Mt. Belford Trip Report 01/17/2012

Peak(s):	Mt. Belford - 14,202 feet Mt. Oxford - 14,158 feet
Date Posted:	01/17/2012
Modified:	01/20/2012
Date Climbed:	01/14/2012
Author:	SnowAlien
Additional Members:	LynnKH

Dodging the winds, the ice fields and the willows of the Missouri Gulch
Dodging the winds, the ice fields and the willows of the Missouri Gulch Routes: Up - Mt. Belford - Northwest Ridge (switchbacks); standard route to Mt. Oxford and back; Descent - Missouri Gulch via Elkhead pass Date: January 14, 2012 RT Distance: About 12 miles Elevation Gain: approximately 5,700 feet Time: 11 hours including the time on the summits and the time lost in the Missouri Gulch (more on that later) Who: Lynn (LynnKH) and Natalie (nkan02) I am starting to suspect that climbing 14ers in winter is getting more and more popular. As we pulled into the parking lot of the Missouri Gulch TH shortly after 6 am, we found 5 or 6 parked vehicles - not that much difference from the summer scene. After gearing up (leaving snowshoes in the car, but taking more water than we normally would) we started out at 6.25am. Alpenglow The approach It was my 2nd time in the Missouri Gulch and Lynn's 3rd, so we know what to expect - an unrelenting sequence of the switchbacks on the approach trail all the way up until the "old shack" (a.k.a. camping spot) at 11'200, and this time, we were mentally prepared. We were making good time on the boot-packed trail and reached the bottom of Mt. Belford shortly after 8.00am. As the number of the cars at the TH indicated, the trail was "crowded" (for winter, at least). We could see at least 6 people ahead of us ascending Belford, 2 behind us (Matt & Chris) and a few people going in the direction of Missouri. First look at Belford The climb Going up Belford, our pace slowed considerably as the winds picked up and we stopped a few times to adjust the gear (and to admire the views of Missouri). View of Missouri from Belford Despite wearing 2 face masks (albeit not continuously throughout the day), both of us still ended up with a fair amount of windburn by the end of the day. The NW ridge trail was easily identifiable with very little snow, but we used microspikes for better traction. We reached the summit of Belford by 11am and stopped for 1/2 hour refueling break to prepare for the traverse to Oxford and back. near the summit We had the energy for another summit that day, but I knew it was not going to be a quick jaunt there and back. The mental game was on! On the descent from Belford we ran into amazing Roland and Laura who were already making their way back (they had passed us earlier in the day at the bottom of Belford). What an amazing speed and endurance! We carefully proceeded further, trying to save some energy for the return trip. Heading over to Oxford View of Harvard from the saddle It felt very cold and windy above 13,800, but near the saddle, it was still windy, but the temperatures felt like 10-20 degrees warmer. We finally got to the Oxford summit at about 1pm. Oxford summit The views of Belford across the saddle were amazing. Matt & Chris soon caught up with us and we spent a few minutes on the summit together. Soon it was time to head back, and to reclimb Belford. This was probably the toughest section of the day, and the anticipation of which did not let me enjoy the Oxford summit as much as I otherwise would. View of Belford from Oxford Image #10 (not yet uploaded) Belford ridge The return As we were going up Belford, we were discussing the return routes. We both did not want to take the Northwest ridge's switchbacks back. The couloir to the left of the NW ridge looked like an interesting option, but I was concerned about the snow quality. The couloir remained in the shade for the most part of the morning, and I worried that the snow would be very hard and crusty, making self arrest somewhat treacherous. Besides, I wanted to "save" the snow route for spring. Belford couloir Lynn mentioned that last time she came down the Elkhead pass route and it was fast. This option appealed to me as I wanted to check out the Missouri's East ridge and the interesting looking Emerald and Iowa which we spotted from Belford. Emerald peak as seen from Belford So down to the Elkhead pass we went. Elkhead pass panorama (Emerald, Iowa, Missouri) We knew that the route was going to add extra mileage, but we were hoping it would be reasonably fast going. The first part went according to plan. We quickly dropped elevation and were at the top of Elkhead pass in about 15 minutes since leaving Belford's summit ridge. The views of the nearby peaks were amazing. Then we promptly lost the trail leading down to the Missouri Gulch, as it was covered with snow. Our trail-less progress towards the Missouri Gulch was stopped by an expansive ice field/hill. Icefield We decided to drop into the gulch bypassing the ice slope to the left of it vs. going around it. Lynn went with rocks and I went with snow. The snow conditions, as I had anticipated, were far from good - it was either sugary, posthole-prone snow or a bulletproof hard pack, rendering microspikes and ice ax nearly useless. It took me twice the time to descend the steep snow field vs. Lynn's option with talus. Bulletproof snowfield near the top Another look at snowfield Couloir overview. A small dot on the right side is me. Nasty looking icefield The curse of the Missouri Gulch The good news were were back on the Missouri Gulch trail and making decent time. However, this did not last long as the trail disappeared once again. Trying to identify the precise direction of the trail and to avoid snowfields proved to be challenging. The posthole fest began. We tried to follow existing tracks, but at some point, a promising looking track split 3-ways. We chose one set of tracks but soon they disappeared. Here we were, approximately last 100 feet away from merging into the Belford trail (we could see Matt & Chris who just descended from Belford), but separated from it by deep, deep snow. That section, done without snowshoes, zapped the little energy what was left in us. The message was clear: don't mess with the Missouri Gulch, even in the low snow year. Willows of the Missouri Gulch Once on the firm ground, we tried to make up for lost time, but it was getting late. We finally got back to the car at dusk, thoroughly exhausted but glad to have both summits in the bag. Sunset And now, this is all we have to show for an extra hour of detour. Was getting this view worth going an extra mile and an extra hour? I guess, the answer is - it depends View of Emerald from Elkhead pass Missouri's East Ridge Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Dodging the winds, the ice fields and the willows of the Missouri Gulch

