Borah Peak fell today on the list (on the second attempt if counting a lost try last year even before I knew about highpointing).
Rising up about 5300ft in just a bit over 3 miles it is one of, if not the, steepest highpoint hikes. It nevertheless starts like a forest path. Actually you fist climb a little to get INTO the forest zone, the valley is quite dry and won't allow larger vegetation than bushes. Then you stay in the tree zone for a few thousand feet (700m) before you exist the tree zone again in the alpine zone.
The picture above shows the start of the tree zone. Below you see the gravel road leading toa small campsite at the trailhead.
The trail leading up towards the chicken out ridge show some beautiful views as long as the weather is cooperation. Actually if the weather takes a turn for the worse then getting of the trail which is on very exposed peaks and ridges is a sound idea. Below you can see the chicken out ridge starting behind the peak in the foreground on right, and leading up to the snow bridge, which at the time of passing was actually melted on the top, so one didn't need crampons.
On the picture below the peak is seen to the left (the seemingly lower peak).
From above the trail selection to and away from chicken out ridge (from 11 300 ft to 11 600 ft) and most of the ridge itself is kind of obvious, from below however it was harder to see, and I ended up taking less traveled paths a couple of times, nothing that presented any major problems (class 3), but the longer stretches made the arms somewhat tired, and I had stated getting quite affected by the altitude at this time, having flown in from Michigan late the previous night. The picture below taken with my phone on the way down shows some people here and there on the different possible paths. Seeing other people is actually a very nice help for deciding path if you are uncertain or lack a guide book.
The nature surrounding the peak is mostly made up of other jagged peaks, but there were a few pretty glacial lakes and pretty valleys.
It is one mean mountain, and a effort larger than expected, but very happy to have it ticked off on the list!
Stats:
State: Idaho
High point: Borah Peak
Elevation: 12 662 ft (3 859.4 m)
Date: September 10, 2011
Total elevation to date: 172 067 ft (52 446 m)
Access: Hike, class 3, 7.5h round trip
Difficulty rating (of 10): 8
Potential Difficulties: Altitude acclimatization, inclement weather, path selection on chicken out ridge.
Rising up about 5300ft in just a bit over 3 miles it is one of, if not the, steepest highpoint hikes. It nevertheless starts like a forest path. Actually you fist climb a little to get INTO the forest zone, the valley is quite dry and won't allow larger vegetation than bushes. Then you stay in the tree zone for a few thousand feet (700m) before you exist the tree zone again in the alpine zone.
The picture above shows the start of the tree zone. Below you see the gravel road leading toa small campsite at the trailhead.
The trail leading up towards the chicken out ridge show some beautiful views as long as the weather is cooperation. Actually if the weather takes a turn for the worse then getting of the trail which is on very exposed peaks and ridges is a sound idea. Below you can see the chicken out ridge starting behind the peak in the foreground on right, and leading up to the snow bridge, which at the time of passing was actually melted on the top, so one didn't need crampons.
On the picture below the peak is seen to the left (the seemingly lower peak).
From above the trail selection to and away from chicken out ridge (from 11 300 ft to 11 600 ft) and most of the ridge itself is kind of obvious, from below however it was harder to see, and I ended up taking less traveled paths a couple of times, nothing that presented any major problems (class 3), but the longer stretches made the arms somewhat tired, and I had stated getting quite affected by the altitude at this time, having flown in from Michigan late the previous night. The picture below taken with my phone on the way down shows some people here and there on the different possible paths. Seeing other people is actually a very nice help for deciding path if you are uncertain or lack a guide book.
The nature surrounding the peak is mostly made up of other jagged peaks, but there were a few pretty glacial lakes and pretty valleys.
It is one mean mountain, and a effort larger than expected, but very happy to have it ticked off on the list!
Stats:
State: Idaho
High point: Borah Peak
Elevation: 12 662 ft (3 859.4 m)
Date: September 10, 2011
Total elevation to date: 172 067 ft (52 446 m)
Access: Hike, class 3, 7.5h round trip
Difficulty rating (of 10): 8
Potential Difficulties: Altitude acclimatization, inclement weather, path selection on chicken out ridge.
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