For a long time, North King Mountain, or "The King's Crown" has been on my list of peaks to climb. It is accessed from a high elevation hang glider launch site which makes it more accessible than most peaks of its stature. Sadly, the direct road from Moore, ID, washed out in 2018. Instead I took the back road from Arco over Beaverland Pass to the upper launch site. This drive was uneventful but does include some 4WD sections.
Once at the upper launch site, I checked out the launch ramp. After about two seconds I became convinced that hang gliding looks terrifying and it will not be added to my bucket list! The hike from the launch site follows a very steep use trail up a ridge directly to King Mountain, an intermediate point before reaching North King Mountain. The trail is easy to follow and eventually leads you onto some class 3 terrain to bypass a tower near the top of the ridge. After about 2500' of elevation gain up a veritable staircase, the climb to King Mountain is over! King Mountain offers great views of the surrounding area and a good place to take a breather before continuing the quest.
The ridge to North King Mountain is much more moderate and makes for enjoyable hiking. A small class 3 section adds some interest to the traverse. On top of North King Mountain, there is an infrequently signed summit register (only three other parties signed this year) and even better views of the numerous surrounding mountain ranges and valleys.
Downclimbing was uneventful but the steepness of the ridge descent was tiring and led to sore knees and sore feet. When I got back to the vehicle, I knew I had to time to visit nearby Peak 8150 which is accessed from Beaverland Pass. A road leads most of the way up the peak. I followed the road until I felt like I abused the XTerra enough. I then hiked the last 500' of gain to the top. Peak 8150' has great views of King Mountain, the Arco Hills, and the Lost River Valley. I wanted to continue further to Peak 8082 but sore feet and a sinking sun caused me to head back to the vehicle so I could drive the 4WD road back to town in daylight.
In short, this was a great day in the mountains and a highly recommended climb. I saw two pronghorn and no other people!
North King Mountain Photos!
North King Mountain GPS Track
Peak 8150 GPS Track
Showing posts with label trip report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trip report. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Becoming an Old Man
This year I had a "major birthday". I pondered arranging some kind of humdinger of a celebration. But with a winter birthday and kids in school it's hard to get motivated to do anything too ambitious. I instead opted for a relaxing day with some snowshoeing and family time!
After a late morning start I snowshoed two small peaks (Peak 5443, Little Camas Peak) off of US-20 east of Mountain Home. This is all part of a grand scheme to summit 40 peaks this year (I'm already at 9!). Snow conditions were good with a few inches of powder over a supportive base. However conditions were brisk with temperatures around 20℉ and a steady wind. Views were pretty good however some low clouds were swirling around and the higher peaks were mostly shrouded. After about two hours of snowshoeing, I was ready to warm up and get home!
After doing just that I opened my awesome birthday gifts. Thank you everyone for thinking of me! Dinner was at the Homestead Bar and Grill and consisted of a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and some Old Rasputin on Nitro (which was part of my last "major birthday" as well!). At home, we all enjoyed the lovely vanilla and chocolate cake that Katie made. Unsurprisingly, it was delicious!!
A final detail is that my birthday is also National Drink Wine Day. To honor this occasion Katie and I shared a tasty White Burgundy I happened to have. While getting old is no fun, I had a great time doing it!
Zach Turns 40 Photos!
Peak 5443 GPS Track
Peak 5740 GPS Track
After a late morning start I snowshoed two small peaks (Peak 5443, Little Camas Peak) off of US-20 east of Mountain Home. This is all part of a grand scheme to summit 40 peaks this year (I'm already at 9!). Snow conditions were good with a few inches of powder over a supportive base. However conditions were brisk with temperatures around 20℉ and a steady wind. Views were pretty good however some low clouds were swirling around and the higher peaks were mostly shrouded. After about two hours of snowshoeing, I was ready to warm up and get home!
After doing just that I opened my awesome birthday gifts. Thank you everyone for thinking of me! Dinner was at the Homestead Bar and Grill and consisted of a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and some Old Rasputin on Nitro (which was part of my last "major birthday" as well!). At home, we all enjoyed the lovely vanilla and chocolate cake that Katie made. Unsurprisingly, it was delicious!!
A final detail is that my birthday is also National Drink Wine Day. To honor this occasion Katie and I shared a tasty White Burgundy I happened to have. While getting old is no fun, I had a great time doing it!
Zach Turns 40 Photos!
Peak 5443 GPS Track
Peak 5740 GPS Track
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Cervidae Peak Hike
I just climbed Cervidae Peak for the 27th time. In late 2017 I decided to climb this peak once per month as part of a goal to get outside and hike more. I've managed to accomplish that and it's been enjoyable getting to know a single peak so well. Since climbing this peak regularly I've made a number of observations:
This time around I was able to enjoy Spring conditions in early February with mild temperatures and minimal snow. Green shoots of grass were popping up everywhere. I saw three other people on the trail, two dogs, one boat on the lake, and no cervidae.
In summary, this is a great local hike that can be done in under four hours from the time I leave the house. I'll try to keep up the habit of climbing it as long as I can!
Cervidae Peak #27 Photos
GPS Track
Cervidae Peak #6 Trip Report
Cervidae Peak #5 Photos
Cervidae Peak #4 Trip Report
Cervidae Peak #3 Trip Report
- Cervidae sightings are very rare now. I believe I've only seen animals on 3 out of 17 recent trips. 10+ years ago such sightings were almost guaranteed.
- Some days the trail is very busy. In April I saw 43 people on the trail during a 90 minute hike.
- Only once (a Fall evening) have I been the only person on the peak.
- The Mormon crickets show up in July and make a hot hike even more unpleasant. Later in the summer they get more lethargic and are less bothersome.
- A brush fire from ID-21 burned the west slopes of the peak in July. Red fire retardant was dropped all over the upper slopes of the peak and is still visible.
- Certain people like to write messages all over the rocks at the summit. They are apparently not fans of the Leave No Trace Principles.
- People hiking "up and over" the peak (climbing it twice on one trip) is pretty common.
- My favorite time to climb the peak is just before sunset during the warmer months.
- Snowshoeing the peak under a full moon is pretty great too!
This time around I was able to enjoy Spring conditions in early February with mild temperatures and minimal snow. Green shoots of grass were popping up everywhere. I saw three other people on the trail, two dogs, one boat on the lake, and no cervidae.
In summary, this is a great local hike that can be done in under four hours from the time I leave the house. I'll try to keep up the habit of climbing it as long as I can!
Cervidae Peak #27 Photos
GPS Track
Cervidae Peak #6 Trip Report
Cervidae Peak #5 Photos
Cervidae Peak #4 Trip Report
Cervidae Peak #3 Trip Report
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Peak 3081 / Deer Butte / Pinnacle Point Hike
I've been working a few nights recently so I took a Wednesday morning off and climbed some peaks. We've had really mild winter weather and the conditions were too perfect to pass up. The objectives were Peak 3081, Deer Butte, and Pinnacle Point along the Owyhee River outside of Adrian, OR (the home of the Adrian Antelopes).
I got to the base of Peak 3081 around 8:30am and the temperature was a brisk 18℉. Getting there required fording the Owyhee River in the XTerra which was fun to do, and a first since I bought the vehicle. At the base of the peak is the Malheur Siphon, part of a canal system from the Owyhee Reservoir to the Ontario, OR, area. Peak 3081 was a very enjoyable hike over open terrain. I even spotted a few pronghorn from a distance.
