The ascent was a calf burner as the climb to the ridge is steep! Once on the ridge, it is a ways to the main summit, but a pretty cool traverse. The descent was brutal as the steep slope had wet grass and we all slip many times.
Lovely alpine stroll from Emerald to Missouri via Iowa. I meant to continue with Oxford and Belford but I have no balls when it comes to afternoon thunderstorms in Colorado. A fast glissade down Missouri took me out of the danger zone well before lightning struck and my judgement scored a point! No balls it is!
Route Climbed: From Iowa, Descended West Ridge Date Climbed: 10 Sep 2005
Continued to Missouri from Iowa. The ridge was blasted by fierce winds. I had trouble walking and was getting pelted by small rocks rustled up by the wind. The summit was quiet - I only saw three other people all day on the mountain and they were at quite a distance. I descended into the basin to the west rather than staying on the West Ridge which involved some unpleasant talus, but I was on the way down so it didn't matter too much. The entire traverse of Emerald, Iowa, and Missouri took me about 5hrs or so.
Route Climbed: West Ridge (From just below Cloyses Lake) Date Climbed: September 10, 2005
We believe our GPS system "wronged" us as it said that we did 1,300 vertical in just over a half mile... it was steep, I suppose that could be right?! Snow dusted, collected, and iced some of the rock on the ridge and the winds were brutally cold- but it was a great day for a 1st timer, a 20th ascenter, a "marathon" runner, and I myself as I closed out the Collegiates and reached the official 14er halfway point!
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: 21 August 05
3:00 up, up, up from the TH. There was a faint dusting of snow and a little ice on the west side of the ridge when I got there around 0815. Actually, I think the going was a touch easier below the summit towers because the dirt was cemented together. I thought the cool quartzite block 5m S and below the summit was a dirty snow bank until I went to look at it. :-)
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: August 13, 2005
Early start for this long trail; determined to reach summit with Larry, since we had failed in October unprepared for snow. Challenging summit compared to other 14ers but beautiful overall. The mountain makes you earn your way up! We got into some snow in the gulch on the way back and sure were glad to be off the summit at that point and time. It rained most of the way back.
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: August 1, 2005
We climbed up from Missouri Gulch, leaving our overnight gear cached at the junction, then continued up to the saddle. The ridgeline was fun and the scrambling at the end was enjoyable. Great climb and first of three in two days.
Route Climbed: North Ridge Date Climbed: July 30, 2005
We ascended the north ridge after camping by the remains of the old cabin just below treeline on the Missouri gulch trail. After ascending we descended most westerly chute described in Roach's 14ers. From there it was on to Oxford and then Belford. Beautiful weather, great day.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: June 24, 2005
I reached the summit of Missouri with my cousins Shane and Trent after a long jaunt across the west ridge. This is number eleven on the 14er list. Met a group from Colorado Springs on the way up.
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH, northwest ridge Date Climbed: July 13, 2005
A gorgeous hike - Missouri Gulch is beautiful - especially at sunrise. My favorite 14er yet. Plus, the early snow was great - glissaded down 900 vertical feet from the summit to the gulch below. Then on to Belford... trip report to come soon
Route Climbed: North Face Date Climbed: May 28, 2005
Saturday was perfect. The snow was in great shape and the weather was good with just a few clouds and snowflakes blowing through. I opted for a line just right (east) of the summit because it was more shaded, had less rockfall and better snow, and looked more direct. I topped out about 30 yds from the summit. The skiing was something less than "extreme" -- just a few turns at 40 degrees or so on excellent spring snow, but fun and quite beautiful. I lost my spare socks on the slog out. Bummer.
Hit this route this week! The more direct routes require an earlier start, as they get a surprisingly early sunhit.
srclimb1 - Feb 22, 2006 6:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2005
Missouri Mountain2 weeks after my 1st 14er, and it's # 3. The route up Elk Head Pass is beautiful, and once up on the ridge it gets nice.
Joel Hopper - Feb 20, 2006 5:58 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: June 2004This one turned out to be an exercise in route-finding once we reached the talus. Climbed with Tom Trent.
Kiefer - Jan 28, 2006 1:42 am
Route Climbed: West ridge Date Climbed: August 2001Like Belford, kind of boring until you attain the upper ridge. Just I and my roommate this day.
chicagotransplant - Jan 9, 2006 8:17 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 21, 2004Even in August that creek crossing is still deep!
