4/26/2019 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 4/26/2019, By: spartan0512 Info: Missouri Gulch trail head is in perfect condition. Used microspikes from start to the summit. There is some avalanche debris that covers the trail and you have to skirt around it and pick it back up. Rarely post-holed on the way down, and even less on the way up. Warm ambient temps, fluctuating cloud cover, and high winds - combined with a squall on Oxford's summit - made for a weird, challenging day at elevation. (See report on Mt. Belford for photos) |
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2/12/2019 Route: Via Waverly Mountain Posted On: 2/13/2019, By: CaptainSuburbia Info: We started at Clear Creek Reservoir and followed a now well trenched Colorado Trail to Waverly's east ridge. The snow in the trench was still very soft so snowshoes were necessary. We then snowshoed up a deep, soft trench through trees to ridge proper. There is an avy slope directly below ridge so you need to approach it from the right. Used microspikes rest of way. From here it's best to stay on ridge crest all the way to Waverly's summit to avoid postholing. It's about 7 miles to this point. Going up Oxford's east ridge was pretty straight forward and spikes worked good. Best to stay right of ridge crest as snow along ridge was very soft. There were several rock towers along the way that were easily climbed to the right. About 1.25 miles from Waverly to Oxford summit. This is a great way to reach Oxford in winter albeit long at roughly 16 miles. |
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1/6/2019 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 1/6/2019, By: PeakSixTD Info: Road is driveable to the TH but watch out for slick icy spots. All wheel drive is recomended, primarily for navigating the parking lot. There is a solid trench to treeline. We hugged the slopes to the left instead of wearing snowshoes and navigating the deep powder of the summer route. Snowshoes not necessary if you do what we did. The ridge on Belford is windblown but still enough snow to keep it interesting. We observed some shooting cracks in the snow slopes we crossed. Hard consolidated snow off Belfords summit en route to oxford. Oxford is pretty bare at the moment. |
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12/27/2018 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 12/28/2018, By: Dose Info: The conditions on Belford are the same as posted on Dec 24. The traverse over to Oxford is in great condition. From Belford to to saddle the ridge is holding very good snow. Stayed on the ridge proper the entire way. You can bypass some of the rocks by following the trail, but I found it much easier to stay on the ridge with the snow. There is one small downclimb of about 20 ft but it was snow free with solid rock. From saddle to the Oxford summit follow the trail up. It is pretty much wind blown although there are a few sections holding a little snow. Recommend traction from Belford to saddle. None needed from saddle to summit. |
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10/27/2018 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 10/28/2018, By: dsjansen Info: CR 390 to trailhead was dry and dusty. Last three miles are badly washboarded. Mostly bare dirt from trailhead to stream crossing with patchy ice. Microspikes went on at stream crossing and stayed on for rest of hike. Switchbacks to Belford were rock hard windslab in places, requiring kicking in foot holds even with spikes on. Later in day with sun softening and more traffic, trail tread became more established. Not enough snow to warrant snowshoes, which went along for a ride this hike. Knife edge drop from Belford to Oxford alternated between bare rock and deep drifts and was quite tedious and energy sapping. Col between the two peaks was mostly windswept bare ground. Very little snow heading up Oxford too. Wind was pretty insane on this part of the hike with airborne ice crystals. Had hope to hit Missouri on the way back, but Belford-Oxford took way more time and energy than anticipated. Still great to bag these two late in the season. Photos: 1. Belford switchbacks 2. Belford summit 3. Knife edge drop from Belford to Oxford 4. Knife edge drop from Belford to Oxford 5. Looking up to Oxford from col between Belford and Oxford 6. Looking back at Belford from Oxford summit |
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10/21/2018 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 10/22/2018, By: G-regJennings Info: The traverse to Oxford was snow blown and quite deep in some spots. Others were easily avoidable. The climb back up to Belford was difficult because the ridge has accumulated significant snow. Microspikes were necessary for the majority of the hike. |
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9/28/2018 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 9/28/2018, By: aussie Info: Trail was completely dry today. There were several tiny patches of snow off the trail. The makeshift log bridges across the streams kept my feet dry! |