After returning to my vehicle I parked at Snively Hot Springs (about a mile away) and did the combo hike of Deer Butte and Pinnacle Point. Deer Butte has a cliffy face which made for some fun hiking over boulders with a few class 3 moves. Amongst the rocks were a number of chukars, which are always a nice surprise. The summit is flat and underwhelming but it did have good views of the surrounding country. Pinnacle Point was an easy hike from Deer Butte. It was the least remarkable summit but did allow for spotting more pronghorn moving across the open flats.
Once the sun came out the temperature warmed up to the upper 30s. It was a beautiful mild winter day and way better than a morning at work!
Peak 3081 / Deer Butte / Pinnacle Point Hike Photos
Peak 3081 GPS Track
Deer Butte / Pinnacle Point GPS Track
I got to the base of Peak 3081 around 8:30am and the temperature was a brisk 18℉. Getting there required fording the Owyhee River in the XTerra which was fun to do, and a first since I bought the vehicle. At the base of the peak is the Malheur Siphon, part of a canal system from the Owyhee Reservoir to the Ontario, OR, area. Peak 3081 was a very enjoyable hike over open terrain. I even spotted a few pronghorn from a distance.
After returning to my vehicle I parked at Snively Hot Springs (about a mile away) and did the combo hike of Deer Butte and Pinnacle Point. Deer Butte has a cliffy face which made for some fun hiking over boulders with a few class 3 moves. Amongst the rocks were a number of chukars, which are always a nice surprise. The summit is flat and underwhelming but it did have good views of the surrounding country. Pinnacle Point was an easy hike from Deer Butte. It was the least remarkable summit but did allow for spotting more pronghorn moving across the open flats.
Once the sun came out the temperature warmed up to the upper 30s. It was a beautiful mild winter day and way better than a morning at work!
Peak 3081 / Deer Butte / Pinnacle Point Hike Photos
Peak 3081 GPS Track
Deer Butte / Pinnacle Point GPS Track
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Griswold Peak / Cougar Peak Climb
Life has been so busy lately and my hiking adventures have taken a back seat. Dan noticed this and invited me to get out for the first time this summer. We decided upon Griswold Peak, an "11er" near the headwaters of the Lost River. While up there, we would visit nearby Peak 10727.
We left Boise a little bit after 6am and began the long drive to Ketchum, over Trail Creek, and up the headwaters of the North Fork of the Big Lost River. Though the drive was long, the time flew by as Dan and I caught up on everything. Soon we were at the Hunter Creek trailhead and moving around 10am. We didn't follow the trail very long before we headed straight uphill toward the ridge leading to Griswold Peak. Gaining the ridge also proceeded pretty quickly and soon we were on the ridge with great views of Griswold Peak and the surrounding area. The ridge was an easy and enjoyable class 2 climb to the top, where we found a small cairn, a register, and a horde of flying ants. Fortunately, we were able to stay about 20' from the summit and avoid the ants for the most part.
Since the bugs were kind of annoying and the clouds were starting to build, we didn't spend too long atop Griswold before heading over to Peak 10727. The descent from Griswold was pretty steep, probably class 3+ but it was fun downclimbing due to the generally stable rock. Once off the rock, it was easy slopes up to the summit of the peak. A cairn and summit register were atop the peak, placed by Rick Baugher in 2011. He chose the name "Coog" for the peak but we decided "Cougar Peak" sounded better. After spending some time enjoying the summit we decided to get back to the car. The descent was a little bit challenging because I forgot my map and we had to dead-reckon our way through the forest and back to the car. Descending the open slopes was fun, the wooded slopes were a little less fun, and it was a little bit of a slog following the bottom of the drainage back to the trailhead. Dan did a great job navigating as always!
The biggest event of the return trip was the Escape's "check engine" light coming on (it went off mysteriously a couple of days later). We did stop at the Burger Grill in Ketchum for some tasty burgers before finishing the drive back to Boise!
Griswold Peak / Cougar Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
We left Boise a little bit after 6am and began the long drive to Ketchum, over Trail Creek, and up the headwaters of the North Fork of the Big Lost River. Though the drive was long, the time flew by as Dan and I caught up on everything. Soon we were at the Hunter Creek trailhead and moving around 10am. We didn't follow the trail very long before we headed straight uphill toward the ridge leading to Griswold Peak. Gaining the ridge also proceeded pretty quickly and soon we were on the ridge with great views of Griswold Peak and the surrounding area. The ridge was an easy and enjoyable class 2 climb to the top, where we found a small cairn, a register, and a horde of flying ants. Fortunately, we were able to stay about 20' from the summit and avoid the ants for the most part.
Since the bugs were kind of annoying and the clouds were starting to build, we didn't spend too long atop Griswold before heading over to Peak 10727. The descent from Griswold was pretty steep, probably class 3+ but it was fun downclimbing due to the generally stable rock. Once off the rock, it was easy slopes up to the summit of the peak. A cairn and summit register were atop the peak, placed by Rick Baugher in 2011. He chose the name "Coog" for the peak but we decided "Cougar Peak" sounded better. After spending some time enjoying the summit we decided to get back to the car. The descent was a little bit challenging because I forgot my map and we had to dead-reckon our way through the forest and back to the car. Descending the open slopes was fun, the wooded slopes were a little less fun, and it was a little bit of a slog following the bottom of the drainage back to the trailhead. Dan did a great job navigating as always!
The biggest event of the return trip was the Escape's "check engine" light coming on (it went off mysteriously a couple of days later). We did stop at the Burger Grill in Ketchum for some tasty burgers before finishing the drive back to Boise!
Griswold Peak / Cougar Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Lockman Butte Hike
I hadn't hiked a peak since last August and finally found a good opportunity to remedy that. Katie was meeting a friend for lunch so I decided on a mid-afternoon hike to Lockman Butte, an obscure summit near Mountain Home not far from I-84. I wasn't sure how to best approach this "peak" and after driving around a bit I settled on an approach from the end of Canal Road on the northern fringe of Mountain Home. From here it was about two miles each way, crossing a dry ditch, two fences and passing some grazing cows.
The hike was very straightforward and crossed terrain consisting of exclusively low grasses, sage, and a few volcanic rocks. The wind was whipping out of the northwest but with temperatures in the 50s it wasn't unpleasant. Along the way I saw numerous cows, (two of which were deceased), an antelope, and a rabbit. The summit was actually surprisingly pleasant as it felt wilder than most other summits on the plain. I couldn't believe there was no road to the top and in general there are few roads in the area. The original surveyor's tripod (presumably from 1955) was still intact (but toppled) and the summit has expansive views of the plain which I really enjoy.
In retrospect, I think a better way to climb this peak is from Martha Ave. on the north side of the peak. This can be reached from either the Simco Road I-84 exit or Canyon Creek Road north of Mountain Home. Some dirt roads branch off from this road and approach the butte. This would likely allow avoiding the fence crossings and grazing animals.
