14,197ft., 14,153ft. & 14,067ft.

Sawatch Range

32, 35 & 36/58

Twenty days earlier, I stood on Mount Belford. Only Mount Belford, somehow Mount Belford. I felt weak that day and at my very worst. I had intended to turn around multiple times, especially with the knowledge I’d have to return to claim Mount Oxford and Missouri Mountain, but I was there and so was that damned mountain.

I always intended to save this particular trip for a time that I had enough days and strength to climb all three, but that trip fell in my lap and I’m thankful for the things it gave me the opportunity to fight through and prove. I’m also thankful for the people I spent that day with and the Trailside Margaritas gang we met on the hike down — this group from Texas carried 30lbs of margarita mix and hundreds of bratwursts two miles up the trail and served hikers just for the being good people heck of it. I thought that was the most admirable (and appreciated) thing.

Anyways, one of my goals for this summer was to finish the Sawatch Range 14ers. With my injury and paramedic school schedule I held that goal really loosely, but after Shavano and Tabeguache I only had Mount Oxford and Missouri Mountain left (and Mount Belford again to get to Mount Oxford, ick).

I had a window of time just big enough for an attempt at this endeavor open up, so I took it. I was supposed to go with a few others, but they had to back out for various weekends. If climbing 14ers has taught me anything it’s that plans change and it’s okay. A year and a half ago the thought of hiking, let alone backpacking, alone never crossed my mind. Today, I welcome a chance to get that space, even being the extreme extrovert that I am. Today, I go anyways; and that’s what I did.

I scooped up the pup, packed up the car and drove back to the all-too familiar trailhead. We slept in my car, got an early start the next morning, set up camp a few miles in and continued on the way up Mount Belford.

Mount Belford is only the second 14er I’ve stood on top of more than once (Quandary is the other). For as much as I love these mountains, I’m not really in the habit of repeats before I’ve completed all of them. But, once again, Mount Belford is inevitable for the route I wanted to take up Mount Oxford.

I chatted with some people on top of Belford before continuing on my way. The weather was great, but it was an end-of-summer weekday and the crowds were minimal for such a highly trafficked trail (how I prefer them). I passed two people on the traverse to Oxford but for the first time in my 14er history was the sole person on the summit when I arrived at Oxford. I embraced it, so did Arlo.

We spent the rest of the afternoon trekking back to camp via Elkhead Pass and new views. In doing so, we scoped out the Missouri Mountain route. I briefly thought about tagging it that day, but we had limited food left and it had already been quite the day, so we stuck to the original plan.

I loved the end of the hike Missouri Mountain. It’s spent on a ridge, which are always my favorite because of the 360 views. It flattens out, too, and I’m never mad about that, either.

In light of what I already voiced about not being sure if I’d finish the Sawatch Range this summer, standing on top of Missouri Mountain was a thrill — 14ers are my favorite to-do list and I’m really excited to have more technical and remote climbs ahead of me.

To date, I’ve got four Elks, nine San Juan’s (I finished the Chicago Basin between this trip and writing this), and three (or four? because what range is Culebra, really?) Sangres.

Next summer? Who knows. But bring it on.