Route Climbed: West Slope / Ridge Date Climbed: July 14, 2000
Hiked up the 2.5 miles to the foot of Belford to camp overnight. The next morning, we ascended Belford and then did the traverse to Oxford. Very nice views from the top of both peaks.
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Pine Creek Date Climbed: August 14, 2004
3 hours of straight uphill bushwack and scramble. We made it! I actually enjoyed the non standard route. We had great weather and were able to summit Belford also. Returned via Elkhead pass and connected back up with the Pine Creek trail to camp. Great loop if you have the time and weather!
Route Climbed: connecting ridge from Belford Date Climbed: August 8, 2004
Long day- the re-ascent to Belford was pretty tiring, and we took about 10 hours total from the Missouri Gultch trailhead (one member of our party had some knee problems on the descents, but we weren't moving as fast as usual at any rate).
Spectacular weather the entire day- cloudless skies (even in the afternoon!), a little windy on the summits, and not too crowded.
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September, 1994
Climbed this mountain, along with Belford, in a relatively severe and cold wind storm. Did the thing with Aaron Johnson, and we did NOT hang around on the summits! Including Missouri Mountain these three make for a nice day or two in the mountains...
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: June 2004
Long day. Took 8 hours to do both Belford and Oxford. I saw clouds starting to build while on the summit of Oxford (not good). It seemed to take forever to get back to Belford. I came down the West Slopes route (sort of) instead of going back over Belford. It made for a quicker descent since the clouds seemed to be threatening but probably not advisable under better conditions.
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Elkhead Basin Date Climbed: 07/02/04
Whew, what a day. Glad I made it. I really had my doubts at some times. I have to take more time to acclimate myself here. We did Belford last year and didn't have the time nor the inclination to do Oxford. I'm kicking myself now that we didn't! Camped in the night before to around 12,000 (first night out in CO from 598' in IL). Thought I was going to die once or twice (just feeling sorry for myself!)--it makes the summit all the more rewarding when you have to overcome the obstacles of bad attitude and the like, doesn't it?
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Elk Head Basin Date Climbed: 7/2/04
A long hike up the Missouri Gulch and then around the Elk Head Basin. We took the more senic route since we tagged Belford last Sept.. The ridge traverse was a little more of an undertaking than I had thought. It is a steep descent off of Belford on good rock and then a long shallow climb back up Oxford. The Oxford summit is the middle peak as you approach the three Oxford peaks. A fun, but long day.
Route Climbed: From Belford 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 Oxfonian about it. Geez, I was jaded, that summer: too much teaching and too much climbing, too fast, and too solo.
I took a quick jaunt to Oxford from Belford. I remember that the ridge walk was long, as windy as all get out, and that there was a rather attractive view to the south, though over what, I can't recall now. I also remember not being able to find the summit--kinda disappointing on a mountain in clear weather. I returned over Elkhead Pass between Belford and Missouri--that area was quite pretty, and I remember looking at the rather rugged-ridge (say that three time fast!) up to Missouri and thinking, "someday."
Route Climbed: Belford traverse Date Climbed: June 2003
All three in a day made all the talk about these "easy" peaks seem a little off, but there really isn't anything tough about them individually...it's just when you decide to hike all three that they get your attention! It was well worth it - a great day in the mountains with perfect sunny weather.
Route Climbed: up over Belford Date Climbed: September 21, 2002
after Missouri, Iowa, Emerald, and Belford, Oxford was difficult for me. I don't think Oxford has much character. Not a big fan. To me, Oxford is the second least favorite mountain in CO after Mount Sherman. Maybe I was too tired to enjoy it?
Route Climbed: From Vicksburg Via Belford Date Climbed: July 4,2001
This out and back route proved to be a real burly climb at just under 6,000 feet of elevation gain with a round trip distance of 9.5 miles! Zach, Erica and I knocked these two off in just over 7 hours
ColoradoScott - Feb 4, 2005 11:38 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge from Belford Date Climbed: June 19, 1989We climbed both by the standard routes from a high camp in Missouri Gulch
Richrat - Jan 30, 2005 8:45 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Trail Date Climbed: August 2001I climbed Belford and Oxford on this trip.
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 10:12 am
Route Climbed: West Slope / Ridge Date Climbed: July 14, 2000Hiked up the 2.5 miles to the foot of Belford to camp overnight. The next morning, we ascended Belford and then did the traverse to Oxford. Very nice views from the top of both peaks.
scvanm - Sep 13, 2004 11:10 pm
Route Climbed: Over Belford Date Climbed: Sept 12th 2004On our return over Belford we got rained on, snowed on, and walked through some 45-50 MPH winds. (Josh, CJ)
Larry V - Aug 26, 2004 12:01 am
Route Climbed: via Belford Date Climbed: August 1993Snow on top. Climbed with Ron, Ryan, Kristen. Didn't get any photos.
volda2000 - Aug 17, 2004 10:20 am
Route Climbed: South Ridge from Pine Creek Date Climbed: August 14, 20043 hours of straight uphill bushwack and scramble. We made it! I actually enjoyed the non standard route. We had great weather and were able to summit Belford also. Returned via Elkhead pass and connected back up with the Pine Creek trail to camp. Great loop if you have the time and weather!
dp - Aug 10, 2004 1:12 pm
Route Climbed: connecting ridge from Belford Date Climbed: August 8, 2004Long day- the re-ascent to Belford was pretty tiring, and we took about 10 hours total from the Missouri Gultch trailhead (one member of our party had some knee problems on the descents, but we weren't moving as fast as usual at any rate).
