Of all of idahos stunning mountains, it seems strange that our states tallest peak borah peak, a. There are several routes that can be taken in order to reach the summit with different levels of difficulty depending on the season. At 12,662 feet, it is idahos highest peak and is usually called mount borah, or just borah by idahoans. Aac publications fall on snow, loss of controlvoluntary. The prime season to climb mount borah is from midjuly to midseptember. The vast majority of climbers reach the summit via borahs standard route, the southwest chicken out ridge. The other main author is jerry painter, who is an outdoor columnist for the idaho falls post register and has written several hiking guidebooks. The standard route, aptly named chickenout ridge, is a semiexposed. Cramponcompatible mountain boots if doing an earlyseason climb typically. Heres a video showing the beginning to end hike through chicken out ridge, all the way to the top of mount borah. This riverfront camping cabin is located near mount borah in idaho and can accommodate five guests. Borah peak, leatherman peak, mount church, mount breitenbach, lost river mountain, mount idaho, donaldson peak, and two unnamed peaks.
Whether its a technical ascent of the great west wall of elephants perch or a scramble to the summit of 12,662foot mount borah, heres your key to high adventure in idaho. Theres a mention on this forum of borah being climbed around the end of april but nothing more recent. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until october. This road turns into trail creek road closed in winter. If you can run 20 miles a week, or climb 1,000 feet in an hour, you should. The mere thought of it dredged up bad associations, and at first i told them i wasnt going to join them. Borah peak is the highest summit on massive mount borah. Idahos highest peak 12,668 feet resides in the lost river range in east central idaho. Mount borah is idahos highest peak and a rite of passage for idahoans and high pointers alike. A guide to the states greatest hiking adventures state hiking guides series. Her awardwinning books provide hiking, biking, and horseback riding enthusiasts with the information needed to explore idahos spectacular mountains.
The elevation difference from trailhead to peak is 5200 vertical feet, which is gained over about 4 miles. Not knowing your comfort level, the axe and crampons might be required. Tom lopez, aficionado of all things vertical and author of idaho. The peak was scarred on the western side, and the mark is still visible.
Lost river borah is the tallest peak in idaho and is located amongst the most rugged mountains in the state, the lost river range. A climbing guide, lists borah on his top 10 climbs in idaho. There are nine peaks in idaho over 12,000, and mount borah is the tallest on the 12er list at 12,662. The private bedroom has a queensize bed and the main room has a second queensize bed and a sofa bed. Includes the trails, approaches, and access information for idahos peaks. Local man survives night in the wilderness on mount borah david ashby, idaho state journal. Borah peak is a brutally steep trail, especially in the first hour or so, and you gain so much elevation so quickly that you have a spectacular view.
During the earthquake, mount borah rose an estimated 15 feet, and the valley below dropped 15 feet. Mount borah or simply borah, by virtue of being idahos highest point. Borah peak, or mount borahwhichever you prefer, rises to a height of 12,662 feet to claim the highest point in idaho. The peak lies in a tectonically active district, and in 1983 it was the epicentre of an. At 12,662 feet, borah peak offers a formidable trek and very rewarding summit for hikers and mountaineers. The strongest earthquake in idaho occurred along the fault line in 1983 and rose the peak of mt. Despite that, shed never climbed nearby 12,662foot mount. Well, this page presents an overview of mount borahs climbing routes and provides links to pages where the routes are covered in continue reading. Theres a snow crossing at the end of chickenout ridge that can have a pretty long runout down the north side of the ridge.
City intensity reports from the borah peak earthquake as though they were getting the reports. This is the highest peak in all of idaho, standing 12,662 ft along the lost river range. There is an entire section dedicated to driving, route, and trail directions of idaho s 12,000. Many of the lofty summits of this faultblock range rise over 5000 vertical feet from the valley floor making these the biggest mountain faces in idaho.
Hiking idahos tallest peak, mount borah2010 youtube. The mostreferenced guidebook for idaho climbers includes the trails, approaches, and access information for idahos peaks whether its a technical ascent of the great west wall of elephants perch or a scramble to the summit of 12,662foot mount borah, heres your key to high adventure in idaho. Dont venture into the cool, mountain regions of idaho without first trekking. The mostreferenced guidebook for idaho climbers includes the trails, approaches, and access information for idahos peaks whether its a technical ascent of the great west wall of elephants perch or a scramble to the summit of 12,662foot mount. While there is some exposure on parts of chickenout ridge, if youre with someone to help you stay on the class 3 stuff then i think its doable even for someone new to scrambling, as long as there isnt any snow besides whats usually. The semiarid lost river range has 9 of idahos 11 peaks over 12,000 feet. Pocatello man survives night in the wilderness on mount borah. Show borah peak earthquake slide set some are available on the 1995 borah peak workshop page, full set available from the idaho geological surveys main office iv.
