Climbing with Bob Banner Photo

Mt Oxford

September 17, 2000 - Connecting ridge from Mount Belford

 

There is no stretch of trail that I hate in Colorado as much as the switchbacks that lead from Vicksburg trailhead to the hanging valley below Mount Belford and Missouri Mountain.  I found myself walking them once again in penance for not climbing Oxford when I made it to the top of Belford earlier in the year.  However, on my behalf, remember I did not score Oxford because I was smart enough to turn around in the face of an oncoming storm, a lesson learned.

I made the climb to the summit of Belford, this time without the threat of weather and gazed across the gap to Oxford.  The route is obvious, downclimb the flank of Belford just a bit, drop down into the saddle, some steep sections, cross the flats and then hike to the summit of Oxford.  Easy enough and I was early enough on this  fall weekend day to be the first across and solo on the summit.  I did, however, pass some folks at the low of the saddle on the return and then perhaps another dozen as I took the long route back to the base of Belford, via Elkhead Pass.  This long route also gave me the chance to look at the route up Missouri Mountain, yes another days climb because I was kind of on the tired side and just did not want any more uphills on that day.  The climb did not look bad, but I would have to again climb those damn switchbacks!