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7/24/2018 Route: Missouri > Oxford > Belford Posted On: 7/28/2018, By: Dayute Info: Left Denver at 1AM, hit the trail at 3:45AM. Trailhead was easy to find and the road was in great condition. Great easy to follow trail up into the gulch, only issue was a stream crossing but wasnt too bad in the dark, wouldnt have been a problem with more light. Campsites near the cabin remains looked nice and if I were to do all three in a day again starting there would be a great way to shorten the long day. Trail fork to Belford was easy to spot and sign was clear. Went right towards Missouri and Elkhead pass. Trail was easy to follow but took an accidental shortcut up a dry streambed/ shallow gully near the Elkhead Pass fork. It looks like a trail and cuts out a fair amount of switchbacks before the main trail up Missouri eventually crosses back over it near the start of the Talus slope. Its visible from photo #5 on the Missouri route. Its only slightly steeper than the main route and the rock is solid. Rest of the route up and back Missouri was easy to follow and heading back to Elkhead pass it was easy to see the correct route. The fork to Elkhead was clear and there was a sign. Elkhead pass is an excellent trail and definitely the best way up Belford. The fork to Oxford was very close to the summit of Belford and it was tempting to just summit Belford before heading over to Oxford but I knew thunderstorms were possible later so I didnt want to spend the extra time. The trail to Oxford is clear and easy to follow. The climb back up Belford from Oxford was definitely intimidating at the end of a 7000' day but it looks worse than it is and by the time I got back to the elkhead fork it was pretty much over. Took the direct route down Belford's west side and was really glad I didnt take this way up. Straight down with a million switchbacks. Was back to the truck at about 3:30. Overall great day on well maintained, easy to follow trails. |
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6/21/2018 Route: east ridge Posted On: 6/22/2018, By: Lucas Pattie Info: I didn't have to negotiate any snow at all the entire way up the long east ridge route. Only moderate winds above treeline, and fairly warm. Summer conditions the whole way. Furthermore, the connecting ridge from Belford appeared free of snow as well. |
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6/7/2018 Route: Elkhead Pass Posted On: 6/8/2018, By: Kelly M Info: Echo the previous conditions report from 6/2. However, I started earlier, 5am from the Missouri Gulch trailhead. After continuing right at the trail junction with Belford, there are several stream crossing on the way to Elkhead Pass. The streams are definitely passable but I just wanted to caution that some of the rocks in the streams appeared to be wet but were actually ice covered early in the am. Continued on to Belford and descending Belford standard route. Brought spikes, didn't use them. |
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6/2/2018 Route: Elkhead Pass Posted On: 6/3/2018, By: jennincolorado Info: Up Elkhead, then straight over to Oxford. Started late— 8am. Some snow patches below 13,100 on Elkhead Pass. They are melting and will be post-holeable. Melting by 10am and while Some crossings were firm, others weren't. No more than knee deep for me x3. Much of the snow is avoidable if you want to walk around it but in the valley there are two spots you must walk through. Careful of rocks. Once up on the pass to Belford there is maybe one small section that has snow remaining, but with how warm it was yesterday I imagine rocks broke through the snow steps. Bel-Ox essentially snow free aside from one small 15 foot walk. Melting fast. Carried spikes— they aren't needed. |
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6/1/2018 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 6/4/2018, By: little_castaldo Info: TH to Oxford was mostly dry. I counted about ~7 snowdrifts, but only postholed to my knee once. The entire trip took me 10.5 hours (but I'm slow). Belford to Oxford and back was a little under 3 hours. Also, there were 30mph forecasted on Mountain Forecast. It felt like 30-40mph winds, (there's a good portion of the route that gets a bit of wind), but was still doable. |
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5/29/2018 Route: elkhead pass Posted On: 5/29/2018, By: wondering_hough Info: Dry conditions...filtered water around 12,700 feet before elkhead pass. The trail to oxford is dry. Return trip went over Belford |
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4/18/2018 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 4/19/2018, By: halite Info: Unavoidable snow pack from Belford shoulder to saddle. Then completely dry climbing the west ridge. Go get it! |
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3/25/2018 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 3/25/2018, By: WildWanderer Info: Broke trail on the ridge down from Belford. Microspikes or flotation not needed. Very little snow on Oxford trail. |