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From the Missouri Gulch TH at 6:00am I ascended the Northwest Ridge (standard route) of Missouri Mountain summiting at 8:35 am. Summit of Missouri looking south towards Iowa and in the back Emerald
Down Missouri's South Ridge (some solid, some loose, with a faint sometimes-more-pronounced/possible climber's/ animal trail) to the Iowa/ Missouri saddle, ascending Iowa via it's North Ridge (a straightforward ridge)
summiting at 9:02 am Summit of Iowa looking west
Leaving Iowa's summit down Iowa's South face (nice alpine grass mixed with rocks, perfect to run :-)!!!) to the Iowa/ Emerald saddle and then heading up Emerald via it's Northern talus slopes on mostly stable boulder ish. Climbed up to the East Ridge, following the East Ridge to Emerald's summit. Reaching Emerald's summit at 9:23 am Summit of Emerald looking towards Harvard
From Emerald's summit I followed the East Ridge down east of the Emerald/ Iowa saddle below Iowa's eastern cliffs but still staying West of the 3 small lake/ tarns in the basin while heading Northeast towards Elkhead Pass. Gaining the pass took less time than I had expected!!! To join Elkhead pass and Belfords South West trail I stayed below Missouri's notorious East Ridge till past the crumbly class 4 choss section!!! I gained the Ridge and followed it to Elkhead Pass heading up to the Belford/ Oxford connecting ridge!!! I gained the summit of Oxford at 12:05 pm with a huge smile!!!! Summit of Oxford looking west to Belford
4 done and the mental crux was now behind me!!! The weather was still holding :-)!!!! I ran down Oxford and traversed to Belford arriving on the summit at 12:43 pm. Summit of Belford looking north
Onward to the last summit, Pecks!!!!!!!!
A nice ridge run to Pecks Peck has me arriving at it's summit at 1:31 pm!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeeee all 6 Peaks (3) 14ers and (3) 13ers Summit of Pecks looking northwest
To get back to the Missouri Gulch trail I went straight down Pecks West face, you can figure out the best path as you descend!!!! Followed the trail back to the TH arriving at my car at 2:40 pm, finishing my Round Trip time in 8:40 with 21.5 miles and 8,600 vertical!!!!
One of the three lake/ tarns on the bench above the basin with Belford's southwest ridge in the back left
Harvard from the northwest on the bench above the basin
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Thanks for checking my report out!!!!! @Jay521 much respect, such an amazing area!!!!! @emcee smith it was wonderful meeting you!!!! Hope the rest of your adventure was awesome!!!!!!!!
To do this link up. JQDivide inspired me to add in Waverly Mountain. I am not in nearly as good a shape as Vimana Aircraft; as I took 12 hours and 40 minutes from car to car.
@AnnaG22 Pecks is an awesome add on, did this route again three ish weeks ago and have come to the conclusion that Pecks is a nicer descent than Belford!!!!!
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