Route Climbed: Belford Traverse Date Climbed: August 2, 2002
Takes about an hour round trip from Belford. Pretty easy rigde line with no real exposure. Only risk would be storms, as I know people who have dropped directly off the summit to escape. The always ends with bushwacking of some kind.
Route Climbed: From Mt Belford summit via Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: Saturday August 20,2005
Summited at 8:50AM from Belford summit, only two people on top, the sun broke through, stayed 'til 9:37, then back across the saddle and down Elkhead Pass trail, very few people, beautiful wildflowers, back to the TH at 12:41PM. My 17th & 18th 14'ers and another beautiful Colorado morning, sweet!!!
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Elkhead Pass Date Climbed: July 11, 2005
My first 14er! It had to be Oxford because my hiking partner had already done 20 and refuses to ever repeat any. We ascended the long, gentler way via Elkhead, which means I hit 14000 and was THIS close to summitting Belford, but my companion had already done Belford so we had to trudge on and get her a new peak. The ham and cheese sandwich I had on the summit was the best sandwich of my life. On the return trip, I got to then hop over and bag Belford while my hiking partner napped. So 2 14ers my first day! A good start, I'd say.
Route Climbed: Traverse from Mt Belford Date Climbed: August 2, 2005
This was second of three in two days. Climbed from Elkhead Pass up to near Belford and then the ridgeline traverse. Sumitted around 11:30 in the strong cold wind.
Route Climbed: traverse from Belford Date Climbed: July 30, 2005
After ascending and descending Missouri mountain, we took the class 1 route up the ridge that connects Missouri and Belford. We didn't summit Belford then, but continued on the Oxford's summit first. 2/3 for the day. Great weather!
Route Climbed: West Slopes via Mount Belford Date Climbed: July 24, 2005
I hiked this one with my sister's friend, Kate. The day started out mostly cloudy, but the clouds briefly broke up when we neared Oxford's summit. That didn't last very long, though, and it was pretty windy and cold up there. Climbing up the saddle back to Belford was the toughest part of the hike, but Kate didn't have too much trouble with that. We rested on Belford for a little while, until we heard thunder to the north, then we headed on down.
Route Climbed: West Ridge (Belford traverse) Date Climbed: September 2003
The initial ascent from trailhead does not allow for any warm up time. Going up to Belford made me want to stop before even going a mile. It was better once I was warmed up, but don't expect a nicely accomodating beginning like many of the other 14er approaches. Very nice once you get above treeline.
Route Climbed: standard route from Belford Date Climbed: May 30, 2005
My second attempt at Oxford, this time a success. I was foiled in '04 by approaching storms and a busted shin while coming down Missouri. This time the weather held long enough and the snow was 90% gone. Great glissade on the way down to save the knees. This completes the Sawatch 14'ers for me.
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: May 30 2005
DIGITAL CAMERA FOUND en route -- it still works!!! If you think it might be yours, contact me and give some identifying details (photos / what photos are on the camera / type of camera, when climbed, etc). The first photo had some identifying details (a photo of some writing on a pad, but I think not enough to track you down).
Email: my last name (proulx) at pizero (the greek letter + arabic numeral) dot colorado (the university) dot edu.
Nice weather, but windy, and it deteriorated badly as I approached Belford. Hi to other recent summiteers, ktiffany22 (whom I met on Saturday when I did Missouri) and Paul and Brian from Brackett Hall '97 (who signed the summit log on Sunday).
Route Climbed: Standard- Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: May 28, 2005
After initiating my Kansas cousin with Belford, we headed over to Oxford. Beautiful views! (you won't need snowshoes) ...but I'm gonna nickname this hike the long SLOG!
Route Climbed: Saddle from Belford Date Climbed: 5/29/05
Summited, along with Belford, with good friend and fellow SPer, Alan. Our original plan was to do Missouri, but there was too much snow at it's base and we did not have crampons or axes. Dodged storms all day long.
Route Climbed: All 3 - Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: 7/2003
Camped at Missouri Gulch Trail and started off in the rain. I had to catch some zzzz's during early morning rain on the trail to Missouri. I first ascended Missouri and then headed up the basin to the saddle between Oxford and Belford. I was beat and a storm was brewing but another dumbass motivated me to go for the summit of Oxford first. The storm receded and I was on the summit of Belford celebrating three in a day. I made it back to camp with some sore knees, but it wasn't too bad. 14 1/2 miles and 7400 feet of elevation gain in 9 hours. Not too bad?
chicagotransplant - Jan 9, 2006 8:13 pm
Route Climbed: Belford Traverse Date Climbed: May 28, 2005Oxford made it an even dozen for me on total 14ers!
1mvertical - Jan 5, 2006 10:54 am
Route Climbed: Belford Traverse Date Climbed: August 2, 2002Takes about an hour round trip from Belford. Pretty easy rigde line with no real exposure. Only risk would be storms, as I know people who have dropped directly off the summit to escape. The always ends with bushwacking of some kind.
SawtoothSean - Jan 4, 2006 8:55 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 20, 2004A must do with Oxford obviously- Did Peck's Peak along the same ridge that day also.