Lockman Butte Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
The hike was very straightforward and crossed terrain consisting of exclusively low grasses, sage, and a few volcanic rocks. The wind was whipping out of the northwest but with temperatures in the 50s it wasn't unpleasant. Along the way I saw numerous cows, (two of which were deceased), an antelope, and a rabbit. The summit was actually surprisingly pleasant as it felt wilder than most other summits on the plain. I couldn't believe there was no road to the top and in general there are few roads in the area. The original surveyor's tripod (presumably from 1955) was still intact (but toppled) and the summit has expansive views of the plain which I really enjoy.
In retrospect, I think a better way to climb this peak is from Martha Ave. on the north side of the peak. This can be reached from either the Simco Road I-84 exit or Canyon Creek Road north of Mountain Home. Some dirt roads branch off from this road and approach the butte. This would likely allow avoiding the fence crossings and grazing animals.
Lockman Butte Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Mushroom Peak, Gladiator Peak, Peak 10185' Climb
Dan was in Hailey for work so we decided to join forces on a Saturday hike. After discussing various destinations, we chose three peaks in the Boulders: Mushroom Peak, Gladiator Peak, and Peak 10185'. Not only did this hike offer three peaks, it also gave the opportunity for Dan to find crampons that were lost on a snowshoe trip in the area this past Spring (sadly they were not found).
We approached by following roads heading toward the mouth of Westernhome Gulch, parking when we couldn't drive further. In hindsight, following the road up Gladiator Gulch to an actual trailhead would have been a better move. From our parking spot, we followed the old road (now a trail) to the mouth of Westernhome Gulch. From here it was very easy cross-country travel up the gulch and eventually to the summit ridge. We visited Mushroom Peak first and this was a steep but obstacle-free ascent up the ridge. Mushroom Peak has great views of the surrounding peaks and even glimpses of the Sawtooth Valley. It also contains a summit register left by Rick Baugher in 2002.
After leaving the summit, we headed over to Gladiator Peak, the highest of the three peaks. The ridge from Mushroom Peak was pretty gentle but did contain some low class 3 terrain just below the summit. This peak, which saw other summit visitors earlier in the day, also contains a summit register left by Rick Baugher.
Dan was not feeling very well so on the summit of Gladiator Peak, we decided that I would attempt Peak 10185' and Dan would wait in the basin below. I tried to be fast but the ridge over to Peak 10185' contains some class 3 terrain and route-finding issues that slowed me down. The summit block itself is somewhat steep and rotten, however I was able to find a rib to climb to the right of a scree ramp heading down the southeast face. This rib leads directly to the summit, which has no register but instead possesses an iron rod and a small cairn.
After a brief time on the summit, I headed back down the rib and scree slopes to meet Dan in the upper reaches of Gladiator Creek's basin. From here we followed the trail down the creek and back to the car. It was a great day but sadly we finished too late to stop in to the Hill City Saloon as we initially hoped to do. Maybe next time?
Mushroom Peak, Gladiator Peak, Peak 10185' Climb Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
We approached by following roads heading toward the mouth of Westernhome Gulch, parking when we couldn't drive further. In hindsight, following the road up Gladiator Gulch to an actual trailhead would have been a better move. From our parking spot, we followed the old road (now a trail) to the mouth of Westernhome Gulch. From here it was very easy cross-country travel up the gulch and eventually to the summit ridge. We visited Mushroom Peak first and this was a steep but obstacle-free ascent up the ridge. Mushroom Peak has great views of the surrounding peaks and even glimpses of the Sawtooth Valley. It also contains a summit register left by Rick Baugher in 2002.
After leaving the summit, we headed over to Gladiator Peak, the highest of the three peaks. The ridge from Mushroom Peak was pretty gentle but did contain some low class 3 terrain just below the summit. This peak, which saw other summit visitors earlier in the day, also contains a summit register left by Rick Baugher.
Dan was not feeling very well so on the summit of Gladiator Peak, we decided that I would attempt Peak 10185' and Dan would wait in the basin below. I tried to be fast but the ridge over to Peak 10185' contains some class 3 terrain and route-finding issues that slowed me down. The summit block itself is somewhat steep and rotten, however I was able to find a rib to climb to the right of a scree ramp heading down the southeast face. This rib leads directly to the summit, which has no register but instead possesses an iron rod and a small cairn.
After a brief time on the summit, I headed back down the rib and scree slopes to meet Dan in the upper reaches of Gladiator Creek's basin. From here we followed the trail down the creek and back to the car. It was a great day but sadly we finished too late to stop in to the Hill City Saloon as we initially hoped to do. Maybe next time?
Mushroom Peak, Gladiator Peak, Peak 10185' Climb Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
North Idaho Hiking July 2012
I had a business trip in Pullman so I decided to bolt on some hiking given that the weather forecast was perfect. I left Boise early Wednesday morning and upon reaching Banks, I parked at the junction with the Banks-Lowman Road and climbed Peak 3668'. This peak sits about 850' above the highway and made for a brisk morning climb. The footing is generally good and the route is very direct, only requiring about 0.4 miles to reach the summit. The summit is pretty flat but it does have decent views of the surrounding area.
Once back on the road, I left the highway in Cottonwood and drove to the summit of Cottonwood Butte, one of Idaho's 50 most prominent peaks. Upon reaching the top I was surprised to see a giant concrete abandoned building on the top and lots of other ruins. Later I would learn this summit was the site of the Cottonwood Air Force Station radar site in the 1950s and 1960s. The ruins were interesting and suggested a hatred of windows by the designers. The actual summit is a short distance from the ruins and features the foundation of a fire lookout, benchmark, and lots of radio towers. The summit has partial views of the surrounding area; climbing through the dark stairwell to the top of the abandoned radar building would likely yield much better results. I think this peak has more debris on the summit than any other I've visited anywhere.
I got to work just after 1PM and worked a half day. Once done with work, I headed to Bald Mountain, a drive-up peak which is also the highpoint of Latah County. The drive was longer than expected and when I reached the summit there were a group of people there who had rented the fire lookout! They said it is an incredible way to spend a night and even talked highly of spending a night up there during a lightning storm! They were also kind enough to let me walk around the top of the lookout and take a few pictures of the expansive, rolling terrain. After chatting a bit more, I began the drive back to Moscow where I was staying, arriving about 9PM after a long day!
Thursday was a regular day at work and after departing work I changed clothes then headed for Moscow Mountain. I wasn't sure how close to the summit I could get in the Civic but the road is drivable up to about 4300' which was closer than I thought. An intrepid 2WD driver could probably get further but the road gets pretty steep and sandy after where I parked. I made good time uphill and quickly found my way to East Moscow Mountain, which is clearly used for camping and has good views toward the south and Moscow. After taking a few pictures, I headed over to the main summit of Moscow Mountain. Due to mis-reading my map and a total lack of signage, I missed the turn to the summit and wasted some time heading too far west. After I corrected my mistake, I cruised up the road toward the summit. Eventually I crossed a gate which marked as private property but was also posted indicating foot traffic was permitted. I continued past an interesting collection of buildings after which the road deteriorated to something closer to overgrown singletrack. This continues all the way to the summit, an unremarkable collection of rocks sticking out amongst the surrounding brush. After taking a few pictures and noticing how low the sun was getting, I scampered back to the vehicle. This time I rolled into Moscow about 9:15 - another long day!
Friday involved no hiking - after leaving work at 6PM I simply embarked on the long drive home. I did get stopped by a WSP trooper just south of Pullman - he must've felt sorry for me driving back to Boise because he didn't give me a ticket! I got home at 2AM Saturday morning totally exhausted!
