7/27/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 7/28/2025, By: hsfedina Info: Trailhead to peak the conditions were perfect. No snow no washouts, nothing. Really windy when I had to navigate the crux of course. |
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7/23/2025 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 7/24/2025, By: tothestars Info: I have been up Missouri via North east route (trail) and wanted to do the East ridge so I brought along a climbing friend. He had a blast! The route wasn't nearly as bad as many of the reports I have seen here, so that was a nice surprise but I imagine that's because it depends on the route you take on the East ridge. If you take a steeper route or don't know where to go, it could get dangerous or sketchy quickly. We mostly went up and stayed left as many reports recommend and followed D'Haene's FKT GPX best we could (it's on the FKT site). We never stayed right on the crux (main headwall) until we were on top of the ridge. Only one spot was a bit scary for me (a non climber) as it required a bigger step up/trusting some holds but wasn't too bad. We took our time going up the East ridge, got photos and enjoyed the views. It was definitely not faster for me than going up the trail, but that was mainly because we wanted to really assess and take our time. Fun day, descended the north/east ridge to make a lollipop from Missouri Gulch trailhead. I personally wouldn't want to descend east ridge, but it is doable if you know the route. I was glad I was with my friend who is a climber as his skills at choosing a route plus the GPX we had made it relatively easy. A few spots were a bit hard to tell where to go and he was comfortable checking them out. |
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7/10/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 7/11/2025, By: MTNCLmber64169 Info: West ridge- Lower creeks are passable in Subaru forester as well as trail nearly to gate. Did not climb the mountain as it was already raining at 6:30am and was worried if the creeks rose I would not be able to cross back. This is just to give 4WD creek/trail update |
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6/30/2025 Route: East Ridge from Elkhead Pass Posted On: 6/30/2025, By: notidealbutfine Info: East Ridge on Missouri is a go! No snow on approach or route. Maybe a move of 5th class while climbing the "knob", but I probably could have found the route a little better and kept it 4th. It's loose rock, but certainly not as bad as Roach makes it up to be. There are a few small snowfields to cross on the standard route, but all are inconsequential and only 25' at the longest. Nice way to combine all three in the Belford Group; much shorter than dropping way down into the basin to climb Missouri. |
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6/26/2025 Route: east ridge Posted On: 6/26/2025, By: wyattjohns Info: don't do east ridge, I knew what I was getting into and it still was almost too much. its worth noting I stayed right and nailed the hardest part of the ridge... |
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6/22/2025 Route: West Ridge Posted On: 6/23/2025, By: campfire_cartel Info: Hiked into Clohesy Lake Saturday, then summited on Sunday. Very windy past the treeline, but almost entirely summer conditions up until the crux. Only 2 small snow patches make it sorta sketchy, but it's very doable with caution. Didn't need microspikes or poles, the patches are each only about 20 yards wide. Footholds through the patches are deep, but still plan on leaving early to beat potential melting/weather. Fairly short, sweet, and steep route with incredible views |
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6/21/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/22/2025, By: jpriske Info: Mostly Summer conditions. Just a few short sections of snow that I feel doesn’t require microspikes. The gulch is in great condition for the most part but as you work towards the upper gulch there are a few water crossings and some wetter/muddier portions. Crux still has snow but felt safe crossing without microspikes. |
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6/18/2025 Route: West Ridge/North Face Couloirs loop Posted On: 6/18/2025, By: carmitz001 Info: Ascended west ridge from Rockdale, descended via north face couloirs and Missouri Gulch Trail. The woods shortcut around 11.2k didn't seem to help me, as it added distance and route-finding. But most of the climb was very steep and efficient, with gorgeous views to help offset fatigue. The grassy slopes have a trail all the way up, although it is loose at times. No snow until near the crux section on the NW ridge. I walked across the snow without spikes rather than dropping low to the dirt trail; both paths require caution due to risk of slipping. I glissaded 1000 feet directly from the summit via the main couloir. It was still somewhat firm even at 5 pm on a sunny day. Had to stop and start a lot for safety until I passed the curves, then it was smooth sailing into the basin. Upper Missouri Gulch Trail is not in good shape -- the trail becomes a creek in some spots, there's still annoying soft snow to cross or avoid, and there are often multiple social trails along the side. |
