Mt. Oxford

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 1/14/2018, By: RyGuy
Info: You currently can drive to the Missouri Gulch TH with a decent AWD. Snow covered road, but take it easy and you will be fine. From the TH, there is a decent boot pack all the way to the start of the switchbacks at roughly 12,000 feet on Mount Belford. Doable without snowshoes from TH to summit. Microspikes highly recommended as there are quite a few sections with ice to treeline, and some fairly bulletproof snow on the switchbacks that you will really want traction. By the time you reach 13,900 on Mount Belford, not too much snow. The upper flanks of the mountain are fairly scoured. From the summit of Mount Belford, there is a quite a bit of unconsolidated snow along the route down to the saddle with Mount Oxford, then it's mostly snow free from the saddle up to Oxford's summit. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 1/8/2018, By: Eagle Eye
Info: Nice trip up Mt Belford and Mt Oxford yesterday, I carried but stashed snowshoes, instead wore microspikes the whole day. There is snow in the gulch past the cabin but not enough to need snowshoes. Maybe one heads up is that the routes' creek crossing junction at 10,800 isn't very distinct (and on the other side of an ice sheet) and a more worn path just continues straight along the creek in the snow. The ridge from Mt Belford down to the Belford-Oxford saddle had a lot of powder packed into it and made for slow going. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 11/26/2017, By: trailboss88
Info: mostly clear of snow from Mt. Belford. Was very windy, barely tolerable (40-50mph) 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 11/26/2017, By: mikefromcraig
Info: As far as after Thanksgiving goes, there is very, very little snow. The trail is extremely packed in. Absolutely no gaiters or snowshoes needed. Not even close. Microspikes are nice to have from Belford all the way down to Missouri Gulch. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 11/25/2017, By: IFoundItUnderThere
Info: From Elkhead, lots of snow on the trail up to the junction, and VERY windy after that. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 10/23/2017, By: Eagle Eye
Info: Some snow and ice on the ridge off Mt Belford and on the trail. Micro spikes were helpful. It was (as forecast) very windy & cold especially early in the morning and several of us hid under the Mt Belford summit to get out of it. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/26/2017, By: mattlotz
Info: Beautiful day for a hike. It was a bit windy and cold but not a cloud in the sky. A few spots with snow on the trail, but mostly on the northern sides. The conditions will change tomorrow as they are calling for rain/snow tonight and tomorrow. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/7/2017, By: cszakhem
Info: Perfect conditions on both mountains. Added some miles but saved time and wear-and-tear on the knees by descending down Elkhead Pass Trail from near the Belford summit. Looked way better than going down all those switchbacks on Belford. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 7/17/2017, By: aislinnmcl
Info: Climbed Oxford by way of Belford. Started at 4:30am, 8 hours RT. Got a little turned around in the dark at the stream crossing. When you reach the stream, cross it directly left on a log bridge. Classic Colorado bluebird day. I've never done so many hikes in so much good weather.

** For those who camp, we stayed at Clear Creek Reservoir campground for free. There's also dispersed (free) camping all along 390 en route to the TH. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/26/2017, By: ahabel23
Info: Only 1 small patch of snow remains on the route. It's essentially summer conditions. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
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: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/17/2017, By: alpinesnowdevil
Info: Hiked Oxford via Belford traverse and started at Missouri Gulch TH. A few patches of snow that are very easy to hike around or get through, both peaks mostly summer conditions. The ridge between the two almost completely dry on trail. I did not use gaiters or micro spikes and was just fine. Be sure to have waterproof footware if doing Missouri Gulch because the snow patches melt halfway through the day and become very muddy. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 5/30/2017, By: supranihilest
Info: For conditions on Belford see my conditions report here: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/peakstatus_entry.php?recnum=8590. From the summit down to the top of the traverse (a short distance) is all snow covered and generally solid provided you hit it early enough in the morning still. Looking down across the traverse conditions become obvious. Much of the trail is visible, and snow cover is for the most part thin. The first section from Belford down to the saddle is not nearly as sketchy as it looks from the top. I'd still recommend microspikes to do it, but you shouldn't need crampons or an ice axe unless you aren't confident in your abilities/footing and need the mental security of knowing you can self-arrest should you slip. From the middle of the saddle up to Oxford is exceptionally easy, even microspikes are likely overkill. Snowshoes are pointless anywhere on the traverse and can be cached on Belford to save the weight. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 3/12/2017, By: Stratosfearsome
Info: A cruise from the Bel. Traverse over was solid snow with rock options the whole way. Did not wear Microspikes, but carried them. I choose to jingle. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 1/23/2017, By: bmcqueen
Info: See my Belford CR with pictures of the conditions up Oxford.