North Idaho July 2012 Pictures!
Once back on the road, I left the highway in Cottonwood and drove to the summit of Cottonwood Butte, one of Idaho's 50 most prominent peaks. Upon reaching the top I was surprised to see a giant concrete abandoned building on the top and lots of other ruins. Later I would learn this summit was the site of the Cottonwood Air Force Station radar site in the 1950s and 1960s. The ruins were interesting and suggested a hatred of windows by the designers. The actual summit is a short distance from the ruins and features the foundation of a fire lookout, benchmark, and lots of radio towers. The summit has partial views of the surrounding area; climbing through the dark stairwell to the top of the abandoned radar building would likely yield much better results. I think this peak has more debris on the summit than any other I've visited anywhere.
I got to work just after 1PM and worked a half day. Once done with work, I headed to Bald Mountain, a drive-up peak which is also the highpoint of Latah County. The drive was longer than expected and when I reached the summit there were a group of people there who had rented the fire lookout! They said it is an incredible way to spend a night and even talked highly of spending a night up there during a lightning storm! They were also kind enough to let me walk around the top of the lookout and take a few pictures of the expansive, rolling terrain. After chatting a bit more, I began the drive back to Moscow where I was staying, arriving about 9PM after a long day!
Thursday was a regular day at work and after departing work I changed clothes then headed for Moscow Mountain. I wasn't sure how close to the summit I could get in the Civic but the road is drivable up to about 4300' which was closer than I thought. An intrepid 2WD driver could probably get further but the road gets pretty steep and sandy after where I parked. I made good time uphill and quickly found my way to East Moscow Mountain, which is clearly used for camping and has good views toward the south and Moscow. After taking a few pictures, I headed over to the main summit of Moscow Mountain. Due to mis-reading my map and a total lack of signage, I missed the turn to the summit and wasted some time heading too far west. After I corrected my mistake, I cruised up the road toward the summit. Eventually I crossed a gate which marked as private property but was also posted indicating foot traffic was permitted. I continued past an interesting collection of buildings after which the road deteriorated to something closer to overgrown singletrack. This continues all the way to the summit, an unremarkable collection of rocks sticking out amongst the surrounding brush. After taking a few pictures and noticing how low the sun was getting, I scampered back to the vehicle. This time I rolled into Moscow about 9:15 - another long day!
Friday involved no hiking - after leaving work at 6PM I simply embarked on the long drive home. I did get stopped by a WSP trooper just south of Pullman - he must've felt sorry for me driving back to Boise because he didn't give me a ticket! I got home at 2AM Saturday morning totally exhausted!
North Idaho July 2012 Pictures!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Antares Peak and Pincer Peak Hike
Dan suggested a Monday hike of some peaks above Garfield Canyon. Both peakbagging and taking a day off work sounded amazing to me, so I was in. The trip also offered the possibility of one to three peaks based upon how strong we felt.
We left Dan's house at 6:15am and began the long drive to Garfield Canyon. About 3 hours later, we arrived and even attempted to drive past the normal parking spot at 6900'. However the road past this point was overgrown and we were forced to park shortly thereafter around 7000'. From here we hiked up the old mining road which was surprisingly washed out and overgrown. While not good for vehicles, the hiking along the road was good and we made great progress up the canyon. Soon we passed the mining ruins, which consisted of a crumbling mill, some decaying cabins, and lots of collapsed adits. We continued to follow the road above the mine but eventually we just headed cross-country toward the summit ridge of Antares Peak. This was a little steep in places but very straightforward.
After grinding up the last 600', we were on the summit of Antares Peak which has fantastic views of the entire Pioneer range and partial views of the Lost River Range. Other than some gusty wind, summit conditions were perfect. Surprisingly, we were only the second party since 1994 to sign the register! We were both feeling a little tired at this point so we decided we would climb the next peak (Peak 10650' aka Pincer Peak) and not climb Scorpion Mountain which was much further away.
The ridge from Antares Peak to Pincer Peak was fun and included a class 3 section near the saddle. After fighting fatigue on the traverse, we soon reached Pincer Peak, which naturally features similar views to its neighbor. After recharging for a little bit, we dropped off the summit and down to the south arm of Garfield Canyon, which was surprisingly devoid of mining detritus. After hiking through the brush, we eventually found the road and retraced our steps back to the vehicle.
This was a very enjoyable hike in a beautiful and seldom visited area. The ample mining debris provokes thoughts about the anonymous miners that used to live in this area over 100 years ago. I'm sure we'll be back one day to visit Scorpion Mountain!
Antares Peak / Pincer Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
We left Dan's house at 6:15am and began the long drive to Garfield Canyon. About 3 hours later, we arrived and even attempted to drive past the normal parking spot at 6900'. However the road past this point was overgrown and we were forced to park shortly thereafter around 7000'. From here we hiked up the old mining road which was surprisingly washed out and overgrown. While not good for vehicles, the hiking along the road was good and we made great progress up the canyon. Soon we passed the mining ruins, which consisted of a crumbling mill, some decaying cabins, and lots of collapsed adits. We continued to follow the road above the mine but eventually we just headed cross-country toward the summit ridge of Antares Peak. This was a little steep in places but very straightforward.
After grinding up the last 600', we were on the summit of Antares Peak which has fantastic views of the entire Pioneer range and partial views of the Lost River Range. Other than some gusty wind, summit conditions were perfect. Surprisingly, we were only the second party since 1994 to sign the register! We were both feeling a little tired at this point so we decided we would climb the next peak (Peak 10650' aka Pincer Peak) and not climb Scorpion Mountain which was much further away.
The ridge from Antares Peak to Pincer Peak was fun and included a class 3 section near the saddle. After fighting fatigue on the traverse, we soon reached Pincer Peak, which naturally features similar views to its neighbor. After recharging for a little bit, we dropped off the summit and down to the south arm of Garfield Canyon, which was surprisingly devoid of mining detritus. After hiking through the brush, we eventually found the road and retraced our steps back to the vehicle.
This was a very enjoyable hike in a beautiful and seldom visited area. The ample mining debris provokes thoughts about the anonymous miners that used to live in this area over 100 years ago. I'm sure we'll be back one day to visit Scorpion Mountain!
Antares Peak / Pincer Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Jerome County Highpoint Visit
Last Saturday, I happened to be passing through the Magic Valley so I opted to visit the Jerome County Highpoint, a very obscure spot north of I-84. While in the area, I decided I would visit a couple of other nearby summits as well.
I approached from the north, heading east from Shoshone and through Dietrich on ID-24. At the signed Sid Junction, I turned south for Sid Butte. This is a mostly good road which leads all the way to the top of this unremarkable butte. A car can probably make it all the way but high clearance could be helpful near the end. After walking around the summit for a bit, I returned back to the highway and continued east toward the Kimama rail siding. From Kimama I mostly followed Ken Jones' directions to the Jerome County Highpoint, although I deviated and took the 600 W Rd south instead because it is paved. These directions are still great and took me right to the highpoint!
