Log In 
Peak(s):  Missouri Mountain  -  14,071 feet
Mt. Belford  -  14,202 feet
Mt. Oxford  -  14,158 feet
Date Posted:  09/23/2014
Modified:  09/24/2014
Date Climbed:   09/20/2014
Author:  ejworden
 Missouri/Belford/Oxford + Blizzard   

14er Trip #3 of 2014 - Missouri/Belford/Oxford
September 20 & 21, 2014

Hopes were high that this trip would put me back on track to climb 14 14ers in 2014. Since the summer didn't work out the way I thought it would, I am committed to climbing as many as I can, even as daylight hours shorten and conditions become harsher. This was only my third 14er trip of the year, and I was hopeful that I could have a successful multi-peak weekend. Let me be upfront that while I hope to stand atop 14 14ers in 2014, I am not adhering to the 3000ft rule. As for this trip, I planned to have dinner with a buddy in Leadville but set off from Santa Fe too late Friday afternoon (3pm) and went straight to the trailhead. I stopped in Alamosa on the way up and had ice cream. I almost always stop for ice cream or gorditas at Mi Taquito on the way up. No overnight trailhead camping is allowed at Missouri Gulch, per the posted sign, so I drove back down the road a little ways and pulled off at the first good spot. With the back seats of my Honda Accordion down I'm able to stretch out almost enough to sleep well, and crawling into and warming up in the front seat in the morning is a nice way to get ready for a day in mountains. Heat seaters are a modern comfort I enjoy. By the time passing cars woke me up (7am) and I got my act together (8am), the trailhead was packed and I had to drive back to where I parked the night before and walk back up the road. Truth be told, I enjoy having to walk a bit on the road to get to the trailhead - I like having the time to anticipate the adventure and it's like I get to personalize the hike because my route is unique to me since my trip doesn't begin or end with anyone else's. It's sort of like the preface to a good book. Sometimes I'm motivated to walk in the woods for solitude, so it's ironic that the people sharing the trail are so often the highlights of my memories. Whether it's a quick interaction as we pass by or we travel alongside one another for hours without sometimes even exchanging names, the trail connects with people I can be alone with.

Image
walk along the road


Though I set off later than I planned, I made steady progress until I missed the river crossing. How, in retrospect, I could have possibly missed that turn is hard to imagine. Somehow I continued through the trees following a path that had certainly been traveled before, until I reached a scree field. Realizing that I had gone way too far, I worked my way back to the trail where I instantly recognized the crossing. After climbing up to the cabin at 11,200ft, I found a spot to camp and I lightened my load substantially. There were a few things I forgot to bring on this trip, and one of them was a water purification system. Luckily, I remembered while I was in BV and I picked up an extra 8 lbs. of water so that I wouldn't waste time and fuel boiling it. I hadn't thought about how much weight it would add - I left the car carrying more than 20 lbs. of water for the two-day excursion.

Image
the gulch


Once the pack was light, I made lunch and napped for a while before I set off for Missouri around noon. When you come to the fork, take it. But seriously, stay right at both forks and the trail will wind you up to the ridge.

Image
Missouri from the gulch


From here most of the work is done.

Image
a look back at the trail and the gulch


The way up was slow-going, even by my standards, and I was certainly the last one atop Missouri that day.

Image
a look at the ridge leading to the summit


I had never been there before, but when I was on my way up folks were telling me about a sketchy section the last few yards to the summit. It is sketchy and Lithic and aweygandt have posted about it recently.

Image
the sketchy section in blue


To avoid dropping down the crux in that section, I went along the top of the ridge just as several others did. You can see the spot in photo 16 of Missouri's standard route (Northwest Ridge). That spot looks like it has washed out a bit since that photo was taken, and I wondered if the weather would deteriorate and I might be turned back, but that never happened. Instead, it stormed all around and snowed/hailed quite a bit on Belford.

