6/22/2025 Route: West Ridge Posted On: 6/23/2025, By: campfire_cartel Info: Hiked into Clohesy Lake Saturday, then summited on Sunday. Very windy past the treeline, but almost entirely summer conditions up until the crux. Only 2 small snow patches make it sorta sketchy, but it's very doable with caution. Didn't need microspikes or poles, the patches are each only about 20 yards wide. Footholds through the patches are deep, but still plan on leaving early to beat potential melting/weather. Fairly short, sweet, and steep route with incredible views |
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6/21/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/22/2025, By: jpriske Info: Mostly Summer conditions. Just a few short sections of snow that I feel doesn’t require microspikes. The gulch is in great condition for the most part but as you work towards the upper gulch there are a few water crossings and some wetter/muddier portions. Crux still has snow but felt safe crossing without microspikes. |
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6/18/2025 Route: West Ridge/North Face Couloirs loop Posted On: 6/18/2025, By: carmitz001 Info: Ascended west ridge from Rockdale, descended via north face couloirs and Missouri Gulch Trail. The woods shortcut around 11.2k didn't seem to help me, as it added distance and route-finding. But most of the climb was very steep and efficient, with gorgeous views to help offset fatigue. The grassy slopes have a trail all the way up, although it is loose at times. No snow until near the crux section on the NW ridge. I walked across the snow without spikes rather than dropping low to the dirt trail; both paths require caution due to risk of slipping. I glissaded 1000 feet directly from the summit via the main couloir. It was still somewhat firm even at 5 pm on a sunny day. Had to stop and start a lot for safety until I passed the curves, then it was smooth sailing into the basin. Upper Missouri Gulch Trail is not in good shape -- the trail becomes a creek in some spots, there's still annoying soft snow to cross or avoid, and there are often multiple social trails along the side. |
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6/18/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/20/2025, By: CowboyDan Info: Started at 5 am, summited by 10, back at the TH at noon. Accompanied by my two dogs, we found significantly less snow than 2 weeks prior. The water crossings proved difficult as the rocks were glazed in ice, poles helped. A few snow fields to cross, but not bad early before it gets soft. The summit push has a short but steep snow field, but large flat steps are cut out. My dogs didn't use the steps but instead showed off their mountain goat-like abilities on the snow. Peaceful summit with the marker in plain sight for once! Please stay on trail, even if it is snow covered. And avoid trail braiding above tree line!!! |
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6/14/2025 Route: North Face Couloirs Posted On: 6/14/2025, By: crispy_asparagus Info: Plenty of snow in Missouri’s north face couloirs. Missouri gulch is completely snow free until after the junction to Belford, however it’s infrequent and patchy. There’s only a few areas where it covers the trail and it was still supportive on my way down in late morning. Starting around 12,700 snow becomes constant heading towards and into the bowl below the entrance to the couloirs. Snow in couloirs is nice and firm despite over night lows that forecasts said were above freezing. Right now is a great time to snow climb Missouri with such minimal snow on the approach. |
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6/14/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/14/2025, By: MattHamma Info: Started at 5:10am, summit at 8:45am, back to the trailhead at 12:30. Some of the best conditions I've ever had - literally no wind and absolute bluebird. Didn't use spikes, I don't think they're necessary. Post-holed a bit on the way down but most of the snow is avoidable. When you hit the "crux wall" on the route just before the summit, I'd recommend staying high on the ridge, its stable with only a flat snow patch. I wouldn't recommend dropping down where the normal route goes due to the snow - would imagine it'll be better by July. A few people took the low route at the same time I took the ridge, and I was sitting on the summit for more than 30 minutes before they got there. Total roundtrip I clocked 10.85 miles, 5100ft gain, 7hrs 20 mins round trip with 40 mins at the summit. |
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6/8/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/10/2025, By: butlerer Info: Trail is dry for the first ~2 miles from the TH. Between there and the junction to Elkhead Pass at 12,600', there's some snow, but it's largely avoidable or has solid, packed down tracks. From that junction to the Missouri-Peak 13784 saddle, there's unavoidable snow that was solid around 6 am but getting soft by 930 am. From the saddle to the summit, there's some snow, but most of it is avoidable or shallow. I found scrambling along the ridge was better than trying to detour around the rocks--although the snow made one detour a couple of fun class 3 moves. I brought snowshoes and spikes but didn't use them. Nearby peaks show recent slides. Worst part of the snow was going from Missouri to Oxford. TH to summit: 4 hours |