The highpoint is marked by a cairn and has no register. It's an interesting spot on the edge of an ancient volcanic crater with expansive views of the Snake River Plain. I walked around the area quite a bit, taking photos and enjoying the nice weather. Despite seeing a rattlesnake on the approach road (about a mile from the highpoint), I didn't see any while on foot. Yay for that, since this area is notorious for them in the warmer months. My final stop was Kimama Butte, which is very close to the Jerome County Highpoint. This is your typical butte with a benchmark and several radio towers on top. Good views of the area but lots of RF exposure!
In short, while these are unimpressive summits with little hiking involved, I enjoyed the nice day exploring a seldom-visited part of the state!
Jerome County Highpoint Pictures!
I approached from the north, heading east from Shoshone and through Dietrich on ID-24. At the signed Sid Junction, I turned south for Sid Butte. This is a mostly good road which leads all the way to the top of this unremarkable butte. A car can probably make it all the way but high clearance could be helpful near the end. After walking around the summit for a bit, I returned back to the highway and continued east toward the Kimama rail siding. From Kimama I mostly followed Ken Jones' directions to the Jerome County Highpoint, although I deviated and took the 600 W Rd south instead because it is paved. These directions are still great and took me right to the highpoint!
The highpoint is marked by a cairn and has no register. It's an interesting spot on the edge of an ancient volcanic crater with expansive views of the Snake River Plain. I walked around the area quite a bit, taking photos and enjoying the nice weather. Despite seeing a rattlesnake on the approach road (about a mile from the highpoint), I didn't see any while on foot. Yay for that, since this area is notorious for them in the warmer months. My final stop was Kimama Butte, which is very close to the Jerome County Highpoint. This is your typical butte with a benchmark and several radio towers on top. Good views of the area but lots of RF exposure!
In short, while these are unimpressive summits with little hiking involved, I enjoyed the nice day exploring a seldom-visited part of the state!
Jerome County Highpoint Pictures!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Peak 5108' Kayak/Hike
It has been two years since I "kayak hiked" anything, so I decided to use Memorial Day to revisit this enjoyable approach to hiking. I selected obscure Peak 5108' near the tail of Arrowrock Reservoir. After sleeping in and then driving the windy, bumpy road along the reservoir, I reached the first available launch point just after noon. After pumping up the kayak and lugging it to the shore, I was on the water just after 12:30. Because this is near the tail of the reservoir, the kayak portion of the hike was very short (no more than 5 minutes each way).
Once across, I put on my shoes, stashed the kayak, and began the very steep hike up to the peak. The hike up was very direct and unrelenting, crossing open slopes dotted with numerous wildflowers. After about 90 minutes of what seemed like stair climbing, I reached the flat, brushy summit and walked around a bit looking for the high point in the brush. Despite the summit's lameness, there was no prior sign of summit visitation, which is unusual for a peak so close to Boise!
The peak has a great view of Arrowrock Reservoir and decent views of the surrounding area. After spending some time relaxing and refueling, I retraced my steps back to the shoreline and then across the reservoir. Another fun, short kayak hike!
Peak 5108' Kayak/Hike Pictures
Trip statistics: 0.3 miles kayaked (10 min), 2.25 miles hiked, 1900' gain, 2.5h
Once across, I put on my shoes, stashed the kayak, and began the very steep hike up to the peak. The hike up was very direct and unrelenting, crossing open slopes dotted with numerous wildflowers. After about 90 minutes of what seemed like stair climbing, I reached the flat, brushy summit and walked around a bit looking for the high point in the brush. Despite the summit's lameness, there was no prior sign of summit visitation, which is unusual for a peak so close to Boise!
The peak has a great view of Arrowrock Reservoir and decent views of the surrounding area. After spending some time relaxing and refueling, I retraced my steps back to the shoreline and then across the reservoir. Another fun, short kayak hike!
Peak 5108' Kayak/Hike Pictures
Trip statistics: 0.3 miles kayaked (10 min), 2.25 miles hiked, 1900' gain, 2.5h
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Idahosummits Spring 2012 Climb
For the first time in two years, I attended an Idahosummits.com group climb. I missed the previous three due to being out of town, too busy at work, and being a brand new father. This time, everything fell in place for a great outing. The destination was Peak 10027 in the Sawtooths. In order to take care of some things around the house Friday evening, I opted to drive up Saturday morning. I met John and Bob at 3:30am and we were soon on our way. The vehicle conversation was great and before we knew it we were at the Decker Flat camping area along the Salmon River. Here we met 13 happy campers getting ready for a fun day in the mountains!
After spending a little while in the 19° temperatures meeting people, we soon headed out to the Cabin Creek Trailhead near Alturas Lake. Due to snow drifts, we parked about 100 yards shy of the trailhead. We were soon on our way led by John, who had climbed this route before. Our large group (15 people on the trail, plus one more staying at the trailhead) made good time heading up the trail, then cross country to frozen Lake 8920+. From here we split up to ascend the peak in different ways, but most of us took the "easy" route to a saddle and then up to the summit ridge. We had a direct ascent to the summit, soon taking in the incredible views of the southern Sawtooths in shockingly warm and clear May weather! The views were amazing and we spent quite a bit of time enjoying each other's company (there were a total of 15 of us on the summit!) and the spectacular Sawtooth scenery.
Five of us (myself, Matt, Andrew, Jacob, and Nathan) opted to traverse to nearby McDonald Peak, so we left the rest of the group and headed over. The others headed straight for the trailhead while we made the traverse and soon enjoyed a similar summit experience from the slightly higher terrain of McDonald Peak. This took a little longer than expected and we finished with a long (but very pleasant) hike back to the trailhead. It is worth mentioning that aside from the perfect weather, the snow conditions were also perfect and I never needed snowshoes or crampons at any point during the day - even the soft afternoon snow supported our boots very well!
By the time we arrived at the vehicle, most everyone else had already left. After saying goodbye to Nathan, Andrew, Matt, and Russ, we dropped Jacob off at the campground before the three of us headed back to Boise. In short this was an awesome trip with great people, great weather, and great snow conditions - basically a perfect trip!
Idahosummits Spring 2012 Climb Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
John's Trip Report
Oleg's Pictures
Jacob's Pictures
Geo's Pictures
Idahosummits Forum Thread
After spending a little while in the 19° temperatures meeting people, we soon headed out to the Cabin Creek Trailhead near Alturas Lake. Due to snow drifts, we parked about 100 yards shy of the trailhead. We were soon on our way led by John, who had climbed this route before. Our large group (15 people on the trail, plus one more staying at the trailhead) made good time heading up the trail, then cross country to frozen Lake 8920+. From here we split up to ascend the peak in different ways, but most of us took the "easy" route to a saddle and then up to the summit ridge. We had a direct ascent to the summit, soon taking in the incredible views of the southern Sawtooths in shockingly warm and clear May weather! The views were amazing and we spent quite a bit of time enjoying each other's company (there were a total of 15 of us on the summit!) and the spectacular Sawtooth scenery.
Five of us (myself, Matt, Andrew, Jacob, and Nathan) opted to traverse to nearby McDonald Peak, so we left the rest of the group and headed over. The others headed straight for the trailhead while we made the traverse and soon enjoyed a similar summit experience from the slightly higher terrain of McDonald Peak. This took a little longer than expected and we finished with a long (but very pleasant) hike back to the trailhead. It is worth mentioning that aside from the perfect weather, the snow conditions were also perfect and I never needed snowshoes or crampons at any point during the day - even the soft afternoon snow supported our boots very well!
