Route Climbed: west ridge, Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: August 1993
Climbed with Ron, Ryan, and Kristen. Did Oxford as well. Three years later, climbed Belford again, this time on its southwest slopes, after doing Missouri Mtn. We were blessed with good weather both times.
Route Climbed: From Oxford via Pine Creek Date Climbed: August 14, 2004
Great day, perfect weather! This was our second 14er of the day. We started from Pine Creek and hiked up the South ridge of Oxford. From Oxford to Belford and then down to Elkhead pass and back down to Pine Creek. This is a great loop if you have the time and weather.
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September, 1994
Climbed this as part of a two day affair, including Oxford and Missouri Mountain. Belford and Oxford were combined on day two; blowing snow, temps in the 20's and steady winds around 50 mph meant not a whole lot of lounging around the summits. Climbed with Aaron Johnson. Aaron hates the wind. Memorable couple days!
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: 09/12/03
Kind of a long day but we met some new people as usual! REALLY REALLY windy and getting late so we didn't head over to Oxford, especially since we had reports of crummy conditions on the ridge (not that we couldn't tell that!). In case anyone reads this...DO THE COMBOS!! Don't be lazy! Going back to get the seconds is a royal pain!
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: July 3, 2004
Knocked out Belford on Saturday, July 3, 2004. Didn't go to Oxford but was thinking about it. The wind picked up and the clouds started barrelling in as usual. Was on a couples trip at the time. 3 out of the 4 of us made it. Blisters and bruised toe victimized the 4th! Awesome nap and lunch at the top!
Route Climbed: Northwest Flank Date Climbed: August, 2002
I don't remember too much about this one: another Sawatch lump that most impressed me for whatever count of the 14ers it represented for me than anything intrinsically Belford-ian about it. Geez, I was jaded, that summer: too much teaching and too much climbing, too fast, and too solo.
I took the quick jaunt to Oxford too. I remember that the ridge walk was windy as all get out and there was a rather attractive view to the south, though over what, I can't recall now. Returned over Elkhead Pass between Belford and Missouri--that area was quite pretty, and I remember looking at the rather rugged-looking ridge up to Missouri and thinking, "someday."
Route Climbed: MG to Elkhead pass to Mt Belford. Date Climbed: 5-7-04
1st CO 14er. Hiked from Missouri Gulch TH, missed trail and continued on to Elkhead Pass, knowing I was off course. Up to summit. Awesome views everywhere,especially at the pass. Postholing, even with snowshoes, from the 2nd creek crossing to the basin.
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: 9.28.2003
Steep mountain, a real workout from the start to the end..........Not a cloud in the sky until 2 PM !!!!!
Aspens in their gold attire, a magnificent day for a hike. I truly regret to have started out too late to attempt Oxford at the same time. It would have been the perfect day! Poles very useful to descend this one!
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Descent of Elk Head Pass Date Climbed: 9/12/03
Made it quickly up through the trees and to where the trail splits. As I made it to the mountain proper, around 12,000', things started to change. The route gets much steeper and mixed in with the early snow and some run off from this beautiful day, things got slick and made for slow going. In addition, around 14,000' the wind picked up. As I reached the summit, I stayed for a brief moment and then climbed down 15' on the east side to the shelter for some protection from the wind. On the summit, I measured the wind at a steady 30 mph. Because of the snow and wind, we decided to try Oxford at another time.
Larry V - Aug 25, 2004 11:47 pm
Route Climbed: west ridge, Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: August 1993Climbed with Ron, Ryan, and Kristen. Did Oxford as well. Three years later, climbed Belford again, this time on its southwest slopes, after doing Missouri Mtn. We were blessed with good weather both times.
F Bomb - Aug 23, 2004 12:18 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: August 7, 2004Weather was coming so we only did Belford. This is a steep mountain and I became exhausted on the way down. Knees hurt for a couple days. Good climb.
volda2000 - Aug 17, 2004 10:06 am
Route Climbed: From Oxford via Pine Creek Date Climbed: August 14, 2004Great day, perfect weather! This was our second 14er of the day. We started from Pine Creek and hiked up the South ridge of Oxford. From Oxford to Belford and then down to Elkhead pass and back down to Pine Creek. This is a great loop if you have the time and weather.
dk77 - Aug 2, 2004 12:49 pm
Route Climbed: M. Gulch Date Climbed: 8/1/04Don't let the short distance of this climb fool you...it is a steep climb,but well worth it. Beautiful views.
