Route Climbed: from Cloyses Lake 4x4 trailhead via West Ridge Date Climbed: August, 2002
Drove up to the Cloyses Lake 4x4 trailhead and, recovering from a chest cold, I very sensibly decided to charge up the West Ridge straight into... an asthma attack. I was joined on top by somebody in the middle of his Nolan's-14 quest: Matt Mahoney, I think.
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: July 4 ,1986
See my route description of the south ridge. We camped high in Missouri Gulch and returned from Iowa and Missouri in about 6 hours. The monsoon came in with an attitude that day and threatened our return from the Pass. One guy that passed our camp in the morning made it over Missouri, Iowa, Emerald and Unnamed 13,762' in one day - an impressive jaunt of about 22 miles and 7,500' in one day from the TH, according to his entry. That still impresses me.
Route Climbed: West Ridge from Cloyses Lake Date Climbed: July 1999
What a great area! We visited Iowa peak after Missouri later that morning.
Do be careful if you choose to drive through Clear Creek in high water. I drowned my Pathfinder on our way out. It took a long time for my exhaust system to drain.
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: 10.23.2004
Beautiful day to be above the trees! Got to hike this with a dear friend who was most inspiring and incouraging to go beyond what I had set out for. I got a little nervous when the rocks slid under my feet near the summit. We had gone off trail to avoid some deep snow drifts. I was not confident to continue. He could have made the summit easily without me but he was too gentleman to leave me behind. I'll try again without the snow or with proper gear next time!
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch-North Face Couloir ("C" maybe?) Date Climbed: October 17, 2004
I love hiking this time of year! There was not a sound other than the wind and an occasional chirp from a pika and the views (of course)...incredible! Began with blue skies, but eventually the wind kicked up and we hiked down in a light snow. Descended the standard route instead of the couloir. Note: crampons and ice axe came in handy at ~12,500, snowshoes would have been better for the knee deep snow on the ridge
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: September 2, 2000
Started from the Clohsey Lake 4WD trailhead, and climbed this one in about 5.5 hours. The trail was faint once we were on the west slope, but once we reached the ridge the route became apparent. Met alot of folks who came up from the other side along the ridgeline. Good views of Huron Peak and Mounts Belford and Oxford from here.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: September 26, 2004
What a beautiful hike this was, and it was a perfect day for hiking. The weather turned out great, and the scenery was breathtaking. It was such a shame that I forgot my camera!
Route Climbed: West Ridge from Cloyses Lake Date Climbed: September 26, 2004
A beautiful fall day. Summited with Amanda & Bill. We saw about 4 people on the summit while we were on our way up. Other than that, we had the mountain to ourselves. Incredibly beautiful scenery all the way up, which kept getting better the higher we got.
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: July 27, 2004
A real grind up to the basin. The trail through the basin is a pleasant hike followed by another grind up to the NW ridge. There is no marker where the Elkhead Pass trail splits to the right up the ridge, just turn right. The final approach is a fun down and up around some rock formations. Fantastic views from the top of the surrounding 14ers.
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September, 1994
Very distinctive ridge-top to this nice mountain. Definitely my favorite of the Missouri/Belford/Oxford trio. Wind was beginning to whip around on top, and later that night it snowed, with the wind really cranking the next day on Belford and Oxford. Climbed with Aaron Johnson and Mark Anderson--Mark had to return home, and so couldn't hang around for Belford and Oxford the next day.
Route Climbed: North Face Couloirs Date Climbed: June 20, 2004
Nice day, but the snow was very soft from a week of rain and warmer weather. Deep postholing until we reached about 13,100' in the couloir then it firmed up a bit, where it was somewhat shaded. Higer up, around 13,600, the postholing resumed where the snow was melting down to the rocks. Overall great hike, nice area, beautiful scenery.
Brian Kalet - Apr 7, 2005 5:43 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: September 26, 2004First summit before Oxford and Belford.
altitude14er - Mar 20, 2005 7:59 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch trailhead Date Climbed: 09/2004This climb offers good fall color in the fall
Colorado Susan - Mar 16, 2005 12:19 am
Route Climbed: North Face Couloirs Date Climbed: June 20, 2004A great day.
Ratballs - Feb 22, 2005 4:51 pm
Route Climbed: from Cloyses Lake 4x4 trailhead via West Ridge Date Climbed: August, 2002Drove up to the Cloyses Lake 4x4 trailhead and, recovering from a chest cold, I very sensibly decided to charge up the West Ridge straight into... an asthma attack. I was joined on top by somebody in the middle of his Nolan's-14 quest: Matt Mahoney, I think.
CBakwin - Feb 19, 2005 6:43 pm
Date Climbed: summer of '72on a trip to Belford and Oxford.