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6/18/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/20/2025, By: CowboyDan Info: Started at 5 am, summited by 10, back at the TH at noon. Accompanied by my two dogs, we found significantly less snow than 2 weeks prior. The water crossings proved difficult as the rocks were glazed in ice, poles helped. A few snow fields to cross, but not bad early before it gets soft. The summit push has a short but steep snow field, but large flat steps are cut out. My dogs didn't use the steps but instead showed off their mountain goat-like abilities on the snow. Peaceful summit with the marker in plain sight for once! Please stay on trail, even if it is snow covered. And avoid trail braiding above tree line!!! |
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6/14/2025 Route: North Face Couloirs Posted On: 6/14/2025, By: crispy_asparagus Info: Plenty of snow in Missouri’s north face couloirs. Missouri gulch is completely snow free until after the junction to Belford, however it’s infrequent and patchy. There’s only a few areas where it covers the trail and it was still supportive on my way down in late morning. Starting around 12,700 snow becomes constant heading towards and into the bowl below the entrance to the couloirs. Snow in couloirs is nice and firm despite over night lows that forecasts said were above freezing. Right now is a great time to snow climb Missouri with such minimal snow on the approach. |
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6/14/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/14/2025, By: MattHamma Info: Started at 5:10am, summit at 8:45am, back to the trailhead at 12:30. Some of the best conditions I've ever had - literally no wind and absolute bluebird. Didn't use spikes, I don't think they're necessary. Post-holed a bit on the way down but most of the snow is avoidable. When you hit the "crux wall" on the route just before the summit, I'd recommend staying high on the ridge, its stable with only a flat snow patch. I wouldn't recommend dropping down where the normal route goes due to the snow - would imagine it'll be better by July. A few people took the low route at the same time I took the ridge, and I was sitting on the summit for more than 30 minutes before they got there. Total roundtrip I clocked 10.85 miles, 5100ft gain, 7hrs 20 mins round trip with 40 mins at the summit. |
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6/8/2025 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 6/10/2025, By: butlerer Info: Trail is dry for the first ~2 miles from the TH. Between there and the junction to Elkhead Pass at 12,600', there's some snow, but it's largely avoidable or has solid, packed down tracks. From that junction to the Missouri-Peak 13784 saddle, there's unavoidable snow that was solid around 6 am but getting soft by 930 am. From the saddle to the summit, there's some snow, but most of it is avoidable or shallow. I found scrambling along the ridge was better than trying to detour around the rocks--although the snow made one detour a couple of fun class 3 moves. I brought snowshoes and spikes but didn't use them. Nearby peaks show recent slides. Worst part of the snow was going from Missouri to Oxford. TH to summit: 4 hours |
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5/3/2025 Route: North Face Couloirs Posted On: 5/4/2025, By: kyrawhitworth Info: I know things will change very soon but here’s what I’ve got. Had a large and awesome crew today! Snow line doesn’t start until past 11,800 I’d say and even then it was skis on, off, on pack until we really got into the basin. We left trail runners in some trees and honestly should have worn them up further. We booted up C as there was a great boot track (thank you!). From there we traversed to the summit. Another boarder took Bill’s route up with similar timing. One group skied main and one group skied C. We all dropped around noon which was a little late I’d say. Main still barely goes to the summit. Slough in both couloirs with soft turns and a few spots of dust on crust. I skied main and had a great ski down. The slope just above the bridge we decided to ski and it was pretty gross. Once we switched back to trail runners things went quickly with just a few slick mud/snow spots on the trail. We saw some nice tracks on Belford N face but not sure how high the snow is there. |
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4/27/2025 Route: North Face Couloirs Posted On: 4/27/2025, By: ajtrezco Info: Skied the main couloir off the summit of Missouri today. We were able to toss skins on just past creek crossing, but had to take them off/on several times till we were well into the gulch; it’s getting pretty thin in there. Upper gulch all the way to summit ridge has great coverage. Couloirs are skiing safe and awesome, soft and chalky since it’s still been cool up high. C isn’t skiable from the summit, but Main still is. Start early and get it while it’s good |
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12/24/2024 Route: Northwest Ridge Posted On: 12/30/2024, By: jacolc Info: From Missouri TH hike to N ridge probably similar to shapovalovm. Below the summit I and Mark made snow traverse on west side. On way down to Belford we take the snow east slope like standard route and directly to upper part of basin. All 3 peaks take as almost 14h. GPX at LoJ |
