With temperatures in the low 40s, we layered up and graciously noted at least one other car in the parking lot. We set off on the Missouri Gulch Trail at 4am, guided by the light from our headlamps. Before long, we began shedding layers upon climbing a series of switchbacks through steep forest. We left the switchbacks at 10,400' and eventually crossed to the east side of Missouri Gulch, which was easy to miss in the dark. We hiked south along the gulch until reaching the remnants of an old shack, where several backpackers had set up camping tents. Near 11,300', the terrain leveled out as we finally left the forest and switched off our headlamps.
At the first trail junction, the Missouri Gulch Trail continues to the right while the Mt. Belford Trail turns up to the left. Mt. Belford and Mt. Oxford are two neighboring 14ers that are commonly climbed together (climbing all three entails a strenuous, 15-mile hike). Bearing right, Missouri came into view directly south. We followed the trail through wildflowers and over a stream before turning left and climbing onto a small hill in the basin.
A second trail junction at 12,600' requires a right turn to zig-zag west up an easy hill. From there, we hiked to the base of a talus slope and followed the trail across the south side of Point 13,784'. Several breaks were needed as we slowly ascended the rough slope.
At last, we reached the saddle between Point 13,784' and Point 13,930'.
Just three-quarters of a mile from the summit, we made the final push along the ridge.
More than half way across, the trail drops 20' on the right side of the ridge. This brief, Difficult Class 2 stretch is not for the faint of heart.
With a bit of luck--and butt-sliding--we made it past the drop and reached the summit at 14,067'. As usual, the wind picked up and the gloves came back on. Nevertheless, we were awed by views of Huron Peak, as well as mountains in both the Elk Range and the Sawatch Range.
At the first trail junction, the Missouri Gulch Trail continues to the right while the Mt. Belford Trail turns up to the left. Mt. Belford and Mt. Oxford are two neighboring 14ers that are commonly climbed together (climbing all three entails a strenuous, 15-mile hike). Bearing right, Missouri came into view directly south. We followed the trail through wildflowers and over a stream before turning left and climbing onto a small hill in the basin.
A second trail junction at 12,600' requires a right turn to zig-zag west up an easy hill. From there, we hiked to the base of a talus slope and followed the trail across the south side of Point 13,784'. Several breaks were needed as we slowly ascended the rough slope.
At last, we reached the saddle between Point 13,784' and Point 13,930'.
Just three-quarters of a mile from the summit, we made the final push along the ridge.
With a bit of luck--and butt-sliding--we made it past the drop and reached the summit at 14,067'. As usual, the wind picked up and the gloves came back on. Nevertheless, we were awed by views of Huron Peak, as well as mountains in both the Elk Range and the Sawatch Range.
Once we had our fill, our trio tracked back towards the trailhead. The clouds rolled in and the temperature warmed up to the low 60s. How different everything looked in the daylight!
Overall, we passed very few hikers along the route--clearly not a mainstream 14er (although we did get passed by one young man who was trail-running all three 14ers). Though one of the more challenging hikes that I've completed to date, I appreciated the mix of scenery and flat stretches to break up the steep parts. Lexi, Anna, and I reached the parking lot at 12pm, clocking eight hours round trip, having kept a decent pace but also not hustling.
I feel very fortunate to have done another big hike in great company. It is certainly getting tricky, however, to find ones that everyone has yet to complete, do not require 4WD to reach the trailhead, and are not too far from Denver--getting up at 1am is an undeniable way to throw off your sleep cycle. Still, the high of finishing a 14er is worth it. Two more to go in order to reach my goal of 14 before leaving Colorado!
