Missouri Mountain Trip Report 10/02/2014

Peak(s):	Missouri Mountain - 14,071 feet Mt. Belford - 14,202 feet
Date Posted:	10/02/2014
Modified:	10/15/2014
Date Climbed:	08/26/2014
Author:	MtnHub

Missouri/Belford Combo
Missouri/Belford Combo Missouri Mountain (14,067') Mt. Belford (14,197') August 26, 2014 Missouri Gulch Trailhead: 9,650' Elevation Gain: 5,400' Round-trip Length: ~12 miles Climber: MtnHub Introduction: Two days ago a partner and I came off a rather disappointing climb up Challenger and Kit Carson. While we made it to both summits, it was cold and very cloudy and misty the entire time, so I got virtually no pictures and saw no sights. In addition, we became disoriented in the fog and got off route on our descent of Kit Carson and ended up climbing and re-climbing a couple of sketchy gullies until we found our way back. In recent years, I've been very reluctant to do any more overnight camping but since it was almost a necessity to camp in order to bag these two peaks, I agreed to try it once again when the opportunity arose with a good partner. But this trip reinforced that reluctance. I just don't tolerate overnights well. I don't get any sleep at all, and the additional weight of carrying a full pack for the long approach wreak havoc to my back. I was originally planning and prepared to do possibly two or three consecutive overnights if things went better. But the results of this first night along with a very dismal weather forecast for the next few days made me rethink this plan and look for a better alternative. Instead of investing in a motel room for 2-3 more nights near the Sangres without a strong prospect of getting in some new summits, I decided to just drive over to Buena Vista and stay with a friend for a few days. Having this place as a base camp gave me the option of repeating a few good climbs in the Sawatch, and then if I would get rained out, I wouldn't risk a lot of expense or long drives. *The Climb:* For several years I had been thinking about repeating Missouri. I'd only done it once before and I was anxious to do the long ridge climb again. I guess I was saving it as a backup climb for just such a time. The weather forecast was about a 40% chance of rain, so I knew the odds were pretty good for seeing some kind of precipitation during the day. I left prepared for it. There were a few clouds in the sky when I started on the trail at 0540, but I was also encouraged to see a few stars poking through in places. I quickly overtook a young couple from CA on the trail who planned to do Belford. In general I felt pretty good, and my back was feeling much better now that I was only carrying my day pack again. I reached the old ruins of the cabin shortly after dawn. The old cabin ruins. Coming out of the trees. Very soon thereafter the summit of Mt. Belford came into view. I could see a dusting of snow on its top. Belford has a little dusting of snow on its peak. When I got out of the trees, it became windy and downright chilly. The only shirt that I normally climb in is my long-sleeved capilene 14ers.com shirt. If I'm moving steadily, the work of climbing usually keeps my body core warm enough despite the temperature, and it also provides sun protection if it is warm and sunny out. But I found I needed both my long-sleeved undershirt as well as my fleece pullover to keep the chill out. I also put my mittens on as the tips of my fingers were starting to go numb. I came to the trail junction and took a right on the branch to Missouri. After climbing a bit farther into the gulch, Missouri Mountain finally came into view. It is an impressive sprawl of a mountain with a long, high ridge to its summit. Missouri comes into view. As this vacation was much later than when I've usually been to CO, I was hoping I would possibly see some leaf turning before I headed back home later next month. With all the cool, wet weather CO was experiencing, there was already evidence that I might not be disappointed. A little fall coloring is starting to show. Elkhorn Pass was just ahead. I scanned the skies and there were lots of clouds, but it was not entirely overcast. If the weather held out, I was thinking of possibly continuing up the back route of Belford on my return. I had only done the standard route up Belford and this trail would be new to me. I planned to simply see how things looked when I returned to this point again. At the trail junction, I took the trail to the right which switchbacks up a hill. The junction to Elkhorn Pass is getting close. Missouri's long summit ridge. The trail eventually skirts along the side of Point 13,784' aiming for a saddle between it and the northwest end of Missouri's summit ridge. The rocky trail skirting the slope. The wind picked up and was now becoming very annoying. I was having difficulty keeping the tips of my fingers warm. At the saddle there is a large cairn marking the ridge trail and I took a moment to rest, refuel, take a few swigs of water, and rub my hands together to keep them warm. Trail junction cairn at the top of the ridge. I looked up the trail along the ridge. It is about 3/4 mile to the actual summit, but this is the part of any climb that I truly enjoy. Just after I started up the ridge, I met a trail runner coming down. She was attempting a Nolan's 14 run. We chatted briefly before she asked me to take her picture with a backpack emblem displaying her sponsor. I gladly complied and wished her luck in her endeavor. The beginning of the ridge. After another 20 minutes of fun ridge climbing, I was on the Missouri summit again! There was one other climber with his dog when I arrived and he graciously took my picture with Belford in the background. I was hoping the weather would hold so that I could do a double summit today. Next stop, Belford, the little point on the far left. It was still pretty cloudy, so I took a quick picture of Mt. Huron to the west. I wasn't sure how many more good pictures the day will allow. Mt Huron from Missouri's summit. And as it was, I didn't take any more after that. I stayed only briefly on Missouri's summit and then descended back the way I came. After arriving at the Elkhorn Pass junction, the weather looked iffy at best but I didn't think lightening would really be too much of an issue. I started up to the Pass which is a fairly easy grade on alpine terrain. It eventually reaches the southern ridge of Mt. Belford and then follows that ridge up to the summit. It was here that I finally encountered some precipitation. Since I was now well above 13,000', it came in the form of snow and sleet. I immediately put my jacket with a hood on, but with the strong cross wind, the sleet stung my face which was still exposed. And while hiking in the storm was actually kind of an exciting experience, my hands and fingers were getting very cold. By this time I just wanted to get down off the mountain again. There was no one else on Belford's summit (surprise!?) so I quickly walked over it and descended right away on the standard route's side. When I was down around 13,000' again, jogging the steep switchbacks on the northwest slope, the heavens parted and blue skies opened up in many places. Weather in the mountains is an ever evolving thing. But all in all, it was a good day. And although I didn't get a lot of great pictures, I did enjoy another day in the mountains. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Missouri/Belford Combo

