I will be climbing an old friend this week – Mt. Belford and the neighbor, check Mt. Oxford. They are in the Sawatch range in Central Colorado and I climbed them both in 2005. These are not particularly difficult climbs but this will be special for an entirely different reason.
You see back in April, there two new friends from Houston, John and Jermaine, traveled to Colorado to test themselves on their first 14er. Well, let’s just say conditions were not ideal for your first 14er. We had soft, mushy, knee-deep snow that when underfoot; collapsed. After a valiant effort it proved to be insurmountable.
But, not one to give up easily, John said at the time he would be back and so he is. Jermaine had the spirit but not the time off from work but I am sure he too will return one day.
John and I will return to Belford this weekend. There was a dusting of snow this week in the Colorado mountains but nothing like what early spring brings to the Hills.
We will first climb Belford, then traverse over the summit ridge line to Oxford and return the via same route. John will send out updates via his SPOT Messenger . However, it does not always work in deep valleys, etc.
As I always say, it is about the experience not the summit but sometimes you need to taste the top.
Climb On!
Alan
