5.0 mi to summit
15.6 mi total
9,089 ft start
14,196 ft max
7,532 ft gain
6 hr 54 min to summit
15 hr 1 min total
We weren't sure how we'd do at 14k, so we started super early in the morning and made our way to Mount Belford via the NW ridge, then traversed over to Mount Oxford. We weren't very fast, but we made it. Instead of descending back down the steep ridge, we opted to descend the more gradual, but longer route to Elkhead Pass. Once past the pass, we had a discussion about Missouri Mountain. That was the next day's agenda, but neither of us were anxious to do the approach again. It was only another 1500 or so feet of gain...why not?! We did it (extremely slowly) and were the last people off of the mountain today. Luckily, we had perfect weather all day long. We saw a lone mountain goat on our way up Belford, which became our spirit animal for the day.
stream crossing, rockfall/loose rock
trekking poles, GPS device