Mt. Belford (14,197ft) and Mt. Oxford (14,153ft) Climb

My friend Shari had this "great" idea to do two Fourteeners in one day... These peaks, Oxford and Belford, were part of the Collegiate Peaks (which contains Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Oxford, Princeton, etc.) We still can't figure out what Belford is doing in the collegiates (maybe it's the DeVry of the Collegiate Peaks).

Anyway, the hike was great, and the views were spectacular, but we ended up racking up about 5700 feet of vertical gain over 15.4 miles...a LONG day of hiking.

It's probably worth mentioning that Mt. Oxford was my 14th 14er!

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Mt. Yale, as seen from "camp" (The Super 8 in Buena Vista) The trailhead Brad, Lonny, and Brian, setting off for the hike Shari, crossing a log bridge (her favorite thing to do) Columbines EVERYWHERE on the trail Belford, as seen from about 11,600 ft Shari, making her approach up the trail Brad, Lonny, and Brian
Brad and Shari, La Plata Peak in the far distance A view of Missouri Mountain (right) and Elkhead Pass The summit block of Mt. Belford (Mt. Harvard on right) Mt. Belford USGS marker Mt. Belford Summit Panorama Brad, trying to determine the surrounding peaks Shari and Brian, on the summit of Belford Missouri Mountain and Huron Peak
Brad and Brian, finally locating Mt. Oxford Brad. Shari, Brian, and Lonny, on top of Belford Mt. Oxford, from the Belford summit (looking east) Lonny and Brad...hanging out Mts. Harvard, Columbia, and Yale Lonny, Shari, and Brad, starting their trek towards Oxford Looking back at the Belford summit, from Oxford Mt. Oxford Summit Panorama
A friendly marmot on top of Oxford Taking a break on top of Oxford with two other hikers Mt. Oxford USGS marker From the saddle, looking at Belford (west) From the saddle, looking at Oxford (east) Brad, Brian, and Lonny, re-ascending to Belford (on right) Brad, in a classic "funeral shot" (Belford on right) Missouri Mountain, from near Belford summit
Brad and Lonny, taking a break at about 14,100 ft A grassy slope and Snowmass Mtn. at 14,100 ft Lonny and Brad descending down to Elkhead Pass Glancing down 2000 feet to the Missouri basin to the south Mountain wildflowers in Missouri Gulch Brad and Shari descending Missouri Gulch

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