By the time we arrived at the vehicle, most everyone else had already left. After saying goodbye to Nathan, Andrew, Matt, and Russ, we dropped Jacob off at the campground before the three of us headed back to Boise. In short this was an awesome trip with great people, great weather, and great snow conditions - basically a perfect trip!
Idahosummits Spring 2012 Climb Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
John's Trip Report
Oleg's Pictures
Jacob's Pictures
Geo's Pictures
Idahosummits Forum Thread
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Peak 6526' and Peak 6336' Hike
To properly enjoy the great Spring weather we've been having, I went hiking in the Boise Mountains near Arrowrock Reservoir. The destination was Peak 6526' and Peak 6336', two little-known and seldom hiked peaks to the east of Mt Heinen.
I started from the Cottonwood Creek Trailhead off of FS-377. I headed straight up the trail, following Cottonwood Creek through surprisingly un-scenic terrain (thanks to past fires and the abundance of willows and chaparral). The trail starts off with a nice tread, complete with bridges across the rushing creek. After a mile or two, the trail deteriorates and you're on your own for crossing the creek. With the creek running high, I was forced to take off my boots at one point in order to cross. A couple of other washed out sections had to be carefully bypassed. I followed the trail up to elevation 5350', where I found a nice log to use for crossing. From here, I headed straight up to Peak 6526'. While direct, this route was marred by occasional thick brush and blowdowns. Soon I was on the summit, which looked very pristine except for the nicely cut stump right on the summit. At least the stump made for good sittin'! This peak offered good views of Thorn Creek Butte, a rarity in the lower Boise Mountains.
From this summit I followed the ridge over to Peak 6336'. This ridge is easy to follow but also features sections of annoying brush and deadfall. Soon I was atop Peak 6336' which featured similar views to its neighbor but with better visibility to Arrowrock Reservoir. After a brief summit break I decided to follow the ridge directly down to the trailhead rather than go back to Cottonwood Creek. Worried about possible brush battles, I headed down anyway. Initially the the brush was an issue but as I approached Point 5774' I found a very nice trail. This trail was at least as good as the actual Cottonwood Creek Trail and leads directly to the trailhead!
In short, this was a mostly enjoyable hike that feels very remote despite only being about an hour from Boise. The direct trail to Peak 6336' is highly recommended - the key is to take the (unmarked, but obvious) trail to the right of the official trailhead which proceeds straight ahead and uphill. The official trail (which I used to ascend) instead heads left to meet up with Cottonwood Creek.
Peak 6526' and Peak 6336' Hike Pictures!
Trip statistics: 11 miles, 3650' gain, 5.25 hours
I started from the Cottonwood Creek Trailhead off of FS-377. I headed straight up the trail, following Cottonwood Creek through surprisingly un-scenic terrain (thanks to past fires and the abundance of willows and chaparral). The trail starts off with a nice tread, complete with bridges across the rushing creek. After a mile or two, the trail deteriorates and you're on your own for crossing the creek. With the creek running high, I was forced to take off my boots at one point in order to cross. A couple of other washed out sections had to be carefully bypassed. I followed the trail up to elevation 5350', where I found a nice log to use for crossing. From here, I headed straight up to Peak 6526'. While direct, this route was marred by occasional thick brush and blowdowns. Soon I was on the summit, which looked very pristine except for the nicely cut stump right on the summit. At least the stump made for good sittin'! This peak offered good views of Thorn Creek Butte, a rarity in the lower Boise Mountains.
From this summit I followed the ridge over to Peak 6336'. This ridge is easy to follow but also features sections of annoying brush and deadfall. Soon I was atop Peak 6336' which featured similar views to its neighbor but with better visibility to Arrowrock Reservoir. After a brief summit break I decided to follow the ridge directly down to the trailhead rather than go back to Cottonwood Creek. Worried about possible brush battles, I headed down anyway. Initially the the brush was an issue but as I approached Point 5774' I found a very nice trail. This trail was at least as good as the actual Cottonwood Creek Trail and leads directly to the trailhead!
In short, this was a mostly enjoyable hike that feels very remote despite only being about an hour from Boise. The direct trail to Peak 6336' is highly recommended - the key is to take the (unmarked, but obvious) trail to the right of the official trailhead which proceeds straight ahead and uphill. The official trail (which I used to ascend) instead heads left to meet up with Cottonwood Creek.
Peak 6526' and Peak 6336' Hike Pictures!
Trip statistics: 11 miles, 3650' gain, 5.25 hours
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Bender Peak and Flat BM Hike
Last weekend I decided to go hiking in the Danskin Mountains outside of Boise. This has become a bit of a Spring ritual as the area is only enjoyable before the opening of ORV season on April 10. I decided to climb Bender Peak (a.k.a. Peak 4966') and Flat BM, two very minor summits which I'm sure rarely see visits from hikers. This hike was very near to last Spring's Hutton Peak and Fiddler BM Hike and was a very similar outdoor experience.
I decided to hike from the Bender Creek ORV trailhead. This was mostly for parking convenience as other places further along Blacks Creek Road would make for a shorter hike. I started up the trail and soon encountered another hiker, a shocking sight on an ATV trail. I continued to follow the ATV trail for awhile, passing some big washouts before reaching the spot where Bender Creek meets Flat Creek. Here I crossed the creek which was a little annoying due to high water and lots of willows. From this area I hiked straight up to the ridge leading to Bender Peak, which unsurprisingly had a motorcycle trail on it. This trail led straight to the top of Bender Peak, which has good views of the surrounding country. The views are very familiar to me by now but they never get old! After staying for a bit, I simply followed the motorcycle trail along the ridge over to Flat BM. Flat BM was most notable for not actually having a benchmark - at least, I couldn't find one anywhere, nor anywhere one likely would have been. The peak really needs another name but there isn't much remarkable about it to suggest anything better...
After taking in the very similar views, I headed back down, retracing most of my route but taking a few shortcuts. Interestingly, when I got back to the trailhead there was a USFS ranger parked waiting for two motorcyclists to return to their trucks. Hopefully the "poachers" got their ticket in the end!
Bender Peak/Flat BM Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
I decided to hike from the Bender Creek ORV trailhead. This was mostly for parking convenience as other places further along Blacks Creek Road would make for a shorter hike. I started up the trail and soon encountered another hiker, a shocking sight on an ATV trail. I continued to follow the ATV trail for awhile, passing some big washouts before reaching the spot where Bender Creek meets Flat Creek. Here I crossed the creek which was a little annoying due to high water and lots of willows. From this area I hiked straight up to the ridge leading to Bender Peak, which unsurprisingly had a motorcycle trail on it. This trail led straight to the top of Bender Peak, which has good views of the surrounding country. The views are very familiar to me by now but they never get old! After staying for a bit, I simply followed the motorcycle trail along the ridge over to Flat BM. Flat BM was most notable for not actually having a benchmark - at least, I couldn't find one anywhere, nor anywhere one likely would have been. The peak really needs another name but there isn't much remarkable about it to suggest anything better...
After taking in the very similar views, I headed back down, retracing most of my route but taking a few shortcuts. Interestingly, when I got back to the trailhead there was a USFS ranger parked waiting for two motorcyclists to return to their trucks. Hopefully the "poachers" got their ticket in the end!
