Mt. Oxford

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 12/30/2024, By: jacolc
Info: See Mt Missouri 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 10/27/2024, By: R7777777
Info: Snow on the trail starts a little above 12k, a little pass the fork where you go left for Belforf. Spikes/poles would be helpful, especially going up Belford but you could get away with not using it. In some areas, the snow is 4-6 inches deep. There is a good amount of snow as you descend Belford towards ridge but not much snow going up Oxford. Because of the snow you may want to give yourself plenty of time, likely take longer than expected. 

Route: Southwest & Northwest slopes
Posted On: 10/2/2024, By: Flips
Info: Summer conditions on the ground for both Oxford and Belford. I summited Oxford from the Southwest route via Elkhead Pass and after summiting Belford descended the switchbacks on the standard Northwest slopes. Everything is clear. No spikes needed. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/23/2024, By: syrupgravy
Info: Fresh snow on Sunday from treeline all the way to the summit of Belford and across to Oxford. Varying depths of a few inches to knee deep. No wind whatsover! By afternoon, a lot was melting out and the rocks on the open slopes were very warm. Slush and soft snow from false summit of Belford down and then just dirt from about 12800'ish back to the TH. I would expect it to stick around for another day or two at least. We didn't use spike because the fresh snow was sticky, but spikes would be helpful after an overnight freeze! 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 7/20/2024, By: peachy
Info: Did all three via the combination route on Alltrails. Started a little before 4, summited Belford at 5:40, Oxford at 6:30, Missouri at 9:20. Trail up to Missouri has two very short and very easily avoidable snow crossings. Weather forecasted storms coming in but it turned out to be a great day. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/30/2024, By: Clairebaums
Info: This route was almost fully summer conditions. There was one small snow patch, but it was like walking up steps for 10-15 feet. The saddle was closer to 1.75 miles (3.5 miles total) measured from a Garmin Fenix 7S.

The first part of the saddle is more Class 2 with some scree and looser rock, but then it's a very easy trail after that. The route finding was almost non-existent. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/8/2024, By: Ryan987
Info: Great day out in the mountains today. Started at 5 AM and trail all the way to oxford is 90-95% dry. Some snowfields are unavoidable and may be a problem to the trail breaker (I sank to my hips a few times). Log crossing was slippery and a bit sketchy in the AM. Sure is thawing out there today! 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 1/29/2024, By: bangerth
Info: @Will_E and @supranihilest made a great trench on Saturday, and us two plus one or two other groups cemented it in place on Sunday. We wore snowshoes all the way to treeline and back from treeline to the trailhead, and that's probably going to continue to be the preferable mode of transportation. Above treeline, I only use boots, my partner (mostly) used microspikes. Either is fine. The ridge up to Belford is half dry/half covered by a couple of inches of snow. On the way over to Oxford, only the descent to the saddle has more than a thin layer of snow, but it never gets difficult. You'd get wet socks if you didn't wear gaters, though.

We tacked on Pecks Peak on the way back. The way over to Pecks is delightful and easy. We took a northwesterly direction down to the trail, and that at times got uncomfortably steep with a thin layer of snow that's thick enough to be slippery on its own but not deep enough to allow for plunge stepping. We tried the gully on the NW side of Pecks because it looked like it's not got enough snow in it to worry but enough to plunge step. But the little bit of snow sits on ice, and the one glissade that was attempted went uncomfortably longer than planned. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 1/27/2024, By: supranihilest
Info: Climbed with the Trenchfather Will E today. Drivable to Missouri Gulch still. We beat the trench back in, only used our snowshoes for a short section from about the creek crossing to where it was so windblown they were useless. Snow up the ridge was light and powdery and slippery as heck, especially going downhill - we both fell on our asses multiple times. From Belford to the saddle was snowy but better on the north side of the ridge, up Oxford was far less snowy, mostly tundra and rock. Some whumpfing and cracking below treeline, not enough snow above if sticking to the route and avoiding obviously loaded terrain. Didn't bother with axe or traction today. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 1/1/2024, By: artemavovk
Info: Snowshoes not needed; spikes are helpful on descents. Trail is easy to follow but gets icy in spots.
95% of the snow on the way to Oxford can be avoided and/or it's pretty supportive. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/28/2023, By: Ariella6
Info: a little bit of snow but its avoidable, and some mud as you descend mount belford. The traverse and on up oxford is dry and in great condition. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/25/2023, By: raphaelroxas
Info: Route was clear of snow for all but ~20ft in the shade of one rock formation on the Belford side of the saddle. No spikes, just poles.
Photo looking back towards Belford. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/25/2023, By: jhanson927
Info: Trail was in great condition other than a few short sections of mud, snow, and ice on the ridge from the saddle to Mount Belford. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/25/2023, By: Abowser7
Info: Near perfect conditions for Belford and Oxford still. Almost no snow on the summits, a small patch of maybe 10 feet of snow on the ridge connecting the two, but it was about 2 inches deep and looked like it was melting. Started at 4:30, summited Belford at 7:15, summited Oxford at 8:15, back to the car at 11:00. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/22/2023, By: wmagnuson7
Info: The trail was in great condition with only a dusting of snow and very little ice. No spikes or poles needed unless you are going to do Oxford as well (descent from Belford to Oxford icy enough where you would want spikes or poles). God Bless!