6/6/2015 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 6/6/2015, By: SnowAlien Info: Two of us skied NW gullies on both Belford and Oxford today. We found soft freeze above 12.5k and hard freeze above 13k. Gullies are clean with very minimal wet slide debris, above 13k mostly powder. Very soft conditions in the afternoon below 12k. Wore trail shoes to creek crossing @10.8k, patchy snow after that. |
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11/8/2014 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 11/8/2014, By: jladderud Info: It was calm weather climbing to Mt. Belford; but the winds picked up as we headed over to Oxford. I'd estimate gusts at 30mph. The snow is totally navigable, but not always avoidable (see photo). Also, I saw a herd of elk just below the summit. Definitely a first for me at that elevation! |
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11/1/2014 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 11/1/2014, By: jmanner Info: Went over to Oxford today... Fair amount of hard freeze-thaw snow from Belford down to around 13,600 feet. The ascent to Oxford was pretty dry. Sorry not a lot to report. I'd advice wearing traction. It took about 1 hour each way. |
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8/3/2014 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 8/5/2014, By: bmbielb Info: We camped in Missouri Gulch and enjoyed a nice evening of star gazing. There were many flat campsites along the creek- which was flowing strong and had plenty of access to clean water-which was ready to filter or boil. The saddle is very forgiving heading up to Oxford, and is steep and sweet on the way back up to Belford. Make sure you are planning to ascend Belford again on your return trip. The switch backs from the Missouri Gulch TH up to Missouri Gulch take you a little more than 1,000 feet of gain per mile, and the gulch and mountains there are beautiful. I can see why this is a popular summer trail. |
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6/21/2014 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 6/22/2014, By: chow Info: A couple of snow patches near the summits of both Belford and Oxford, both are very small and easily passable. Other than that entire trail is in summer like condition! |
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6/15/2014 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 6/15/2014, By: The Moose Info: The traverse from Belford only has snow in a few isolated areas, and it can all be easily avoided without much effort. It's as good as clear. |
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6/27/2013 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 6/27/2013, By: esagas Info: The small patch of snow is still there (on the way up from the saddle), but it's melting quickly. Easy to avoid on the hiker's left, if you want to. |
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6/19/2013 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 6/20/2013, By: pklotzbach Info: Trail from Belford to Oxford is clear except for one small snow drift patch near the top of Oxford. Snow drift can easily be avoided if so desired. |
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11/2/2012 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 11/3/2012, By: dehrlich101 Info: Very little snow across the saddle. See picture below. |
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9/29/2012 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 9/29/2012, By: Ceastar Info: Belford- Oxford trail is clear of snow except for a few small spots. Elkhead Pass clear of snow and muddy in places. |
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5/5/2012 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 5/5/2012, By: MissH Info: Muddy trail on downclimb from Belford, but no need for snowshoes or spikes. Most of the snow (and mud) can be navigated around. |
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5/4/2012 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 5/5/2012, By: aoskaran Info: Trail is mostly snow free or easily avoidable. I did not bring snow shoes or micro spikes and did not ever need them. The conditions are more like July than early May. There is one small snow field about 2/3 the way up to Oxford from Belford that was very soft at 1:00 pm and I post holed both legs up to mid waist. I have included a picture of it. Kind of shocking but I easily climbed out. Coming back through it I used my poles to find bottom and then supported myself better and did not get stuck. The climb back up Belford from Oxford is pretty strenuous after 5300' of vertical, save some energy for it. I started at 8:30 am and finished at 5:00 pm. Weather was perfect. |
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5/1/2012 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 5/2/2012, By: KentonB Info: From Trailhead to treeline: Dry ground the first half of the trail. The second half was crusty/consolidated snow in the morning, but slushy (still consolidated) snow in the afternoon. Postholed once or twice. Microspikes would have been somewhat valuable, but I didn't waste the time putting them on and off even though I had them in my pack (i.e., not necessary). From Treeline to Belford: Mostly wind-blown and snow free! Only a couple patches of snow to cross. From Belford to Oxford: Almost no snow at all that wasn't easily avoidable. I do recall one patch a short ways from the Belford summit that had to be crossed in order to stay on the trail, but that was about it! Questions? Feel free to ask! |
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3/24/2012 Route: From Pine Creek Posted On: 3/26/2012, By: taylorzs Info: You can skin into Pine Creek from about a mile in. We were going to climb/ski the south face but turned around due to avalanche instabilities around 11,000'. Widespread whumping, cracking, and collapsing was observed between 10,200' and 11,000' due to radiation recrytallization in the basal layer caused by the recent sun crust over thin snow cover. I would expect similar conditions higher on the route as well coupled with a deeper slab. Snow travel gear is necessary for the approach. The south face was still a little sketchy due to avalanche concerns in my opinion. The south shoulder is probably doable if you are not looking to ski. |
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10/16/2011 Route: Via Mt. Belford Posted On: 10/17/2011, By: climbingbiz Info: Conditions were good other than VERY heavy winds, especially on top of Belford. Snow was not bad, spotty and knee deep at worst. Brought micro spikes but never put them on, though there were a few spots where I probably should have. 7.5 Hours car to car |