Bender Peak/Flat BM Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
Sunday, March 25, 2012
New Job and Pullman Trip
On March 5th I started a new job as a software engineer at Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL), based out of their Boise office. For various reasons, it was time for a job change. However starting this new job required that I spend three weeks in Pullman, Washington, for training. We were able to stay in a three bedroom corporate apartment just across the street from the SEL campus. We drove down from Boise on the 4th and this was mostly uneventful except for Claire crying during the last hour. The plan was that the three of us would stay in Pullman for my first week and then Katie and Claire would spend the next two weeks with the Shepherd family in Vancouver (maybe Katie will blog about that?).
My first week at work was dominated by new employee orientation. We spent some time getting to know Pullman during the week before the three of us left for Vancouver on the evening of Friday the 9th. Claire cried during the first couple of hours of this trip but went to sleep for the rest of the ride. We arrived in Vancouver around 1:30am and were tired! I spent Saturday in Vancouver before heading back to Pullman on Sunday the 11th.
My next two weeks in Pullman were pretty predictable - working, getting trained, and checking out the area as best I could. It was sad being away from my family for so long but I did get better sleep than usual! The weather in Pullman was kind of crummy while I was there (lots of cold, rain, and snow) but there was a decent weekend that allowed me to hike nearby Kamiak Butte, drive up nearby Steptoe Butte, and snowshoe Mt Spokane and Mt Kit Carson outside of Spokane. It's an interesting area for sure but I definitely like Boise a lot more!
On Thursday the 22nd Katie and Claire returned to Pullman after being driven down by Katie's siblings Megan and Dave. They had a fun road trip together and we had a nice dinner at the South Fork Public House before going to bed. Megan and Dave left Pullman on Friday morning and the three of us left right after I finished work on Friday evening. Claire behaved pretty well on this final drive and we arrived in Boise around 12:45am on Saturday morning. Instead of relaxing Saturday, I spent the day at the Boise Code Camp. But at least Sunday was a relaxing day highlighted by brunch at Bob's Sunrise Cafe with Gary and Bonnie!
Pullman Pictures!
Kamiak Butte/Steptoe Butte Hike Pictures!
Mt Spokane/Mt Kit Carson Snowshoe Pictures!
My first week at work was dominated by new employee orientation. We spent some time getting to know Pullman during the week before the three of us left for Vancouver on the evening of Friday the 9th. Claire cried during the first couple of hours of this trip but went to sleep for the rest of the ride. We arrived in Vancouver around 1:30am and were tired! I spent Saturday in Vancouver before heading back to Pullman on Sunday the 11th.
My next two weeks in Pullman were pretty predictable - working, getting trained, and checking out the area as best I could. It was sad being away from my family for so long but I did get better sleep than usual! The weather in Pullman was kind of crummy while I was there (lots of cold, rain, and snow) but there was a decent weekend that allowed me to hike nearby Kamiak Butte, drive up nearby Steptoe Butte, and snowshoe Mt Spokane and Mt Kit Carson outside of Spokane. It's an interesting area for sure but I definitely like Boise a lot more!
On Thursday the 22nd Katie and Claire returned to Pullman after being driven down by Katie's siblings Megan and Dave. They had a fun road trip together and we had a nice dinner at the South Fork Public House before going to bed. Megan and Dave left Pullman on Friday morning and the three of us left right after I finished work on Friday evening. Claire behaved pretty well on this final drive and we arrived in Boise around 12:45am on Saturday morning. Instead of relaxing Saturday, I spent the day at the Boise Code Camp. But at least Sunday was a relaxing day highlighted by brunch at Bob's Sunrise Cafe with Gary and Bonnie!
Pullman Pictures!
Kamiak Butte/Steptoe Butte Hike Pictures!
Mt Spokane/Mt Kit Carson Snowshoe Pictures!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Another Birthday...
My birthday this year was on a Saturday, which meant I didn't need to take off from work. I slept in and with the weather looking iffy I decided I would plan my day in an impromptu fashion. With the late wake-up, I ended up deciding to hike some peaks outside of Mountain Home. I left the house around 11am and headed over. My first peak attempt failed due to access issues so I moved on to Peak 4008', a barely noticeable top along US-20. This was a very straightforward hike across sage and grassland. The "peak" has pretty unremarkable views but it surely is a seldom visited area. After completing this hike, I decided to head home rather than hike a second peak and risk delaying dinner.
Dinner was at The Twisted Timber, a local place known for good beer and more recently, pretty good pizza! The three of us had a great meal and we even got Claire home early enough for her usual bedtime. Getting old is no fun but at least I had fun doing it?
Birthday Hike Pictures!
Dinner was at The Twisted Timber, a local place known for good beer and more recently, pretty good pizza! The three of us had a great meal and we even got Claire home early enough for her usual bedtime. Getting old is no fun but at least I had fun doing it?
Birthday Hike Pictures!
Monday, January 16, 2012
McAfee Peak Snowshoe
With the winter weather still good, Dan and I went on another winter outing. This time we selected McAfee Peak in the Independence Mountains of Northern Nevada. The drive down was a little long and extended by our choice to use Maggie Summit and NV-226 to reach the peak. After leaving Boise at 5am, it was after 9am before we were hiking. We were amazed at how little snow there was at the 7800' trailhead!
The route to the peak follows a 4x4 road for awhile before crossing a mix of open and forested terrain to reach the summit ridge. The forested terrain was bouldery with a thin layer of snow which made things a little treacherous. It was the annoying "too much snow for boots, too little for snowshoeing" problem - I preferred snowshoes despite hearing them scraping rock much of the time. Eventually we got above the rocks and into deeper snow near the summit ridge. Once higher, the wind picked up and it started to get a little chilly. The summit ridge was even windier but with intermittent patches of bare rock and soft snow. We eventually got annoyed crossing rock and ditched the snowshoes, instead just hiking the last few hundred vertical feet to the summit.
The peak has great 360° views of a huge part of northern Nevada. Oh, and lots of brown terrain! Other than the steady wind at the summit, it was a perfect winter day. We relaxed for a bit (out of the wind), refueled, signed the register, and identified the nearby peaks. The descent was much easier and proceeded without issue. We were back to the vehicle in just over 6 hours having climbed a 10000' peak in January. Not bad!
On the way out we drove from Jack Creek Summit directly to NV-225 which got us home in 3 hours. This route was much faster but one that is rarely possible in mid-January!
McAfee Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
The route to the peak follows a 4x4 road for awhile before crossing a mix of open and forested terrain to reach the summit ridge. The forested terrain was bouldery with a thin layer of snow which made things a little treacherous. It was the annoying "too much snow for boots, too little for snowshoeing" problem - I preferred snowshoes despite hearing them scraping rock much of the time. Eventually we got above the rocks and into deeper snow near the summit ridge. Once higher, the wind picked up and it started to get a little chilly. The summit ridge was even windier but with intermittent patches of bare rock and soft snow. We eventually got annoyed crossing rock and ditched the snowshoes, instead just hiking the last few hundred vertical feet to the summit.
The peak has great 360° views of a huge part of northern Nevada. Oh, and lots of brown terrain! Other than the steady wind at the summit, it was a perfect winter day. We relaxed for a bit (out of the wind), refueled, signed the register, and identified the nearby peaks. The descent was much easier and proceeded without issue. We were back to the vehicle in just over 6 hours having climbed a 10000' peak in January. Not bad!