1mvertical - Jan 6, 2006 1:35 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: July 2002The ascent was a calf burner as the climb to the ridge is steep! Once on the ridge, it is a ways to the main summit, but a pretty cool traverse. The descent was brutal as the steep slope had wet grass and we all slip many times.
colint - Dec 31, 2005 12:14 am
Route Climbed: E I W Date Climbed: June 2005Lovely alpine stroll from Emerald to Missouri via Iowa. I meant to continue with Oxford and Belford but I have no balls when it comes to afternoon thunderstorms in Colorado. A fast glissade down Missouri took me out of the danger zone well before lightning struck and my judgement scored a point! No balls it is!
indianhillsted - Oct 28, 2005 5:23 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: July 2002Hiked in Friday night, summited Saturday. First bivy
bc44caesar - Sep 12, 2005 8:47 pm
Route Climbed: From Iowa, Descended West Ridge Date Climbed: 10 Sep 2005Continued to Missouri from Iowa. The ridge was blasted by fierce winds. I had trouble walking and was getting pelted by small rocks rustled up by the wind. The summit was quiet - I only saw three other people all day on the mountain and they were at quite a distance. I descended into the basin to the west rather than staying on the West Ridge which involved some unpleasant talus, but I was on the way down so it didn't matter too much. The entire traverse of Emerald, Iowa, and Missouri took me about 5hrs or so.
ktiffany22 - Sep 11, 2005 12:25 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge (From just below Cloyses Lake) Date Climbed: September 10, 2005We believe our GPS system "wronged" us as it said that we did 1,300 vertical in just over a half mile... it was steep, I suppose that could be right?! Snow dusted, collected, and iced some of the rock on the ridge and the winds were brutally cold- but it was a great day for a 1st timer, a 20th ascenter, a "marathon" runner, and I myself as I closed out the Collegiates and reached the official 14er halfway point!
Mike Mc - Aug 28, 2005 10:46 pm
Route Climbed: North Face Couloirs Date Climbed: August 2004This was my first class 3 accent. I do not recommend climbing this route when it is all scree.
mntnplay - Aug 21, 2005 6:58 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest Ridge Date Climbed: 21 August 053:00 up, up, up from the TH. There was a faint dusting of snow and a little ice on the west side of the ridge when I got there around 0815. Actually, I think the going was a touch easier below the summit towers because the dirt was cemented together. I thought the cool quartzite block 5m S and below the summit was a dirty snow bank until I went to look at it. :-)
Helga - Aug 14, 2005 10:54 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: August 13, 2005Early start for this long trail; determined to reach summit with Larry, since we had failed in October unprepared for snow. Challenging summit compared to other 14ers but beautiful overall. The mountain makes you earn your way up! We got into some snow in the gulch on the way back and sure were glad to be off the summit at that point and time. It rained most of the way back.
kjkrow - Aug 9, 2005 4:42 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH Date Climbed: August 1, 2005We climbed up from Missouri Gulch, leaving our overnight gear cached at the junction, then continued up to the saddle. The ridgeline was fun and the scrambling at the end was enjoyable. Great climb and first of three in two days.
pjenson05 - Aug 8, 2005 10:36 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge from Cloyses lake Date Climbed: August 6, 2005This route is pretty tough. There is a lot of finding your own way. I suggest gaining the ridge early rather trying to cut a diagonal. Good climb.
Andrew McKenzie - Jul 31, 2005 5:54 pm
Route Climbed: North Ridge Date Climbed: July 30, 2005We ascended the north ridge after camping by the remains of the old cabin just below treeline on the Missouri gulch trail. After ascending we descended most westerly chute described in Roach's 14ers. From there it was on to Oxford and then Belford. Beautiful weather, great day.
alpine master - Jul 24, 2005 5:22 pm
Route Climbed: West ridge Date Climbed: Oct 17th 2003The road to this TH was brutal. Cool hike when it got to the ridge.
jnoffsinger - Jul 17, 2005 10:55 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: June 24, 2005I reached the summit of Missouri with my cousins Shane and Trent after a long jaunt across the west ridge. This is number eleven on the 14er list. Met a group from Colorado Springs on the way up.
skiitswitch - Jul 14, 2005 9:51 pm
Route Climbed: Missouri Gulch TH, northwest ridge Date Climbed: July 13, 2005A gorgeous hike - Missouri Gulch is beautiful - especially at sunrise. My favorite 14er yet. Plus, the early snow was great - glissaded down 900 vertical feet from the summit to the gulch below. Then on to Belford... trip report to come soon
doumall - Jul 13, 2005 3:08 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: July, 27 200427th 14er!
jwproulx - May 31, 2005 6:57 pm
Route Climbed: North Face Date Climbed: May 28, 2005Saturday was perfect. The snow was in great shape and the weather was good with just a few clouds and snowflakes blowing through. I opted for a line just right (east) of the summit because it was more shaded, had less rockfall and better snow, and looked more direct. I topped out about 30 yds from the summit. The skiing was something less than "extreme" -- just a few turns at 40 degrees or so on excellent spring snow, but fun and quite beautiful. I lost my spare socks on the slog out. Bummer.
Hit this route this week! The more direct routes require an earlier start, as they get a surprisingly early sunhit.