Routes: Up - Mt. Belford - Northwest Ridge (switchbacks); standard route to Mt. Oxford and back; Descent - Missouri Gulch via Elkhead pass
Date: January 14, 2012
RT Distance: About 12 miles
Elevation Gain: approximately 5,700 feet
Time: 11 hours including the time on the summits and the time lost in the Missouri Gulch (more on that later)
Who: Lynn (LynnKH) and Natalie (nkan02)

I am starting to suspect that climbing 14ers in winter is getting more and more popular. As we pulled into the parking lot of the Missouri Gulch TH shortly after 6 am, we found 5 or 6 parked vehicles - not that much difference from the summer scene. After gearing up (leaving snowshoes in the car, but taking more water than we normally would) we started out at 6.25am.

The approach

It was my 2nd time in the Missouri Gulch and Lynn's 3rd, so we know what to expect - an unrelenting sequence of the switchbacks on the approach trail all the way up until the "old shack" (a.k.a. camping spot) at 11'200, and this time, we were mentally prepared. We were making good time on the boot-packed trail and reached the bottom of Mt. Belford shortly after 8.00am. As the number of the cars at the TH indicated, the trail was "crowded" (for winter, at least). We could see at least 6 people ahead of us ascending Belford, 2 behind us (Matt & Chris) and a few people going in the direction of Missouri.

The climb

Going up Belford, our pace slowed considerably as the winds picked up and we stopped a few times to adjust the gear (and to admire the views of Missouri).

Despite wearing 2 face masks (albeit not continuously throughout the day), both of us still ended up with a fair amount of windburn by the end of the day. The NW ridge trail was easily identifiable with very little snow, but we used microspikes for better traction. We reached the summit of Belford by 11am and stopped for 1/2 hour refueling break to prepare for the traverse to Oxford and back.

We had the energy for another summit that day, but I knew it was not going to be a quick jaunt there and back. The mental game was on! On the descent from Belford we ran into amazing Roland and Laura who were already making their way back (they had passed us earlier in the day at the bottom of Belford). What an amazing speed and endurance! We carefully proceeded further, trying to save some energy for the return trip.

It felt very cold and windy above 13,800, but near the saddle, it was still windy, but the temperatures felt like 10-20 degrees warmer. We finally got to the Oxford summit at about 1pm.