Saintgrizzly - Jul 27, 2004 11:09 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September, 1994Climbed this as part of a two day affair, including Oxford and Missouri Mountain. Belford and Oxford were combined on day two; blowing snow, temps in the 20's and steady winds around 50 mph meant not a whole lot of lounging around the summits. Climbed with Aaron Johnson. Aaron hates the wind. Memorable couple days!
Speedy - Jul 16, 2004 8:57 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: 09/12/03Kind of a long day but we met some new people as usual! REALLY REALLY windy and getting late so we didn't head over to Oxford, especially since we had reports of crummy conditions on the ridge (not that we couldn't tell that!). In case anyone reads this...DO THE COMBOS!! Don't be lazy! Going back to get the seconds is a royal pain!
TexasClimber - Jul 8, 2004 6:34 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: July 3, 2004Knocked out Belford on Saturday, July 3, 2004. Didn't go to Oxford but was thinking about it. The wind picked up and the clouds started barrelling in as usual. Was on a couples trip at the time. 3 out of the 4 of us made it. Blisters and bruised toe victimized the 4th! Awesome nap and lunch at the top!
Ratballs - Jun 22, 2004 8:19 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Flank Date Climbed: August, 2002I don't remember too much about this one: another Sawatch lump that most impressed me for whatever count of the 14ers it represented for me than anything intrinsically Belford-ian about it. Geez, I was jaded, that summer: too much teaching and too much climbing, too fast, and too solo.
I took the quick jaunt to Oxford too. I remember that the ridge walk was windy as all get out and there was a rather attractive view to the south, though over what, I can't recall now. Returned over Elkhead Pass between Belford and Missouri--that area was quite pretty, and I remember looking at the rather rugged-looking ridge up to Missouri and thinking, "someday."
Ed F - May 21, 2004 12:11 am
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Standard CFI Date Climbed: May 16, 2004Nice, easy snow climb. Windy Day.
DaveC - May 20, 2004 9:08 pm
Route Climbed: from elk head basin Date Climbed: june 98belford was cake, but lightning quelled hopes of oxford till another day.
petersbike - May 8, 2004 4:30 pm
Route Climbed: MG to Elkhead pass to Mt Belford. Date Climbed: 5-7-041st CO 14er. Hiked from Missouri Gulch TH, missed trail and continued on to Elkhead Pass, knowing I was off course. Up to summit. Awesome views everywhere,especially at the pass. Postholing, even with snowshoes, from the 2nd creek crossing to the basin.
f360driver - Apr 14, 2004 6:34 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: 7/01/03Hard Hike, pretty wilderness
RyanS - Apr 9, 2004 5:29 pm
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: May 16, 2003Some postholing on the way back to the car, but we had a great day bagging B&O. Our report is available here.
carloselbrus - Mar 2, 2004 11:14 am
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Trail Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2000Climb with Richard.
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 7:01 pm
Route Climbed: Elkhead Pass Date Climbed: August 2001Visit the pass - it's the best view of the hike.
JonBradford - Nov 5, 2003 11:59 pm
Route Climbed: Three Fourteener Taverse Date Climbed: August 27, 2000Climbed along with Oxford and Missouri. A nice mountain... especialy in conjunction with the others.
Jon Bradford
Bill562 - Oct 1, 2003 10:57 am
Route Climbed: Pine Creek to Elkhead pass Date Climbed: 7/23/2003Summited 9:30 AM, had summit to myself, was going to stroll over to Oxford, but a storm came in, sent me running back down.
Helga - Sep 28, 2003 9:55 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: 9.28.2003Steep mountain, a real workout from the start to the end..........Not a cloud in the sky until 2 PM !!!!!
Aspens in their gold attire, a magnificent day for a hike. I truly regret to have started out too late to attempt Oxford at the same time. It would have been the perfect day! Poles very useful to descend this one!
Bryan W - Sep 18, 2003 10:38 am
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Descent of Elk Head Pass Date Climbed: 9/12/03Made it quickly up through the trees and to where the trail splits. As I made it to the mountain proper, around 12,000', things started to change. The route gets much steeper and mixed in with the early snow and some run off from this beautiful day, things got slick and made for slow going. In addition, around 14,000' the wind picked up. As I reached the summit, I stayed for a brief moment and then climbed down 15' on the east side to the shelter for some protection from the wind. On the summit, I measured the wind at a steady 30 mph. Because of the snow and wind, we decided to try Oxford at another time.
dp - Aug 20, 2003 9:24 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: June 24, 2001First 14'er of 2001 for me; easy climb with some beautiful views. Passed up on Oxford because the weather began to look questionable.