JasonG

Trip: Borah Peak - Southwest - "Chicken Out"- Ridge Trip Date: 06/29/2024 Trip Report: This past summer I went on a month long, 4300+ mile, road trip with the family all over the West. Mostly we were seeing National Parks that my wife and kids had never been to, but I managed to plan 3 state high points into the itinerary. Borah Peak (12,662') was the first up, coming after a tour through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. As with all the state high points, Borah has an abundance of beta online so I'll spare you all the nerdy details and mostly share impressions and photos. First, I thought this was a peak worth doing. There is fantastic camping close by at the Joe Fallini Campground, which is cheap and right on a lake with decent swimming and fishing. This campground is about a 30m drive to the trailhead (if you don't blast past it like we did), which puts you in easy striking distance for an alpine start. The views start quickly and expand. There aren't a lot of trees in the Lost River Range and it was fun to see an entirely different range where I basically knew none of the summits. Soon we were up above treeline and the aptly named "Chicken Out" ridge came into view: As did Mt. Morrison: At the base of the knife edge portion of the ridge, my wife and youngest opted to turn back but surprisingly my oldest stuck right on my tail. I had a quick chat with him to make sure he understood that while it wasn't overly difficult (exposed 3rd/4th class), a fall would likely be very, very bad. He said he was fine and was moving calmly and confidently, and so we continued upward. Where the knife edge ends, there was a small snow saddle to cross. Again, not hard, but with a terrible and steep runout. Again, another chat. This time I insisted in tying on a 30m length of 6mm cord I had brought so as to keep my son from a very long ride should he slip out of the steps and not arrest. Of course, he was fine, but I felt better with the added security. And then the real slogging began. We were over 11k with the summit in sight, and surprisingly all by ourselves. My son began to slow way down in the thin air. It was by far the highest he had ever been but appeared to be in good spirits and so we just kept chugging upwards. And then, we made it, finding one other dude up there taking a nap. I think we may have surprised him. We hung around in excellent weather for at least an hour, reading the register, taking in the views, and generally enjoying a perfect day on a high peak. It doesn't get much better! But, of course, all good things must end and so we turned around to begin the 5k+ of downward staggering. Here's a view back at the summit after we had dropped about 1500': And then to reverse Chicken Out Ridge.... of which I was a bit nervous for my son, but he of course thought that it was all just a great adventure: Looking back at the upper mountain from just above treeline: We finished the day back at Joe Fallini Campground, treated to a beautiful sunset as the cattle lowed in the distance. The next day we would begin the trek SE to King's Peak in Utah for a 4th of July Ascent (in the next installment!)... Gear Notes: Poles, helmet (optional), crampons/axe if snowy Approach Notes: The trailhead is located north of Mackay, Idaho along US-93. Look for the signed turn between Mile Markers 129 and 130. Drive to the end of the road where there is camping and an outhouse. It is a bit grungy there, however, and much preferred BLM's Joe Fallini Campground close by.

4. Isn't July considered quite late for the Alaska range? I have no direct experience, just that it seems everyone goes earlier in May/June.

That is a lot of cool country and some adventure to boot! The teases of your various mini-epics are pretty great, glad you lived to tell the tale!

I'll buy it! Will send you an email....

This is nearly 20 years ago.....I doubt any of us are to be trusted with our recollections from that far back. Why now @JTCB?

Bachar

Royal Robbins Fritz Weissner Fred? Marc-André Leclerc

So psyched, so tough, so young! Enjoyed the stories in this TR @Michael Telstad, I really appreciate you taking the time to post them. But don't stop with the TRs! You had to be doing a lot more climbing this past year....

paging @Eric Gilbertson!

And, if you haven't yet, go leashless.

Great song!

And what happened to the triumphant return of @jon? Do we have to start slandering him?

\ No.

Yeah @Rad, but we're still here and still real. The mods and @olyclimber keep the bots at bay so ......it's just us. But we're old and don't care about fighting anymore. Sorry @Fairweather!

We need some young 'uns to make fun of us gentrified armchair mountaineers. C'mon, we can take it! I think?

Thanks for bumping this @olyclimber! I needed to remember to use the time height products off the atmos site! (and that's quite the storm coming in tomorrow night!)

Impressive amount of work, thanks!

NICE!!

I've heard from rangers that this is part of it, but mostly they feel that they can't have sledding without ranger supervision. And since they don't have enough staff in the winter to "supervise" visitors adequately, no sledding for anyone. Because, you know, us serfs aren't to be trusted. We might destroy "park resources" and hurt ourselves without big brother's protective gaze upon us at all times.

I'm not sure if any of us would handle that sort of wealth, and the platform it provides, very well. It is sort of mind boggling what is possible when you have unlimited money and visibility.....and nobody to say, "uhhhh, hold on a second Elon."

I really wonder why NPS continues to be so lame. Serious question, even if poorly worded. I don't think you can blame it all on staffing. There appears to be a significant cultural shift in the agency over the past 30 years. My boys don't need big brother (or even dad) telling them where to sled. Might they get hurt? Sure. That's nature for you. They could very well not be smart enough to reproduce, but I don't need NPS telling me that. Maybe we shouldn't let people climb the mountain? Seems dangerous.

Wait, no sledding??? Sheesh.

The long sleeping alpine beast has awakened!