On the way out we drove from Jack Creek Summit directly to NV-225 which got us home in 3 hours. This route was much faster but one that is rarely possible in mid-January!
McAfee Peak Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Williams Peak Winter Hike
With the winter snowpack in Idaho being pathetic, Dan and I decided to ascend a big peak that is normally inaccessible in mid-winter. We chose Williams Peak in the Lost River Range, a peak with good vehicle access and a low-angle canyon approach. We left Boise just after 5am and were hiking just after 9am.
The ascent was very straightforward and the route up the canyon was much less difficult than we remembered from our last visit (climbing Mount Church and Donaldson Peak) in 2003. The canyon is a little bit brushy and rocky but almost always offers a decent route choice. The snow was not very deep in most places and we didn't even put on snowshoes until we reached 9000'. From there the snowshoes were really only helpful until we reached the summit ridge at 10000'. The final push to the summit was windier but on easy talus which was mostly blown clean of snow. Temperatures were likely in the low 30s and aside from the wind, it was quite pleasant!
The summit views were a little disappointing due to the clouds shrouding all of the nearby big peaks. However we were thankful that visibility was never a problem on our ascent. We retraced our route on descent and made it back to the vehicle before 4pm. On the way through Arco we stopped at the Deli Sandwich Shop which was pretty decent. Another dining option discovered!
Williams Peak Winter Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
The ascent was very straightforward and the route up the canyon was much less difficult than we remembered from our last visit (climbing Mount Church and Donaldson Peak) in 2003. The canyon is a little bit brushy and rocky but almost always offers a decent route choice. The snow was not very deep in most places and we didn't even put on snowshoes until we reached 9000'. From there the snowshoes were really only helpful until we reached the summit ridge at 10000'. The final push to the summit was windier but on easy talus which was mostly blown clean of snow. Temperatures were likely in the low 30s and aside from the wind, it was quite pleasant!
The summit views were a little disappointing due to the clouds shrouding all of the nearby big peaks. However we were thankful that visibility was never a problem on our ascent. We retraced our route on descent and made it back to the vehicle before 4pm. On the way through Arco we stopped at the Deli Sandwich Shop which was pretty decent. Another dining option discovered!
Williams Peak Winter Hike Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
Monday, December 12, 2011
Bull Mountain Snowshoe
Dan invited me on a snowshoe trip to Bull Mountain just over the Utah border. This peak is noted for being a county highpoint and for having substantial topological prominence. Dan had failed on this peak the weekend prior (due to bad weather and navigational errors) and was ready for revenge. We met at 5am and were soon heading to south central Idaho to bag the peak. After a stop in Burley crossed the Utah line and we were at the trailhead ready to go just before 9am. The weather was pretty good for us - mild temperatures (in the 30s), high clouds, and minimal wind.
We were able to make good progress up the ATV trail and thence to a smaller trail up Lake Fork. This trail started out good but was soon obscured by blowdowns in several places. Dan did an amazing job bypassing the obstructions and managing to find the trail fragments, making what would have been an arduous struggle through snowy forest into a reasonable endeavor. Eventually we worked our way high enough that we could see a clear path to the ridge leading to the summit. It was a steep grunt up to the ridge top, but from there it was a straightforward ascent to the very flat summit of Bull Mountain.
The summit views were great and took in some ranges I had not seen in a long time. Due to fog, we couldn't see the Great Salt Lake immediately to our south. The summit register was filled with familiar names from the county highpointing community and made for great reading. Other than the flatness of the summit, everything about this peak was great. Our descent was much quicker than our ascent and we were easily back on the interstate heading home before dark.
On the way home, we stopped at Wendy's in Burley. This choice was questionable due to the really slow service. The highlight of the Wendy's visit was the person in front of us who had to wait 5-10 minutes to get his order taken. After ordering a frosty, the cashier said "That's it?! If I had known you were only ordering a frosty, I would have taken your order much sooner!". Fortunately we didn't have to wait as long as he did for our orders but I left with a great memory of bad restaurant service.
In short, this was a very fun and rewarding snowshoe ascent under very pleasant conditions.
Bull Mountain Snowshoe Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
We were able to make good progress up the ATV trail and thence to a smaller trail up Lake Fork. This trail started out good but was soon obscured by blowdowns in several places. Dan did an amazing job bypassing the obstructions and managing to find the trail fragments, making what would have been an arduous struggle through snowy forest into a reasonable endeavor. Eventually we worked our way high enough that we could see a clear path to the ridge leading to the summit. It was a steep grunt up to the ridge top, but from there it was a straightforward ascent to the very flat summit of Bull Mountain.
The summit views were great and took in some ranges I had not seen in a long time. Due to fog, we couldn't see the Great Salt Lake immediately to our south. The summit register was filled with familiar names from the county highpointing community and made for great reading. Other than the flatness of the summit, everything about this peak was great. Our descent was much quicker than our ascent and we were easily back on the interstate heading home before dark.
On the way home, we stopped at Wendy's in Burley. This choice was questionable due to the really slow service. The highlight of the Wendy's visit was the person in front of us who had to wait 5-10 minutes to get his order taken. After ordering a frosty, the cashier said "That's it?! If I had known you were only ordering a frosty, I would have taken your order much sooner!". Fortunately we didn't have to wait as long as he did for our orders but I left with a great memory of bad restaurant service.
In short, this was a very fun and rewarding snowshoe ascent under very pleasant conditions.
Bull Mountain Snowshoe Pictures!
GPS Track
Dan's Trip Report
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Peak 5140' Hike
A few weeks ago, I embarked on a short hike in the Boise foothills above Robie Creek. The destination was Peak 5140', a little known peak in a mostly ignored area. After driving up Robie Creek and over Crooked Summit I parked at a suitable spot and began hiking up up the west slopes of the peak. The going was easy at first but got brushier as a I got higher. After slogging for a bit, I eventually reached the summit which was simply a mass of brush with no views. Disappointing, but not unexpected!
After a short time visiting the high areas in the brush, I decided I'd see if I could find a good route over to nearby Daggett Point. I quickly found a good trail and made nice progress, however soon I was surfing through heavy brush again slowly descending toward Daggett Creek. Since I had limited time, I chose to turn around and save Daggett Point for another day.
On the way out I decided to explore a third peak, Zephyr Ridge Point. A little bit of hiking from Crooked Summit revealed it has a house on top and is part of the Wilderness Ranch subdivision. At that point I lost interest and returned to the vehicle. Only one peak, but it was nice to see a nearby area that is seldom hiked.
Peak 5140' Pictures
Trip statistics: 3h, 4 miles, 1600' elevation gain
After a short time visiting the high areas in the brush, I decided I'd see if I could find a good route over to nearby Daggett Point. I quickly found a good trail and made nice progress, however soon I was surfing through heavy brush again slowly descending toward Daggett Creek. Since I had limited time, I chose to turn around and save Daggett Point for another day.
On the way out I decided to explore a third peak, Zephyr Ridge Point. A little bit of hiking from Crooked Summit revealed it has a house on top and is part of the Wilderness Ranch subdivision. At that point I lost interest and returned to the vehicle. Only one peak, but it was nice to see a nearby area that is seldom hiked.
Peak 5140' Pictures
Trip statistics: 3h, 4 miles, 1600' elevation gain
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