Mt. Oxford

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 7/12/2020, By: PJ88
Info: Full summer conditions. Trailhead parking lot full by 5AM but only had to park a few cars down along the road. If you love switchbacks, this route is for you. Next time I would definitely use Elkhead Pass on the way down. Plenty of dispersed camping sites along the road and along the approach but no camping at trailhead. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 7/4/2020, By: fmv093042
Info: Great route! Much steeper and more challenging than expected to be honest. Watch the weather! When we left Mt. Belford initially, the weather was perfect. By the time we arrived to Mt. Oxford clouds began to roll in. Hail, thunder and rain began upon reaching Mt. Belford for the 2nd time on the descent. Was fairly mild, but moral of the story, it occurred 4 hours before weather stations projected and VERY quickly. Great route and beautiful views. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/23/2020, By: waelouf
Info: The whole trail was in perfect summer conditions, few snow patches if you take "Elkhead Pass" easy to avoid or walk through, no traction needed 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/12/2020, By: Ericsheffey
Info: Definitely summer conditions. No extra gear needed, only one very small snowpatch had to be crossed. Parking lot pretty busy when I arrived at 3:45am 😮. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/5/2020, By: kbenoit5
Info: What very little snow remains is of no significance 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 6/2/2020, By: clincoln15
Info: Got to the trail-head at about 7am and it was full. Word is out that these are able to be climbed so they are pretty busy already. Incredible conditions on both summits. There were a few snowfields in the gulch that could be avoided and we did as they were pretty slushy on the descent. As other users have said, snow starts as packed in the morning but gets very soft and wet on the way back down. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 5/29/2020, By: Toobaboy
Info: A little muddy/slushy coming down from Belford, but no traction needed. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 1/21/2020, By: RWSchaffer
Info: The Belford end of the Belford-Oxford ridge is draped in snow fields (picture 1). Sometimes the snow compacts well giving good footing. But there are enough hard and slick sections to make traction mandatory (spikes worked well for me) and an ice axe advisable.

The Oxford end of the ridge is almost devoid of snow (picture 2). 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 10/13/2019, By: daway8
Info: From the back side of Belford there was a fair amount of snow starting to form some small wind slabs. Not enough yet to need snowshoes but microspikes are not a bad idea. Most people were turning back because the wind was freezing them. Be sure to bring layers to deal with the wind. This is a longer and more tiring route than mere mileage suggests. See also recent Belford conditions report. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 10/7/2019, By: majormajortom
Info: No trail condition change from previous reports. Beautiful October day, windy morning, warm and dry afternoon. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/22/2019, By: Mzapo
Info: Trail in great condition. Did not at any point need to route find. I don't believe there are pics of the avalanche debris in the route description but it's easy to follow, great trail work done here. Unrelentingly elevation gain and switch backs up Belford. From Belford to Oxford is straight forward with a gradual incline up Oxford after navigating down Belford's ridge, however the 500 ft re-ascent to Belford from Oxford was a bit tough and will definitly test willpower. Try to plan for a day with minimal wind (howling at 30 mph the entire time today, cut straight through both jackets i had on), if you choose to do both you'll spend plenty of time above treeline with little cover. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/12/2019, By: Trailposse17
Info: Was able to summit both peaks today with excellent conditions! Just a few spots of snow. Started at 9:30 and a few mentioned it was much colder earlier. 

Route: up Belford, down East Ridge
Posted On: 9/2/2019, By: madmattd
Info: Nothing of note, trail from Belford was manageable with full pack (~27lb) though tedious in a few spots off Belford.

Descended the East Ridge. In attempting to skirt around a prominent steep rocky point I ended up descending too far and opted to sidehill on the talus most of the way to the col below Waverly Mountain. With full pack this was especially tedious, though manageable, dumb decision though. I suspect I should have stayed on the ridge (or climbed back up after the rocky point) for an easier time (that's what happens when you don't re-read the info you last looked at a year before taking the route!). From below (East) of Waverly to ~12,200' there is a decent use trail that skirts the remaining points, though it does fade in and out at times, but it was a good cruiser section. On the last descent I kept the rocky final knob to my (descender's) left and found easy going down to below treeline, and then swung slightly North to stay on the ridge through open woods. I ended up passing a cabin I wasn't expecting ~1/4mi from the height-of-land on the CT. CT descent was quick and easy as expected, trail is in good shape other than one 15' muddy section. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 8/27/2019, By: joyfulwriter
Info: Entire route is clear and in good shape. As others have noted, trail is modified before the creek crossing due to avalanche debris. Lots of wildflowers still blooming. Beautiful day to be out in the mountains. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 8/4/2019, By: Harrison
Info: Route is clear from snow.