The back-up plan: Mt. Belford and Oxford

When life gives you lemons, just say “screw it.” Go climb a mountain on a whim – on a fleeting moment of wanting something more out of a weekend than homework and routine.

It worked for me.

For nearly three weeks I was planning something that, to me, would have not only been an amazing weekend but also a weekend that may have gotten me a job.

Okay, so that may be a little over-stated. We all know the bike trip across the country is going to be what gets me my dream job.

But the fact remains that being a pseudo-embedded reporter with the ROTC program for the weekend would have been an awesome chance for a killer story. But when the time came to head out, the paper trail (or lack thereof) led the man in charge to say I was a “liability” without paperwork or insurance.

Bummed about not being able to go on this trip, which I planned exams, work and supplies for nearly 3 weeks, Mel and I took off to seek vengeance on the 10-mile, 5-thousand-ish foot easy trail up to Mt. Belford (14,197 feet) and Oxford (14,193 feet) near Buena Vista.

A few weeks ago, we headed out this way. After an evening at the Eddy Line restaurant and brewery, we chose to spend the following day exploring the area, which is filled with mines, tunnels and towns from hundreds of years ago during the mining boom.

Near our camping spot about a month ago when we explored around the area.

One of dozens of stickers outside the restaurant in Buena Vista. I might have to get one for next year's 4,000 mile trip...

One of the tunnels we found... remnants from nearby Vicksburg and the mining culture

Old-time pleasant-ville from the 1800s. Vicksburg used to be bustling little town.

The lone grave of a one-month-old child from Vicksburg in 1884

This time, as we made the 3-hour drive through Leadville and on to the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, the leaves shimmered in the headlights, indicative of only the beginning of what the next day would bring.

We slept in the car and awoke at about 4:30 a.m. After a rough night's sleep. Regardless, we were determined to get these two bagged.

***There were a billion pics of the trees... I got excited. If you want more detail, click for full screen or ask me for original and other shots.***

***They are obviously more exciting than the text :)

Headlamps illuminated the trail for the beginning hour or so, shining the golden aspen leaves around us. “If only we could see what was around us... it must be pretty amazing,” we thought.

Then, as if someone flipped a switch, the groves of aspen and pine along the wall to our west came into focus. Streams of yellow flowed amidst the thousands of standard green pines along the mountain sides behind us. Sunlight's first grasp of the tree-tips acted as if a flame of the most benign sort had touched and torched the nearby hills.

This hike was going to be different, and the pictures show a bit more than dirt trail mixed with rock scrambling.

As we continued, the golden surrounding at our backs continued to prompt us to turn around to see what we had just walked through. The return trip was certain to be one worth remembering.

Then the endless switchbacks came into focus. 30? Maybe more? All just to go up one part of the face of Belford's west side.

Steepness is to be expected along mountains. It only makes sense, but on this one I found myself questioning how much further it could possible go on.

“If each step is about 8 inches higher, and there are 4 thousand feet to climb... that means... how many steps?”

“...I need a beer...”

My thought process needed something to thing about after all.

It all proved worth it at as made our way to the first false summit ridge, gazing up at the final stretch of rocky trail.

And then we were there, eating and looking down thousands of feet at that valley we had just come through. The fields of gold we marched through just hours before were now baking under a warm, early-autumn sun.

The ridge to Oxford requires about 700 feet of down climbing, a short and flat section, and then re-ascent of about 700 feet.

And then you do it all again on the way back.

But it was definitely nice to bag another peak, even with the muddy trail and creepy bugs that littered the edge of the path.

The silence and solitude atop Oxford was soon interrupted by the comments of the wondrous Target trail mix along with different boots to where hiking.

Oxford from Belford

We had come across THAT guy on the trail who feels the need to break a soft silence with an obnoxious tone.

Valley south of Belford and Oxford

On the edge of the world... in the distance you can see Leadville

So the slap-happy, altitude effects kicked in as we walked around the flat top, taking candid pictures.

But then it was time to head down. The weather remained clear, but we wanted to make it back to within the trees. It wasn't long before the dark-bottomed clouds soon raced us to the top of Belford again and down.

Running down the trail, we hopped over rock, switchback after switchback, until it finally smoothed out around tree line.