The views of Belford across the saddle were amazing. Matt & Chris soon caught up with us and we spent a few minutes on the summit together. Soon it was time to head back, and to reclimb Belford. This was probably the toughest section of the day, and the anticipation of which did not let me enjoy the Oxford summit as much as I otherwise would.

Image #10 (not uploaded yet) — Image #10 (not yet uploaded)

The return

As we were going up Belford, we were discussing the return routes. We both did not want to take the Northwest ridge's switchbacks back. The couloir to the left of the NW ridge looked like an interesting option, but I was concerned about the snow quality. The couloir remained in the shade for the most part of the morning, and I worried that the snow would be very hard and crusty, making self arrest somewhat treacherous. Besides, I wanted to "save" the snow route for spring.

Lynn mentioned that last time she came down the Elkhead pass route and it was fast. This option appealed to me as I wanted to check out the Missouri's East ridge and the interesting looking Emerald and Iowa which we spotted from Belford.

So down to the Elkhead pass we went.

Elkhead pass panorama (Emerald, Iowa, Missouri)

We knew that the route was going to add extra mileage, but we were hoping it would be reasonably fast going. The first part went according to plan. We quickly dropped elevation and were at the top of Elkhead pass in about 15 minutes since leaving Belford's summit ridge. The views of the nearby peaks were amazing. Then we promptly lost the trail leading down to the Missouri Gulch, as it was covered with snow. Our trail-less progress towards the Missouri Gulch was stopped by an expansive ice field/hill.

We decided to drop into the gulch bypassing the ice slope to the left of it vs. going around it. Lynn went with rocks and I went with snow. The snow conditions, as I had anticipated, were far from good - it was either sugary, posthole-prone snow or a bulletproof hard pack, rendering microspikes and ice ax nearly useless. It took me twice the time to descend the steep snow field vs. Lynn's option with talus.

Couloir overview. A small dot on the right side is me.

The curse of the Missouri Gulch

The good news were were back on the Missouri Gulch trail and making decent time. However, this did not last long as the trail disappeared once again. Trying to identify the precise direction of the trail and to avoid snowfields proved to be challenging. The posthole fest began. We tried to follow existing tracks, but at some point, a promising looking track split 3-ways. We chose one set of tracks but soon they disappeared. Here we were, approximately last 100 feet away from merging into the Belford trail (we could see Matt & Chris who just descended from Belford), but separated from it by deep, deep snow. That section, done without snowshoes, zapped the little energy what was left in us. The message was clear: don't mess with the Missouri Gulch, even in the low snow year.

Once on the firm ground, we tried to make up for lost time, but it was getting late. We finally got back to the car at dusk, thoroughly exhausted but glad to have both summits in the bag.

And now, this is all we have to show for an extra hour of detour. Was getting this view worth going an extra mile and an extra hour? I guess, the answer is - it depends

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

LynnKH	”Lynn went with rocks and I went with snow.& 1/17/2012 2:43pm Haha, somethings never change! What's next, buddy?
SurfNTurf	Crowds 1/17/2012 3:27pm Granted this is only my second winter season, but I agree with you on the crowds. I've noticed tons more people out this winter compared with last. Maybe once (if) the snow comes it'll thin out a bit. Nice work on a long, exhausting route! Let's get out again soon.
kushrocks	Sweetness 1/17/2012 9:44pm Awesome report. Very helpful info.
robco	Wallowing in willows 1/18/2012 2:13pm Nice work, Natalie! The willow shot triggered my repressed memories of a long Evans descent. The views of Missouri Peak are great. (Is it spring snowclimb season yet? )
Dancesatmoonrise	Lot of work 1/18/2012 6:13pm Way to persevere, you guys. Mental, yes, agree. This whole game is 90% mental. The other half is risk assessment. (Apologies to Yogi... : ) Missed you two on Elllingwood this weekend! Love that shot of Emerald in image 13. Just gorgeous!!
DoubelDD	You made it! 1/18/2012 10:50pm Nice job thanks for the report
Dave B	Nice report.... 6/22/2012 1:18pm And way to knock out some mileage and vert. That ridge looks pretty sweet on Emerald!

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Dodging the winds, the ice fields and the willows of the Missouri Gulch

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