Borah Peak
| Idaho |
Elevation: 12,662'
Vertical Gain: 5,200'
Vertical Gain: 5,200'
Date: July 13, 2008
Time: 10:46 AM
Time: 10:46 AM
Weather: Clear, little wind
Party: Bob, Kevin
Party: Bob, Kevin
The drive to this mountain started on July 11 from Mt. Hood and it was one of the more
interesting approaches. After Boise we turned north on Rt. 21 into the mountains. It took some
luck to find a campsite near Lowman on a Friday night after the third campground we drove
through. It offered a nice walk up a scenic trail after which we sat by a large, rushing mountain
stream for a while.
The next day we drove through the beautiful Sawtooths on the way to Borah. We toured a
Salmon hatchery then spent quite a few hours at the Craters of the Moon National Monument
to see the unusual landscape and lava formations such as cinder hills, tree molds, and lava
tubes. We hiked a total of at least five hot miles there. The day's trip ended with us camping
right at the Mt. Borah trailhead where I watched for hikers coming off the mountain in the hope
of getting some tips. That paid off with recommendations to leave the ice axes and crampons
behind and to bring plenty of water. That prompted a trip back out the dusty entrance road to a
stream to filter water from.
Kevin and I were up before 6:00 and out hiking by 6:45. We quickly passed all seven hikers
who started out before us before reaching the treeline at about 10,000'. This hike gains 5,200'
in 3.5 miles. It was awesome hiking weather - clear and cool - and the views were amazing. We
climbed with both hands and feet over Chicken-Out-Ridge and across the top of the snow
bridge which wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. I didn't miss the ice axes - too much.
The last 1000' was steep, rocky, with scree, and seemed to go on and on. Summit time was
10:46 and we stayed until 11:19, still alone. It was not too chilly or windy. The descent was
steady with a few stops for pictures. We finished up at 2:22, a lot faster than the 10-12 hour
typical time. This rocks, altitude, and steepness made this climb physically tougher than Hood.
On the drive out we stopped at an early experimental breeder reactor, EBR-1, for a self-guided
tour. It was near closing time as we wandered the building alone, standing on the reactor and
playing with the manipulator arms. The last night of this memorable trip was spent at a Day's
Inn in Bringham City, Utah, followed by an uneventful flight home from Salt Lake City. Our Kia
was returned with 2165 more miles on it than when we rented it.
interesting approaches. After Boise we turned north on Rt. 21 into the mountains. It took some
luck to find a campsite near Lowman on a Friday night after the third campground we drove
through. It offered a nice walk up a scenic trail after which we sat by a large, rushing mountain
stream for a while.
The next day we drove through the beautiful Sawtooths on the way to Borah. We toured a
Salmon hatchery then spent quite a few hours at the Craters of the Moon National Monument
to see the unusual landscape and lava formations such as cinder hills, tree molds, and lava
tubes. We hiked a total of at least five hot miles there. The day's trip ended with us camping
right at the Mt. Borah trailhead where I watched for hikers coming off the mountain in the hope
of getting some tips. That paid off with recommendations to leave the ice axes and crampons
behind and to bring plenty of water. That prompted a trip back out the dusty entrance road to a
stream to filter water from.
Kevin and I were up before 6:00 and out hiking by 6:45. We quickly passed all seven hikers
who started out before us before reaching the treeline at about 10,000'. This hike gains 5,200'
in 3.5 miles. It was awesome hiking weather - clear and cool - and the views were amazing. We
climbed with both hands and feet over Chicken-Out-Ridge and across the top of the snow
bridge which wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. I didn't miss the ice axes - too much.
The last 1000' was steep, rocky, with scree, and seemed to go on and on. Summit time was
10:46 and we stayed until 11:19, still alone. It was not too chilly or windy. The descent was
steady with a few stops for pictures. We finished up at 2:22, a lot faster than the 10-12 hour
typical time. This rocks, altitude, and steepness made this climb physically tougher than Hood.
On the drive out we stopped at an early experimental breeder reactor, EBR-1, for a self-guided
tour. It was near closing time as we wandered the building alone, standing on the reactor and
playing with the manipulator arms. The last night of this memorable trip was spent at a Day's
Inn in Bringham City, Utah, followed by an uneventful flight home from Salt Lake City. Our Kia
was returned with 2165 more miles on it than when we rented it.
The picturesque Sawtooths.
Big cinder piles! This is at Craters
of the Moon National Monument on
the way to Borah.
of the Moon National Monument on
the way to Borah.
This pathway goes out to the lava
tubes, long caves left from flowing
lava.
tubes, long caves left from flowing
lava.
The approach road to Borah.
Our camp at the trailhead.
We at first thought that was Borah
in the background but it turned
out to be just a "foothill".
in the background but it turned
out to be just a "foothill".
On Froze-to-Death Plateau
approaching Chicken Out Ridge.
The snowbridge can be seen
where the ridge trurns towards
the summit which is off the photo
to the left.
approaching Chicken Out Ridge.
The snowbridge can be seen
where the ridge trurns towards
the summit which is off the photo
to the left.
Kevin carefully peeks over the
ridge at drops of over a 1000 feet.
ridge at drops of over a 1000 feet.
Bob traverses the infamous
snowbridge ...
snowbridge ...
... followed carefully by Kevin.
Our "hero" shots.
What? Somebody already claimed
this mountain for the USA?
What? Somebody already claimed
this mountain for the USA?
A 360 degree panorama from the
summit followed by some of the
great scenery we saw on the
descent.
summit followed by some of the
great scenery we saw on the
descent.
We didn't chicken out on Chicken
Out Ridge!
Out Ridge!
The approach road can be seen
down below.
down below.
Yet another photo op!