Image
snowford


I remember thinking out loud: "good thing you decided on Missouri today..." After a leisurely return to camp (just after 5pm ish), I ate very little of my dinner and I was ready for bed. I worked all week and didn't prep a bunch of food for the trip. Instead, I just grabbed a few dehydros from the back of the pantry, a bag of raisins, some fruit, and tea and coffee. The food was put up, but I could hear the critters scurry around to conspire all night about a plan to deprive me of my food. Needless to say, they were unsuccessful as I slept soundly under clouds that very lightly drizzled all night. I could have slept for weeks, but the first hikers went by about an hour before sunrise and gave me the inspiration to start the coffee. I gambled with the weather the day before and won, but this day would see the weather have its turn to get me back.

After coffee and a snack I was off. The trail junction is at 11,800ft and I took a left today. The trail up Belford is great and steep. I remember thinking about how slippery some sections could get if it were to rain, as many of the weather forecasts had called for. I plugged away at the trail up Belford and was passed by several faster hikers along the way. By the time I made it to the top, the weather had started to deteriorate. A group of five guys were on the trail that day and I caught up to them and we made it to the summit around the same time. We hung out and I took a group photo for them and I shared my 14 14ers in 2014 goal with them, and one guy said he met a guy on Torreys (I think it was Torreys...) who was planning to do the same, so we had a good laugh about the snow and whether I'd actually be able to make it happen this year. He said the other guy is throwing in the towel, but I'm remaining optimistic. I know there are plenty of others out there - some have probably succeeded! The lack of a regular climbing partner means winter trips are dangerous, but I'm looking forward to skiing the Missouri Gulch in 2015! And the weather on this trip and a lame GoPro battery meant I didn't get good footage for my 14ers dance video submission. I guess I'll just have to work with what I got from the other trips.

Image
the calm before the storm


Even with the weather worsening, I made the trip along the ridge to Oxford in time to snap a couple photos and start the return to Belford. When I was at the lowest point on the saddle, the wind picked up and snow started sticking. Some fellow climbers and I remarked, after a safe return to the gulch, that we weren't expecting a blizzard. Funny, because less than 24 hours earlier I had watched it snow all over Belford and Oxford so I should've known. Luckily, the trail is good and the footprints of others meant that I could make my way if I was careful. Nothing seriously dangerous, but I let myself get a little wet and cold and that was a great lesson. As I was plodding along on the way down from Belford I was thinking to myself, "I should have brought traction or some poles or something"...when all of a sudden there's a pair of poles on the trail! They weren't covered in snow, so they couldn't have been there long. I searched around for evidence that someone had left the trail, but found no footprints. What amazing timing! I figured they belonged to the group in front, so I hurried down with the hope of returning them.

Image
blizzard


I seriously doubted that anybody would be planning to return to search for their poles in those conditions. After a slick descent, I caught up with the folks in front of me, but the poles did not belong to them. What's more, they hadn't seen them even though they were practically laying on the trail! Whoever left 'em behind sure saved my behind from a few falls. With the sun coming out for the first time all day, I arrived back at the camp near tree line and I was completely warm and dry. My bivy, however, was wet from rain at the lower elevation. After silently celebrating the excitement of the storm on top and chatting with some folks who had just come down from Missouri, I packed up camp and, grateful for my loaner poles, descended the rest of the way to the car. I never did catch up with anyone who claimed the poles, but I've posted it on the forum in the hopes that I can get them back to their rightful owner. I'm certain that I was the sweeper since I was the last one of the day on Oxford and I didn't see anyone on the way down.

A short drive to BV for a cup of coffee and off the San Luis Valley Pizza Shop to pick up dinner for some buddies who were camped out fishing all weekend on the Conejos. Made it to their camp just before dark and regaled them with tales of my "epic blizzard conquest" while we sat around the campfire. Needless to say, I had a fantastic time and met some wonderful folks. If I don't make all 14 summits before the end of the year, then maybe I'll try for 15 15ers in 2015!



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16


Comments or Questions
brooked
Nice
9/24/2014 11:28am
Husband and I are on #13 and plan #14 this weekend! Belford/Oxford was our last hike. It was a long but beautiful day.


gunnison_garrett14
User
I missed the crossing too
9/24/2014 2:00pm
When I did Missouri this year I was going up the trail in the dark and I completely missed the river crossing as well. I must have followed the same trail you went on too because I got to a scree field and then turned around.



   Not registered?


Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.


Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.