've read, these peaks were probably in May-ish conditions when we climbed them yesterday.

From the summer trailhead, we put on microspikes about .25 miles in. The steep switchbacks leading into Missouri Gulch at the beginning of the hike are shaded by thick forest. Thus, there are still many slick patches of snow turned to ice within the first mile, and with how narrow the trail can be you don't want a fall here. Traction or floatation would be great to have.

We kept our microspikes on through Missouri Gulch and the snow held at our feet. When you begin the ascent to gain the northwest shoulder of Belford, you have to deal with roughly 100ft of elevation where snow covers the trail, surrounded on either side by dry talus that verges into class 2+ terrain. Microspikes were essential for us here but with care you may be able to boot it up or pick a drier path through the rocks.

We took our microspikes off above this section, around 12,000ft, due to the sheer number of dry sections we could see up the ridge. There were times when the trail was covered by less than a foot of snow, but it was never an issue for us.

From the summit of Belford down to the Bel-Ox saddle, there's a mixture of melty sun-exposed snow and rock. We had no issues mindfully booting it down to the saddle.

Other than a few thinning snowfields, the entirety of the ridge to Oxford from the saddle is dry. The entirety of Oxford's summit is in summer condition, no snow anywhere in sight.

A few short glissade opportunities are available on the return from Oxford down to the saddle and then from Belford down to Missouri Gulch. Like I said, not enough snow to need snowshoes or even microspikes until you reach the Gulch.

From Missouri Gulch, we had to deal with some nightmarish postholing on the snow that held earlier in the day, but that's to be expected for a climb of this nature this time of year. Snowshoes may save your life (or at least your morale) here.

I put the microspikes on for that final mile of descent to the trailhead. In all, I think I used them a total of 4 miles. First 3 miles on the way up and then the last mile on the way down.

Not sure how much snow this area will get in the rest of the month but we found this climb to be *almost* as straightforward as it'd be in the summer, and minus the crowds! Of course, with the possibility of snow showers comes icy talus and slippery terrain... thus, you should definitely go prepared.