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5/3/2025 Route: North Face Couloirs Posted On: 5/4/2025, By: kyrawhitworth Info: I know things will change very soon but here’s what I’ve got. Had a large and awesome crew today! Snow line doesn’t start until past 11,800 I’d say and even then it was skis on, off, on pack until we really got into the basin. We left trail runners in some trees and honestly should have worn them up further. We booted up C as there was a great boot track (thank you!). From there we traversed to the summit. Another boarder took Bill’s route up with similar timing. One group skied main and one group skied C. We all dropped around noon which was a little late I’d say. Main still barely goes to the summit. Slough in both couloirs with soft turns and a few spots of dust on crust. I skied main and had a great ski down. The slope just above the bridge we decided to ski and it was pretty gross. Once we switched back to trail runners things went quickly with just a few slick mud/snow spots on the trail. We saw some nice tracks on Belford N face but not sure how high the snow is there. |
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4/27/2025 Route: North Face Couloirs Posted On: 4/27/2025, By: ajtrezco Info: Skied the main couloir off the summit of Missouri today. We were able to toss skins on just past creek crossing, but had to take them off/on several times till we were well into the gulch; it’s getting pretty thin in there. Upper gulch all the way to summit ridge has great coverage. Couloirs are skiing safe and awesome, soft and chalky since it’s still been cool up high. C isn’t skiable from the summit, but Main still is. Start early and get it while it’s good |
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12/24/2024 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 12/30/2024, By: jacolc Info: From Missouri TH hike to N ridge probably similar to shapovalovm. Below the summit I and Mark made snow traverse on west side. On way down to Belford we take the snow east slope like standard route and directly to upper part of basin. All 3 peaks take as almost 14h. GPX at LoJ |
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12/22/2024 Route: West Ridge Posted On: 12/22/2024, By: headsizeburrito Info: Didn't summit but maybe the info is useful. 390 from the highway to the winter snowplow turnaround is almost entirely dry with a few trivial snow patches towards the end. Road from there is snowy but packed and easy to walk on from there to Rockdale/mining camp and the 381 turnoff. Able to cross the creek on snow, no risk of getting feet wet. From there it was untouched snow and miles of trenching. Flotation definitely needed. Once I made it to Clohesy Lake it was clear I didn't have time to summit and make it back when I'm tired and it's a work night... From my views on the approach and from the lake the actual ridge should be patchy snow and rock, relatively smooth sailing if you can get through the long approach. |
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12/21/2024 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 12/21/2024, By: shapovalovm Info: Standard route until a little after the Belford/Missouri intersection, then up the rib to the ridge and the ridge to the summit. TH->B/M intersection: first ~1.1 miles (to creek crossing) used spikes, then snow became much deeper so CaptainSuburbia and I (and I think randallson later that day going up Belford) trenched all the way to the rib up Missouri ridge. Rib up the ridge: Initial plan was to follow one of the ribs from the previous trip reports, but we found that one a little to the right of it seemed safer. The downside is that the ridge is gained ~0.2m earlier and as a result I had to go over one more sub-peak (13695?). The rib itself barely has snow. Gullies on the sides, though, are definitely avalanche terrain and we saw some debris (probably unloaded long ago). The ridge was ~1.7 miles long with a ton of ups and down, either dry or on hard-packed snow. The crux of the route (rock outcroppings on the ridge near the summit) however, were surrounded by snow. I chose not to rely on snow quality and climbed over the rocks, making for class 3 section if you are good with route finding and full on class 5 if you aren't. Unless you are looking for the latter, don't climb to the right. I think I was the only person up Missouri today. 6:40 start, 4:25 finish. Terribly hot day. Oh, saw a bunch of mountain goats on the ridge too. Road: seems doable in any vehicle with some clearance, if driven carefully. Note, on the way back snow becomes softer and more slippery. |
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10/27/2024 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 10/28/2024, By: sarah_solomon Info: Trail was dry until just after treeline. From there, it oscillates between mud, snow and ice. I wore microspikes and gaitors and felt fine the entire time. There was quite a bit of drifted snow loading the avi slope and when we were there, it was firm and a bit icy. We chose to ascend just to the right of it to reach the saddle instead. I saw someone descending the avi slope and it looked pretty sketch. He stopped a few steps in and descended the rest of the slope seated and slowly, driving the shaft of an ice axe into the snow for security. Back side of the ridge was mostly dry with a few comfortable snowy spots. 25mph gusts but an overall gorgeous day. |
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10/13/2024 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 10/14/2024, By: eastcoasthiker Info: Trail was dry. Easy to follow trail if you are paying attention. Very comfortable hiking, but it's not hard to see where snow/ice could make this trail sketchy, particularly a couple small spots before the summit. Saw maybe 6 people after the trail junction. At least 4-5 open parking spaces all day Sunday. |
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10/6/2024 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 10/6/2024, By: drewskiclimbs Info: Trail was dry all the way to the summit, no snow. It was windier than the forecast called for. If you get to the stream crossings before the sunlight, be careful -- the rocks were iced over and very slippery. Leaves were past peak, mostly down on the ground. Plenty of parking at trailhead ~ 7 am. |