And the groves of Aspen followed, making this one of the most beautiful hikes yet. I say that a lot, but I think this one stood out because we remained in good spirits for the entire hike, despite fatigue and little sleep.

Not a bad back-up plan when all else falls through.

Reflections:

The theme of this trip was twofold.

On one hand, there was the issue that something I worked on for a while had come crashing down. Yes, I was bummed at first, but I think one thing that separates a lot of people in life comes from knowing how to deal with unfortunate circumstances.

Rather than sulking and being bored all weekend, I made a more epic and accomplishing trip come out of the mix.

More people need to do this. Maybe not climb mountains, but do something else that will bring at least a little joy.

The concept of recovery has come up repeatedly on this blog. Getting away from that which makes us crazy and confined is not a new concept, but I think the idea of refreshing, even just for 24 hours makes a huge difference. I now feel, at least a little, reset... a little more ready to go a week or two before the mountains call again.

Colorado, you are just too much – why would anyone want to live in confined cities, anyway?

Trudging up Longs

It's been a long time coming, but I really had no ambition to write about Longs. But I think leaving out what might be the last mountain of the year may be bad karma for the adventures planned for next year.

Though considered one of the premiere mountains in Colorado and the peak the stands over all of the front range, I found the climb to be much more worth the adventure than the actual summit shot.

Blame it on the early morning? Maybe. Say it is too hyped and crowded? I guess. Regardless, it was a mixed bag as far as mountain climbs for the summer go.

We got up to the parking lot at about 9 p.m. From there, we slept in the car until about midnight when the alarms sounded.

By 1, we were on the trail, ready for anything the day could throw our way. We made an attempt at this one back in July, but were turned back a few hours up. We were out for redemption.

As we seemingly marched alone, the time passed amazingly fast. I guess when you can't see anything but the moon and what your headlamp lights up, your mind can't wander as much as in broad daylight.

This is the sort of hike that seems to have an “initiation” period in which one simply trudges through the boring part until the fun, rock-bounding adventures come into play.

Fast-forward 5 hours, and the sun began to crest the far-off horizon. However, after the trudging, endless march up about 5 miles of easy trail, the morning began to get to us. After working a full week and day just 12 hours prior, Mel and I felt the effects of no sleep, fatigue.

Mel chose to head down to a rock clearing just beyond the boulder field, but forced me to continue on without her. Trusting her decision and judgment, I continued up through the keyhole in the rocks atop the boulder field.

From there the route winds along the west side of the ridge, overlooking Mills lake and numerous others. This is where the fun began, and luckily there was light to navigate.

I haven't hiked solo in forever, and never at such a high altitude, so early. It truly is an almost eery sense of isolation, even though there were dozens of hikers in front and behind.

Regardless, I bounded on and caught up to Mark's group at the trough – a Class 3 section of slick and loose section of rock and gravel the.

We continue on, around the ledges, the jutting out boulder, and up the homestretch – my favorite part. Essentially, you are crack climbing and leaping to grab a solid point of contact until, suddenly, you crest the final ridge and peer atop the summit.

Only, the summit was a football field-sized expanse of rock. Only a few others had made it to the top before us. I just felt a lack of... awe? I don't know, but La Plata, Massive, and even Elbert made a more accomplished sense.

Maybe I was just confused because Mel wasn't there... who knows.

As the herds of people continued to summit, I decided to cut my stay short in an effort to get back down to Mel to see how she was feeling. Plus, I really just wanted to bound, leap and climb over the tough terrain on the way down, passing people who must have thought I was in a race.

From there, trekking across the now lit boulder field, down to the Chasm Lake overlook, and down throughout the valley near the parking lot was just a walk (though long) in the woods.

I will let the pictures tell the story, but the fact remains – Longs Peak disappointed, by the journey up to it made for one pretty spectacular climb.

Reflections:

I am at a loss for what to put here. On one hand, I definitely felt a sense of accomplishment as I passed folks struggling along the steep and slick homestretch. But at the same time, as I stood at the summit, I felt like something (besides my partner in crime) was missing. It was almost as if that this mountain was so talked about – so over-hyped – I expected more.

I will definitely be back. After-all, Mel has to reach the summit too. In the mean time, there are plenty of other lesser known adventures to be had.