James C - Aug 31, 2005 10:40 pm
Route Climbed: Traverse Date Climbed: August 28, 2005made the traverse in a little less than an hour, great view of harvard
myrone - Aug 21, 2005 11:19 am
Route Climbed: From Mt Belford summit via Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: Saturday August 20,2005Summited at 8:50AM from Belford summit, only two people on top, the sun broke through, stayed 'til 9:37, then back across the saddle and down Elkhead Pass trail, very few people, beautiful wildflowers, back to the TH at 12:41PM. My 17th & 18th 14'ers and another beautiful Colorado morning, sweet!!!
evilproofer - Aug 9, 2005 9:40 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Elkhead Pass Date Climbed: July 11, 2005My first 14er! It had to be Oxford because my hiking partner had already done 20 and refuses to ever repeat any. We ascended the long, gentler way via Elkhead, which means I hit 14000 and was THIS close to summitting Belford, but my companion had already done Belford so we had to trudge on and get her a new peak. The ham and cheese sandwich I had on the summit was the best sandwich of my life. On the return trip, I got to then hop over and bag Belford while my hiking partner napped. So 2 14ers my first day! A good start, I'd say.
kjkrow - Aug 9, 2005 4:40 pm
Route Climbed: Traverse from Mt Belford Date Climbed: August 2, 2005This was second of three in two days. Climbed from Elkhead Pass up to near Belford and then the ridgeline traverse. Sumitted around 11:30 in the strong cold wind.
Andrew McKenzie - Jul 31, 2005 5:56 pm
Route Climbed: traverse from Belford Date Climbed: July 30, 2005After ascending and descending Missouri mountain, we took the class 1 route up the ridge that connects Missouri and Belford. We didn't summit Belford then, but continued on the Oxford's summit first. 2/3 for the day. Great weather!
belexes - Jul 25, 2005 3:33 pm
Route Climbed: West Slopes via Mount Belford Date Climbed: July 24, 2005I hiked this one with my sister's friend, Kate. The day started out mostly cloudy, but the clouds briefly broke up when we neared Oxford's summit. That didn't last very long, though, and it was pretty windy and cold up there. Climbing up the saddle back to Belford was the toughest part of the hike, but Kate didn't have too much trouble with that. We rested on Belford for a little while, until we heard thunder to the north, then we headed on down.
alpine master - Jul 24, 2005 5:11 pm
Route Climbed: West ridge Date Climbed: June 5th 2003Climbed with Belford.
CWFry - Jul 15, 2005 6:12 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge (Belford traverse) Date Climbed: September 2003The initial ascent from trailhead does not allow for any warm up time. Going up to Belford made me want to stop before even going a mile. It was better once I was warmed up, but don't expect a nicely accomodating beginning like many of the other 14er approaches. Very nice once you get above treeline.
skiitswitch - Jul 14, 2005 10:00 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH, Missouri, Belford, west slopes Date Climbed: July 13, 2005Best views of the valley to the east that I've seen. A great completion to a long day. 7 14ers in 4 days. Not too bad. Trip report to come
doumall - Jul 13, 2005 3:02 pm
Route Climbed: West Slopes via Belford Date Climbed: July, 7th 200422nd 14er!
bc44caesar - Jun 19, 2005 8:33 pm
Route Climbed: From Belford Date Climbed: 18 Jun 2005An easy jaunt over to Oxford after Belford. Only one small patch of snow left.
altitude14er - Jun 13, 2005 7:04 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Approach Date Climbed: May 21, 2005Oxford is a tough climb after having already summited Belford
shknbke - May 31, 2005 6:49 pm
Route Climbed: standard route from Belford Date Climbed: May 30, 2005My second attempt at Oxford, this time a success. I was foiled in '04 by approaching storms and a busted shin while coming down Missouri. This time the weather held long enough and the snow was 90% gone. Great glissade on the way down to save the knees. This completes the Sawatch 14'ers for me.
jwproulx - May 31, 2005 5:45 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: May 30 2005DIGITAL CAMERA FOUND en route -- it still works!!! If you think it might be yours, contact me and give some identifying details (photos / what photos are on the camera / type of camera, when climbed, etc). The first photo had some identifying details (a photo of some writing on a pad, but I think not enough to track you down).
Email: my last name (proulx) at pizero (the greek letter + arabic numeral) dot colorado (the university) dot edu.
Nice weather, but windy, and it deteriorated badly as I approached Belford. Hi to other recent summiteers, ktiffany22 (whom I met on Saturday when I did Missouri) and Paul and Brian from Brackett Hall '97 (who signed the summit log on Sunday).
ktiffany22 - May 30, 2005 8:30 pm
Route Climbed: Standard- Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: May 28, 2005After initiating my Kansas cousin with Belford, we headed over to Oxford. Beautiful views! (you won't need snowshoes) ...but I'm gonna nickname this hike the long SLOG!
shanrickv - May 29, 2005 10:23 pm
Route Climbed: Saddle from Belford Date Climbed: 5/29/05Summited, along with Belford, with good friend and fellow SPer, Alan. Our original plan was to do Missouri, but there was too much snow at it's base and we did not have crampons or axes. Dodged storms all day long.
Old Ickabod - Apr 15, 2005 12:36 am
Route Climbed: All 3 - Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: 7/2003Camped at Missouri Gulch Trail and started off in the rain. I had to catch some zzzz's during early morning rain on the trail to Missouri. I first ascended Missouri and then headed up the basin to the saddle between Oxford and Belford. I was beat and a storm was brewing but another dumbass motivated me to go for the summit of Oxford first. The storm receded and I was on the summit of Belford celebrating three in a day. I made it back to camp with some sore knees, but it wasn't too bad. 14 1/2 miles and 7400 feet of elevation gain in 9 hours. Not too bad?