Scramblin Scout and I continued our unorganized but very satisfying and relaxing trip around Colorado by heading back to the Sawatch and towards the Collegiate peaks.

Our goal was to spend the afternoon hiking up the Missouri Gulch Trail, then spend the night in the basin beneath Belford, and then attempt to summit Belford and perhaps Oxford as well, the following morning. We chose this based on Jeffs and Barrys recommendation when we were all on the summit of Democrat. Jeff told us that the climb up Belford would be a nice relaxing one and that there was enough water up the trail to not have to worry about packing more than a liter in to start.

The road to the trailhead is dirt and gravel, but is easily navigable for even my 2WD, low clearance, Mitsubishi Lancer. Along the road, all the way up to the trailhead, are great campsites that run along the mountain stream that comes rushing down. For literally miles along the road there are these unofficial and free campsites that are easy to access. I was fully impressed by the area and its beauty and in the future I hope to come back and spend some days camping below the road and fishing the stream. This helped raise my opinion of the Collegiate Peaks and their beauty.

The trailhead is very well marked and very obvious. The parking area is large and has vault toilets that on this day were in good condition and clean. There is an information sign (three really) at the TH that provides a good amount of info and even a large map of the three peaks ( Belford, Oxford, and Missouri) up the trail. S Scout and I began to sort through our gear bags and our packs in preparation for the hike in. We met a climber who was just returning from bagging both Belford and Oxford. He said it made for a long and tiring day and that we had the right idea by hiking in and spending the night at a base camp before summiting. After getting our packs in order we headed up the trail.

You immediately cross a bridge that the stream rushes under. It was flowing fast and high on this day. A product of the melt from the record snows CO had received this past winter. From here you start up. Gently at first. You will come across a small grave surrounded by a little white picket fence. It is the gravesite of an infant who died there in the late 1800’s when his father was a miner there. After that you begin a series of switchbacks that Roach refers to as memorable. S Scout and I couldn’t agree more. The switchbacks were numerous and they were long and steep. I was reminded of Willow Lake Trail and it’s 63 switchbacks. Though there were not as many switchbacks, Missouri Gulch Trails seemed longer and steeper to me at the time and I hoped the payoff would be rewarding, as Willow Lake had most definitely been.




Zigging and zagging our way up the mountain, we finally left the long arduous section behind and came along side a mountain stream. It was perhaps 12 feet across. Not wide by any means, but flowing hard. There were a series of logs stacked side by side and spanning the stream. This is where you are to cross. The crossing isnt really difficult, but the fact that the two logs on your left hand side bend and bow make it awkward and encourage cautious steps. After this crossing, there is immediately another. This one is smaller and is easy to cross by stepping along a series of rocks. S Scout and I stopped here and had a snack and filled our hydration systems with more water. We continued up the trail, slowly climbing through a series of short switchbacks. All the while we would turn to look back and take in the view behind us. It was a stunning one, and I was beginning to appreciate this area more with each and every foot of elevation we gained.





We could here the stream rushing below us on our right, and eventually it came into view. It was fast and white and crashing. Its roar was loud and it’s power inspiring.

We were drawing ever loser to tree line. We saw one camp in the trees to our right. Then another and another. These were accompanied by an old cabin that had collapsed. This area held a great many spots to pitch a tent, and what appeared to be decent access to the stream. We pushed forward, however, hoping to find a spot above tree line that was less crowded and that still provided easy access to the water. After clearing tree line, and crossing through muddy trails and over snow covered sections, we found ourselves a nice spot in the basin, in the tundra below Belfords ridge. It was a beautiful site affording stunning views and plenty of nearby water access.



We pitched S Scouts tent and then my tarp and I cooked dinner (ramen and tuna) on my White Box Stove. S Scout spent time fiddling with a stick and messing with the snowfields around us. We were very content. We both pounded down the ramen and tuna with exuberance, and praised its taste. We had a good amount of time to relax and enjoy the scene around us. We had been in Colorado for over a week now and summitted 11 mountains between the two of us. We no longer felt the need to rush about or any sense of nervousness or excitement. We were simply relaxed.

We eventually turned in as it grew darker and colder. we both slept well that night, and keeping with our new philosophy, we awaoke around sunrise and got our daypacks ready and started working our way up Belford.

The hike/climb of Belford is one a casual one. it seemed to me to be one of the quicker summits to attain even though S Scout and I took many breaks. Early on you encounter a number of short switchbacks that slash across the earliest and steepest portion of the ridge. You can see varying trails crossing the switchbacks, and it is common along the entire climb to see varied established routes up the mountain. The terrain is very easy in comparison to other mountains. The trail, and it is just that....literally a trail as opposed to simply cairns, nearly goes all the way to the summit proper.

The trail is uneventful. It features the standard switchbacks. it is not particularly rocky. It is more hard packed dirt and scree. this is of little issue on the way to the summit, but on the way down one might waish to pay a bit more attention to each step.There is a false summit that you will be eyeing the entire route up. when you do finally reach it you will be greeted by wonderful views of the the Sawtach for 360 degrees. The views of Missouri and it\\\'s treacherous East ridge.





S Scout and I took a breather here and admired the views and talked about Missouri and the ridge for a while. We then headed towards the summit which was now very near. There are a few paths up the summit block depending on the difficulty you would prefer. Most are walks for the most part, but if you were so inclined you could perhaps put together a fun scramble. From the summit you get a wonderful view of the Oxford and the ridge connecting it and Belford. This is an enjoyable and relaxing climb and it can be a crowded one as well. The views alone make it worthwhile.