Missouri Mountain (14,067')
Mt. Belford (14,197')

August 26, 2014

Missouri Gulch Trailhead: 9,650'
Elevation Gain: 5,400'
Round-trip Length: ~12 miles

Climber: MtnHub

Introduction:

Two days ago a partner and I came off a rather disappointing climb up Challenger and Kit Carson. While we made it to both summits, it was cold and very cloudy and misty the entire time, so I got virtually no pictures and saw no sights. In addition, we became disoriented in the fog and got off route on our descent of Kit Carson and ended up climbing and re-climbing a couple of sketchy gullies until we found our way back.

In recent years, I've been very reluctant to do any more overnight camping but since it was almost a necessity to camp in order to bag these two peaks, I agreed to try it once again when the opportunity arose with a good partner. But this trip reinforced that reluctance. I just don't tolerate overnights well. I don't get any sleep at all, and the additional weight of carrying a full pack for the long approach wreak havoc to my back.

I was originally planning and prepared to do possibly two or three consecutive overnights if things went better. But the results of this first night along with a very dismal weather forecast for the next few days made me rethink this plan and look for a better alternative. Instead of investing in a motel room for 2-3 more nights near the Sangres without a strong prospect of getting in some new summits, I decided to just drive over to Buena Vista and stay with a friend for a few days.

Having this place as a base camp gave me the option of repeating a few good climbs in the Sawatch, and then if I would get rained out, I wouldn't risk a lot of expense or long drives.

The Climb:

For several years I had been thinking about repeating Missouri. I'd only done it once before and I was anxious to do the long ridge climb again. I guess I was saving it as a backup climb for just such a time. The weather forecast was about a 40% chance of rain, so I knew the odds were pretty good for seeing some kind of precipitation during the day. I left prepared for it.

