I just limped in from climbing Mt. Borah, at 12,662' the highest peak in Idaho. The photos are at Mt. Borah. It was 4.5 miles in distance from the car, with about 5600' of elevation gain. Quite a bit of it is on a rough trail, but some was scrambling over a ridge that was exposed on both sides. That ridge is called chickenout ridge, for good reason. After the ridge, you have to downclimb about 20 feet of steep rock to a 30 feet long horizontal snow ridge, with steep dropoffs down snow fields on both sides. I was going pretty steady to 12,000' then really slowed down. I was taking rests every 20 feet or so. On the way down, my knees were really tired, and I really used my hiking poles for stepping down from rock to rock.
The snow ridge was no big deal. I carried an ice axe, and didn't even use it. The top of the ridge had fairly deep footprints and snow was not icy, so you just walked across. If you started sliding down the snow slopes, it would not be pretty, but just don't get started.
I really liked my hiking poles, and this was the first time I have ever used them. I took 3 liters of water, drank liberally all day, and was out of water about an hour from the car on the way down.
It got hot, and if the weather goes bad, it could get very cold very quickly, so dress accordingly.
When you reach chickenout ridge, the trail basically dead ends at a rock wall. YOu think, "what the ...? Where did the trail go?" I was tempted to angle to the right at that point, and found that was not the way. I had to climb straight up a steep headwall. (of course in that situation you can't just go back, as that would confirm that you had made a routefinding mistake)
Instead, at the first cliff, go straight up it, then weave in and out on the ridge that follows. It is a bit exposed, but the rock is solid, the handholds plentiful, and just keep 3 points of contact at all times. Its scary enough that you are fully concentrating, and not likely to make slips ups.
When the way is blocked by insurrmountable rocks, go around them to the left. That happens twice. When you get to the last little cliff before the snow ridge, you just have to downclimb it. Its steep, but has good handholds if you go slow and find them. One guy was there with his kids, and he belayed them down. I would with my kids too.
Other than the ridge, its a rough trail. It is punishing and exhausting though. It was 4 hours up and 4.5 hours down for me. You need to leave the cars by 6am or 7am at the latest.
Great work. I feel like I went with you. SMN
Posted by: Nipper | November 10, 2004 at 05:09 PM
i climbed Mt.Borah to the VERY top, without gear, this was the summer going into my 8th grade year, me and my sister didnt' read the handbook very well and we went up the way that the book tells you NOT to go. we're lucky we didn't die, there were many circumstances where we almost did. I think we learned our lesson!
~noneofurbiz~
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oops...
Posted by: noneofurbiz | June 08, 2007 at 12:24 PM
He built this, and has ridden it for a year, with no problems. It sure looks beautiful! More great bicycle stuff at his site, BME.
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