ColoradoScott - Feb 3, 2005 5:18 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: July 4 ,1986See my route description of the south ridge. We camped high in Missouri Gulch and returned from Iowa and Missouri in about 6 hours. The monsoon came in with an attitude that day and threatened our return from the Pass. One guy that passed our camp in the morning made it over Missouri, Iowa, Emerald and Unnamed 13,762' in one day - an impressive jaunt of about 22 miles and 7,500' in one day from the TH, according to his entry. That still impresses me.
bakcast - Dec 12, 2004 2:03 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge from Cloyses Lake Date Climbed: July 1999What a great area! We visited Iowa peak after Missouri later that morning.
Do be careful if you choose to drive through Clear Creek in high water. I drowned my Pathfinder on our way out. It took a long time for my exhaust system to drain.
Helga - Oct 24, 2004 6:19 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: 10.23.2004Beautiful day to be above the trees! Got to hike this with a dear friend who was most inspiring and incouraging to go beyond what I had set out for. I got a little nervous when the rocks slid under my feet near the summit. We had gone off trail to avoid some deep snow drifts. I was not confident to continue. He could have made the summit easily without me but he was too gentleman to leave me behind. I'll try again without the snow or with proper gear next time!
Natasha - Oct 18, 2004 4:12 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch-North Face Couloir ("C" maybe?) Date Climbed: October 17, 2004I love hiking this time of year! There was not a sound other than the wind and an occasional chirp from a pika and the views (of course)...incredible! Began with blue skies, but eventually the wind kicked up and we hiked down in a light snow. Descended the standard route instead of the couloir. Note: crampons and ice axe came in handy at ~12,500, snowshoes would have been better for the knee deep snow on the ridge
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 9:10 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: September 2, 2000Started from the Clohsey Lake 4WD trailhead, and climbed this one in about 5.5 hours. The trail was faint once we were on the west slope, but once we reached the ridge the route became apparent. Met alot of folks who came up from the other side along the ridgeline. Good views of Huron Peak and Mounts Belford and Oxford from here.
ashumack - Sep 27, 2004 11:58 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: September 26, 2004What a beautiful hike this was, and it was a perfect day for hiking. The weather turned out great, and the scenery was breathtaking. It was such a shame that I forgot my camera!
mmoerk - Sep 27, 2004 6:24 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge from Cloyses Lake Date Climbed: September 26, 2004A beautiful fall day. Summited with Amanda & Bill. We saw about 4 people on the summit while we were on our way up. Other than that, we had the mountain to ourselves. Incredibly beautiful scenery all the way up, which kept getting better the higher we got.
Ed F - Aug 29, 2004 9:13 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge from Cloyses Lake Date Climbed: August 29, 2004Beautiful Colorado blue sky day. Easy climb in perfect solitude.
Larry V - Aug 25, 2004 11:26 pm
Route Climbed: northwest ridge, from Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: July 1996Nice weather this day. Climbed Belford afterwards. Aaron also climbed Oxford same day.
mtnhiker13 - Aug 16, 2004 9:42 am
Route Climbed: Cloyses Lake Date Climbed: August 14, 2004Very nice climb - we had wonderful weather. Did this mountain in combination with Iowa and Emerald. There were lots of people on this mountain.
odysseus - Aug 2, 2004 2:55 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: July 27, 2004A real grind up to the basin. The trail through the basin is a pleasant hike followed by another grind up to the NW ridge. There is no marker where the Elkhead Pass trail splits to the right up the ridge, just turn right. The final approach is a fun down and up around some rock formations. Fantastic views from the top of the surrounding 14ers.
Saintgrizzly - Jul 27, 2004 11:17 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September, 1994Very distinctive ridge-top to this nice mountain. Definitely my favorite of the Missouri/Belford/Oxford trio. Wind was beginning to whip around on top, and later that night it snowed, with the wind really cranking the next day on Belford and Oxford. Climbed with Aaron Johnson and Mark Anderson--Mark had to return home, and so couldn't hang around for Belford and Oxford the next day.
scvanm - Jul 17, 2004 7:10 pm
Route Climbed: NW Ridge - North Face "C" Couloir Descent Date Climbed: July 15, 2004Very fun climb. We tried for Oxford and Belford also but got turned back by weather.
Chris - Jun 21, 2004 12:52 am
Route Climbed: North Face Couloirs Date Climbed: June 20, 2004Nice day, but the snow was very soft from a week of rain and warmer weather. Deep postholing until we reached about 13,100' in the couloir then it firmed up a bit, where it was somewhat shaded. Higer up, around 13,600, the postholing resumed where the snow was melting down to the rocks. Overall great hike, nice area, beautiful scenery.
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:10 pm
Route Climbed: N ridge Date Climbed: june 98made my own route, leaving elk head early. nice ridge walk,and the most interesting of the 3 14ers from this basin.