There were a few clouds in the sky when I started on the trail at 0540, but I was also encouraged to see a few stars poking through in places. I quickly overtook a young couple from CA on the trail who planned to do Belford. In general I felt pretty good, and my back was feeling much better now that I was only carrying my day pack again.

I reached the old ruins of the cabin shortly after dawn.

Very soon thereafter the summit of Mt. Belford came into view. I could see a dusting of snow on its top.

Belford has a little dusting of snow on its peak.

When I got out of the trees, it became windy and downright chilly. The only shirt that I normally climb in is my long-sleeved capilene 14ers.com shirt. If I'm moving steadily, the work of climbing usually keeps my body core warm enough despite the temperature, and it also provides sun protection if it is warm and sunny out. But I found I needed both my long-sleeved undershirt as well as my fleece pullover to keep the chill out. I also put my mittens on as the tips of my fingers were starting to go numb.

I came to the trail junction and took a right on the branch to Missouri. After climbing a bit farther into the gulch, Missouri Mountain finally came into view. It is an impressive sprawl of a mountain with a long, high ridge to its summit.

As this vacation was much later than when I've usually been to CO, I was hoping I would possibly see some leaf turning before I headed back home later next month. With all the cool, wet weather CO was experiencing, there was already evidence that I might not be disappointed.

A little fall coloring is starting to show.

Elkhorn Pass was just ahead. I scanned the skies and there were lots of clouds, but it was not entirely overcast. If the weather held out, I was thinking of possibly continuing up the back route of Belford on my return. I had only done the standard route up Belford and this trail would be new to me. I planned to simply see how things looked when I returned to this point again.

At the trail junction, I took the trail to the right which switchbacks up a hill.

The junction to Elkhorn Pass is getting close.

The trail eventually skirts along the side of Point 13,784' aiming for a saddle between it and the northwest end of Missouri's summit ridge.

The wind picked up and was now becoming very annoying. I was having difficulty keeping the tips of my fingers warm. At the saddle there is a large cairn marking the ridge trail and I took a moment to rest, refuel, take a few swigs of water, and rub my hands together to keep them warm.

Trail junction cairn at the top of the ridge.

I looked up the trail along the ridge. It is about 3/4 mile to the actual summit, but this is the part of any climb that I truly enjoy. Just after I started up the ridge, I met a trail runner coming down. She was attempting a Nolan's 14 run. We chatted briefly before she asked me to take her picture with a backpack emblem displaying her sponsor. I gladly complied and wished her luck in her endeavor.

After another 20 minutes of fun ridge climbing, I was on the Missouri summit again! There was one other climber with his dog when I arrived and he graciously took my picture with Belford in the background. I was hoping the weather would hold so that I could do a double summit today.

Next stop, Belford, the little point on the far left.

It was still pretty cloudy, so I took a quick picture of Mt. Huron to the west. I wasn't sure how many more good pictures the day will allow.

And as it was, I didn't take any more after that. I stayed only briefly on Missouri's summit and then descended back the way I came. After arriving at the Elkhorn Pass junction, the weather looked iffy at best but I didn't think lightening would really be too much of an issue. I started up to the Pass which is a fairly easy grade on alpine terrain. It eventually reaches the southern ridge of Mt. Belford and then follows that ridge up to the summit.

It was here that I finally encountered some precipitation. Since I was now well above 13,000', it came in the form of snow and sleet. I immediately put my jacket with a hood on, but with the strong cross wind, the sleet stung my face which was still exposed. And while hiking in the storm was actually kind of an exciting experience, my hands and fingers were getting very cold. By this time I just wanted to get down off the mountain again.

There was no one else on Belford's summit (surprise!?) so I quickly walked over it and descended right away on the standard route's side. When I was down around 13,000' again, jogging the steep switchbacks on the northwest slope, the heavens parted and blue skies opened up in many places. Weather in the mountains is an ever evolving thing.

But all in all, it was a good day. And although I didn't get a lot of great pictures, I did enjoy another day in the mountains.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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Missouri/Belford Combo

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