Mt Belford (14,197) and Mt Oxford (14,153) by Brian Schultz Thursday September 18, 1997
The dreary overcast morning didn't do much for my mood when I left Buena Vista for Vicksburg. The parking lot for the Missouri Gulch trailhead was virtually empty, unlike this past summer when I drove by and parking was at a premium. I no sooner stepped out of the car and it began drizzling, making the already cool morning colder yet. I saw two other guys putting their packs on who likewise were going for Belford and Oxford. Having others on the trail sounded good to me. My pack was ready and when they left, I was close behind them, departing officially at 7:00.
There was a nice bridge to cross the creek but it didn't take long before the trail started switchbacking steeply on its way to Missouri Gulch. I struck up a conversation with the two guys, finding out that Tim and Bruce were from Colorado Springs and both shared an interest in the fourteeners, Tim more so than Bruce. Tim and I shared nearly the same fourteener count but neither of us had done a class 4 climb. Those two had climbed the Crestone Needle and I'd climbed Wetterhorn, so we filled each other in with details, etc. I was having some difficulty as we gained elevation on the switchbacks, definitely not adjusted to the altitude even after hiking Pikes Peak yesterday. Bruce was not feeling well and I was glad to stop when they did. The rain quit just below timberline and once in the open, Bruce urged us to go on while he took a more leisurely pace.
Tim was reluctant to leave him on his own but Bruce insisted so we pushed on and soon reached Belford's shoulder. The trail was excellent and as we started up we were hit with incredibly strong winds. I thought the winds on Massive this summer were strong but they paled in comparison to these. At times they actually pushed us up the trail, requiring effort to avoid being blown over! And it was freezing cold. We were prepared for the elements though and followed the switchbacking trail up, stopping for quick breaks- primarily for me to catch my breath. As we neared the summit Tim went on ahead and I stepped on top five minutes after him, at 10:45. The wind forced us to drop down on the other side so we could have a drink of water and warm up a bit. Tim decided to skip Oxford because of the winds and not knowing if Bruce was going to be okay.
After exchanging addresses, I set out for Oxford at 11:00 by descending Belford's face to reach the connecting ridge below. This shortcut was steep with very loose scree and rock. Not a smart choice- I only added to the erosion and I don't think I saved any time. When I reached the ridge the wind was still blowing but it was an easy walk up to Oxford's summit which I made at 12:10. I felt pretty good about making both summits but when I looked back at Belford it sure seemed a long ways away. No one else had signed the register before me and I left right away because the sky was still heavily overcast. On the way down from Oxford the wind finally quit. I trudged up the grueling ridge and stayed on it all the way back to Belford, getting there again at 1:25. No one was up there and I continued on- all downhill now- until stopping 30 minutes for a much needed rest and lunch. Others were going up Belford and one young guy had only a short sleeved shirt on, holding his arms to keep warm. No hat, coat or gloves- definitely unprepared.
The sky was clearing after my break and by the time I got into the trees it warmed up too. The switchbacks on the way down were killing my knees. I suffered all the way back to the car, finally getting there at 4:00. This hike was my biggest elevation gain in one day- over 5900 feet! Neither peak was particularly hard, but the elevation gain made for a long tiring day.
Total hike time- 9 hours (including 30 minute lunch)