Spectacular weather the entire day- cloudless skies (even in the afternoon!), a little windy on the summits, and not too crowded.
Saintgrizzly - Jul 27, 2004 11:23 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September, 1994Climbed this mountain, along with Belford, in a relatively severe and cold wind storm. Did the thing with Aaron Johnson, and we did NOT hang around on the summits! Including Missouri Mountain these three make for a nice day or two in the mountains...
jrf - Jul 17, 2004 3:46 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: June 2004Long day. Took 8 hours to do both Belford and Oxford. I saw clouds starting to build while on the summit of Oxford (not good). It seemed to take forever to get back to Belford. I came down the West Slopes route (sort of) instead of going back over Belford. It made for a quicker descent since the clouds seemed to be threatening but probably not advisable under better conditions.
Speedy - Jul 16, 2004 12:08 am
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Elkhead Basin Date Climbed: 07/02/04Whew, what a day. Glad I made it. I really had my doubts at some times. I have to take more time to acclimate myself here. We did Belford last year and didn't have the time nor the inclination to do Oxford. I'm kicking myself now that we didn't! Camped in the night before to around 12,000 (first night out in CO from 598' in IL). Thought I was going to die once or twice (just feeling sorry for myself!)--it makes the summit all the more rewarding when you have to overcome the obstacles of bad attitude and the like, doesn't it?
Bryan W - Jul 13, 2004 11:16 am
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch/Elk Head Basin Date Climbed: 7/2/04A long hike up the Missouri Gulch and then around the Elk Head Basin. We took the more senic route since we tagged Belford last Sept.. The ridge traverse was a little more of an undertaking than I had thought. It is a steep descent off of Belford on good rock and then a long shallow climb back up Oxford. The Oxford summit is the middle peak as you approach the three Oxford peaks. A fun, but long day.
Ratballs - Jun 22, 2004 8:51 pm
Route Climbed: From Belford 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 Oxfonian about it. Geez, I was jaded, that summer: too much teaching and too much climbing, too fast, and too solo.
I took a quick jaunt to Oxford from Belford. I remember that the ridge walk was long, as windy as all get out, and that there was a rather attractive view to the south, though over what, I can't recall now. I also remember not being able to find the summit--kinda disappointing on a mountain in clear weather. I returned over Elkhead Pass between Belford and Missouri--that area was quite pretty, and I remember looking at the rather rugged-ridge (say that three time fast!) up to Missouri and thinking, "someday."
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:13 pm
Route Climbed: bushwhacked from pine creek Date Climbed: june 99lightning kept me off the first time, so made my own route from the south. thick and steep, but empty of other people.
sbkelley - May 12, 2004 6:20 pm
Route Climbed: Belford traverse Date Climbed: June 2003All three in a day made all the talk about these "easy" peaks seem a little off, but there really isn't anything tough about them individually...it's just when you decide to hike all three that they get your attention! It was well worth it - a great day in the mountains with perfect sunny weather.
Ryan Kowalski - Apr 19, 2004 4:30 pm
Route Climbed: up over Belford Date Climbed: September 21, 2002after Missouri, Iowa, Emerald, and Belford, Oxford was difficult for me. I don't think Oxford has much character. Not a big fan. To me, Oxford is the second least favorite mountain in CO after Mount Sherman. Maybe I was too tired to enjoy it?
coloradoiceclimber - Apr 10, 2004 4:42 pm
Route Climbed: From Vicksburg Via Belford Date Climbed: July 4,2001This out and back route proved to be a real burly climb at just under 6,000 feet of elevation gain with a round trip distance of 9.5 miles! Zach, Erica and I knocked these two off in just over 7 hours
Bill562 - Feb 16, 2004 11:10 am
Route Climbed: Pine Creek to Elk Head Pass Date Climbed: July 23, 2003Summit almost too close to touch from Belford summit, bad weather drove me back down. Better safe than sorry.
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 7:11 pm
Route Climbed: West ridge from Belford Date Climbed: July 2003It's a long slog over the ridge and back - make sure you leave early enough to avoid thunderstorms.
bdewoody - Dec 3, 2003 6:39 pm
Route Climbed: Montgomery Reservoir Date Climbed: August, 2002Might as well climb all four.
mtnhiker13 - Sep 15, 2003 10:27 am
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch Date Climbed: 9/14/2003Climbed after Belford. Was a quick traverse and back. Some snow on the downclimb from Belford to watch out for, it was getting pretty icy.
We had a wonderdul day for weather- very clear and crisp with very little wind. A great climb.