Missouri Mountain

Route: North Face Couloirs
Posted On: 5/26/2014, By: jmc5040
Info: Climbed and skied the C Couloir as the Main Couloir had plenty of wet slide debris from prior days. The C Couloir was creamy powder except for approximately the top 100 feet. The top 100 feet of the couloir as it hooks left in towards the summit was approximately 3 inch of wind crust on top of facets. There was a boot pack set on climbers left of the couloir near the talus that was consolidated and offered better footing. The C Couloir had been skied recently, but precautions were taken on the upper portion when dropping in to ski. We were able to ski just below the old cabin remnants with a few walking sections. The snow on the face was great for crampons and ice axe, with very little balling. There were sections of hard snow on the face that was sun crust and wind slab. I am unsure what weather the area has seen since Saturday, but graupel was failing on the decent near 11,500 feet. 

Route: North Face Couloirs
Posted On: 5/20/2014, By: jrs1965
Info: I started at 3:15 AM. Even that early in the morning it was warm down low and I had some post-holing below treeline. Above tree-line in the willows the snow became more abundant with more post-holing. The gully was filled with solid snow so sticking to that I made better time and less post-holing. Looking at the Northwest Ridge from the basin I saw a lot of snow and the ridge looked to be corniced. I ascended the Main Couloir without much difficulty. However, the snow was not totally consolidated so I tried to stick to the rock ridge on the climbers left thinking the snow might be more stable near the rocks. I descended the C Couloir which had similar non-consolidated snow much like the Main Couloir. Return trip back down was uneventful except for more post-holing with the warmer conditions... 

Route: North Face Couloirs
Posted On: 4/26/2014, By: ETA
Info: Photo from the lower basin on 4/26/2014. It looked like lots of snow holding on the upper slopes. Just my opinion, and not that educated either. The trail is about 50% covered with significant snow, if you punch through it can be deep. I walked up easily in the morning but needed snow shoes from the willows back down. It‘s not constant coverage, but deep in spots. I did not climb, just sharing the photo. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/16/2013, By: Shawnee Bob
Info: Given the amount of heavy rains in the state, there is some washout on the trails going up Missouri Gulch and Missouri Mountain. However, the trails are still in good shape and water flow from the creeks has not affected any of the creek crossings. Snow atop Missouri and Belford that was present this morning melted out by afternoon. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 7/13/2013, By: tjerasdave
Info: Summer conditions to the top. A little muddy in places but nothing to worry about. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 6/18/2013, By: Exiled Michigander
Info: The west ridge route up Missouri from Clohesy Lake is in great shape and summer conditions are here. The river crossings at Rockdale will be your biggest inconvenience. The water is just below knee level--I brought sandals specifically for the crossings so I could keep my shoes and socks dry. No snow at all until just below the summit near 13,850 ft., then just a few patches to cross (and these have good steps in them). I didn‘t need microspikes or ice axe. Sorry no photos--too busy at work this week. But PM me if you have specific questions. 

Route: North Face Couloirs
Posted On: 5/26/2013, By: SnowAlien
Info: North face couloirs are in fantastic shape for climbing and skiing. We put a booter in the steep central couloir to the left of the summit and skied the Main one. Snow starts about 10 feet from the summit. Trail thru the basin is largely free of snow until 12.5k, so we carried skies on theway up, but on the way down I was able to piece together patchy snowfields and kept the skies on until 11.4k - almost to the mining cabin. Surprisingly, traversing thru the willows was not bad at all (at least on skis). What a great spring climb/ski -highly recommended. 

Route: North Face Couloirs
Posted On: 5/20/2013, By: leggaj5
Info: I ascended the C couloir and descended the Main. I summitted at the same time as another guy who looked like he came up the standard. I was planning on starting at 4, but had to wait for a partner until 5 who ended up not being able to make it. When I started up the C at 8:45 (later than I wanted) the snow was already getting soft. In my case a snow storm moved in while I was on the summit and basically re-froze everything, otherwise I may have been cutting it close. There was wet slide debris in each couloir as well as to the lookers right of the standard route. The standard route didn‘t have as much activity, but I was surprised how quickly the sun hits that whole face, so give yourself plenty of time to get up there. (Photo 1: ridge; Photos 2 - 4; taken on the way up the C Couloir, lots of debris) 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/18/2012, By: 2aron
Info: Trail can be easily followed until turn off Missouri. From there, I had to route find due to recent snowfall. No need for snowshoes yet, but I would highly recommend an ice axe and crampons for the climb to the peak. Snow was ankle to knee deep on climb, but powdery so you typically hit the icy rocks underneath, which can could cause you to slip. Crampons alleviated slippage and made for a safer climb. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 11/4/2012, By: jswiftcervelo
Info: Oxford and Belford are already reported on so I‘ll do Missouri... From the Missouri Gulch trailhead I climbed it without a problem in my trail runners (but I‘ve been known to overdo those), however microspikes might have come in handy. The trail has collected some snow but as long as its late enough in the day that its not ice you‘ll be fine. On the upper sections the trail can become problematic but getting up there is straightforward. Actually got a very odd glissade in for about 1200 feet. About 8-10 inces of snow on smooth underling scree was just enough to sort of slab avalanche my way down :) Josh 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 10/3/2012, By: Wentzl
Info: Dry. No snow. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 9/29/2012, By: nedryarson
Info: Hiked Missouri today from Clohesy Lake. Not really any snow issues to speak of. This pic was about as dicey as it got. Great weather, almost like summer - spent an hour on the summit. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/19/2012, By: ezabielski
Info: No snow at all on the trail. Some places on the lower slopes got muddy as the day heated up. Careful on some extremely steep sections on the ridge from the false summit to the real summit. These sections will test the limits of grip of your shoes when descending. Poles were extremely useful. If not, get on your butt and slide. 

Route: Northwest Ridge
Posted On: 9/17/2012, By: bhess86
Info: A dusting of snow on the mountain but none at all on the trail. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 8/4/2012, By: Zaigon99
Info: Drove up the gate. No problem with my Jeep Grand Cheorkee. Bumped bottom a couple of times going up when not paying attention. Creek crossing and big puddles near top not a problem. Trail up West Ridge was in good shape, but have be alert for cairns going up long grassy slope. You can‘t get lost, but it is easier to follow the path. Took the shortcut going down, don‘t know how much time saved, but bypassed some steep sections along the creek.