Climb mount borah, borah peak trailhead the outbound. Borah peak was an awesome hike that i would recommend to anyone looking for a good hiking adventure. The main guide i used to scramble to the nine 12ers of idaho is a book by margaret fuller entitled hiking eastern idaho. Mount borah is idahos highest peak and a rite of passage for idahoans and. While not terribly difficult, hikers must pass over a short stretch of class 3 rock with much exposure. At 12,662 ft borah peak is the monarch of the lost river range, highest mountain in idaho. Second climber in two weeks rescued from borah peak the. On june, 1987, david probst 38, who was a member of the idaho mountain search and rescue unit for several years, was descending mount borah 3950 meters with three friends when he fell 150 meters to his death. Mount borah would receive so little attention, especially compared to its sawtooth sister range to the west. Borah peak mountain, idaho, united states britannica.
The standard route comes from the southwest, and crosses the famous chicken out ridge. The traditional borah hiking route begins at 7,400 feet and climbs to 12,662. Climb mount borah, borah peak trailhead the outbound collective. Borah is one of three peaks in idaho the other two are diamond peak and he devil that have 5,000 feet or more of prominence. Climbing idahos borah peak tips for your first trip idaho statesman. The range includes many of the tallest peaks in idaho including mount borah. Borah peak, peak in lost river range in custer county, idaho, u. It is the states busiest peak, with folks coming from all over to climb the highest point in idaho. Local man survives night in the wilderness on mount borah. In terms of elevation, idahos borah peak ranks eleventh on this list.
This is a very strenuous trail with 3040% grade for most of the way. Follow the borah peak access road 3 miles to the trailhead. A beginners guide to climbing mount borah visit idaho. Anything thrown off the summit could kill or injure them. Borah, chickenout ridge, idaho as a member of the sun valley summer symphony, i am lucky enough to spend 3 weeks of every year in ketchum, idand get paid to do it. The weather forecast for borah peak or mount borah is. Borah peak lies in the lost river mountain range of the challis national forest. Its a day of steep walking, some handoverhand scrambling and some steep dropping. Climbing idahos borah peak tips for your first trip.
Rising high above the sage brush covered landscape, mount borah is the tallest mountain in idaho and is referred to as the roof of idaho. Down river 60 miles from borah, its waters disappear in the porous lava flows of the arco desert to the south. Take in spectacular mountain vistas atop the tallest peak in idaho. Learn more about climbing in idaho by visiting the authors website. Mount borah, the states highest peak at 12,662 feet, looks out over the sweeping plains near mackay, beckoning hikers and climbers to ascend its slopes. Known locally as mount borah rather than borah peak, this mountain boasts nearly 6000 feet of prominence, making it one of the rare prized ultraprominence peaks. The 1983 borah peak earthquake occurred on friday, october 28, at 8. This striking mountain dominates the skyline from much of highway 93 to the west. Mount borah has been summited every month of the year, though the best season to climb is late summer or early fall. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of borah peak or mount borah, as well as the logistics of climbing to the summit. I was working as a copy editor at the idaho falls post register at the time, and some coworkers were planning a hike on the mountain. Mount borah rose about 1 foot 30 cm and the lost river valley in that vicinity dropped about 8 feet 2.
Whether its a technical ascent of the great west wall of elephants perch or a scramble to the summit of 12,662foot mount borah, heres your key to high adventure. Its a day of steep walking, some handoverhand scrambling and. The mountain towers some 5,250 feet above the lost river valley and provides the adventurous hiker with the ground to test their climbing mettle. The west ridge is the standard route and is about 4 miles long one way and gains over 5200ft in elevation. Mount borah standard route sawtooth mountain guides. The easiest route to the summit is a trail that ascends the infamous chicken out ridge. Strange as it sounds, the lava is a great sponge, sopping up the water, and releasing it a hundred miles to the southwest in the hagerman valley of the snake river. Between hiking baldy in the morning, eating at the subshack for lunch, playing with a great orchestra in the evening, and finishing off the day eating burgers and drinking. This behemoth is part of the lost river range in the central part of the state.
For my april 26 story in the idaho statesman s special hiking edition, i drew on my experience having climbed borah peak six times with groups in seven to. That was my first battle with mount borah a sweeping defeat. Hiking season all year long things to see mountain views summit. It all started when milburn and a neighbor, joe tamasco, took a trip to central idaho to hike up mount borah. Climbing information, pictures and map for borah peak, the idaho state highpoint. The mostreferenced guidebook for idaho climbers includes the trails, approaches, and. I had only slept a few hours the night before so i was trying to take a few cat naps. Mount borah was officially named borah peak in 1929. Although a decent trail does snake its way to the top of the mt. Borah peak hiking trail near challis, idaho, united.
Camping cabin near mount borah in idaho glamping hub. The mostreferenced guidebook for idaho climbers includes the trails, approaches, and access information for idaho s peaks whether its a technical ascent of the great west wall of elephants perch or a scramble to the summit of 12,662foot mount borah, heres your key to high adventure in idaho. Sawtooth mountain guides knows the mountain intimately and has helped thousands of climbers reach their goal of standing on borah s summit. Please submit any useful information about climbing borah peak or mount borah that may be useful to other climbers. Sam robertson, of boise, enjoys the view from the top of borah peak in idaho looking south on the lost river range. Challis, idaho, native mckinsey bruning grew up with the salmon river in her backyard, born and raised doing all things outdoors.