Kirk B. - Mar 13, 2013 11:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2011
Just the 1st time
Kind of a slog, but I dug the views, even though they were mostly obscured by mountains in most directions(!)
Headed up there again real soon. Like this coming Friday.
joshua.cook - Mar 5, 2013 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2004
Borah
Third time up this mountain, everytime I do it I tell myself this is the last time...great hike as always!!
kylefrowe - Jan 6, 2013 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2012
smoky
poor air quality pretty sunrise
ClimberJon - Dec 24, 2012 1:57 am Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2012
1st Ascent
Lots of smoke the day I climbed, made for low visibility, and reduced oxygen. Great hike though, made it up in just over 6 hours.
Props - Oct 1, 2012 9:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Great Peak
When my friends and I arrived at the snow bridge, it was icy and frozen solid. I was the only member of my group that didn't bring anything I could self arrest with and, even though my friends made it across o.k., something just didn't feel right. I turned back. Beautiful day and great mountain, just a bummer I didn't summit. Still feel good about my decision though.
Fun Hike! Took us about 7 hours round trip! Kept waiting for "chicken out ridge" and realized, when we were about 30 mins from the top, that we had passed it much earlier... My friend's little dog made it too. Fun Fun!!
joshuaray - Sep 4, 2012 12:06 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2011
Borah
Terrific views!! Had some struggles on Chicken Out Ridge, but made it across. Very fun to be on the top of Idaho!
DougBenton - Aug 12, 2012 10:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2010
Wonderful hike!
Had a great solo experience! What a day!
ALM4400 - Aug 6, 2012 1:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2012
Borahpalooza!
A great day in the hills. It was pretty crowded but still a great climb.
joseyinnet - Aug 1, 2012 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
Not nearly as hard as expected
I think I pretty much psyched myself out of this one before heading up, because it was a lot easier than I expected. Don't get me wrong, still quite a few challenges, but incredibly fun. Really great weather too. Unfortunately I found out too late that my camera was broken. Guess I'll have to do it again some time with a decent camera. State #16
McCannster - Aug 1, 2012 10:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2012
#21
Bluebird day with very little wind. Quite a steep hike, fun scrambling up higher if you stick to the ridgeline. 21st state highpoint.
I made my 29th ascent of Mt Borah on Wednesday by way of a new route that starts on the East Face and finishes on the Northeast Ridge route. 16 pitches of snow, rock, more snow and even a bit of WI2 water ice. One more? We'll see next year.
I've been up Borah 29 times now and I have to agree, there are a couple of places where you could fall a hundred feet or more. In particular, the short hand/foot traverse from the "V" notch to the Tan Band is one of those places. Granted, you won't free fall 100 feet but you sure could take a nasty fall there.
ScottN - Jul 18, 2012 3:32 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Repeat - Success
I climbed Borah Peak as a Boy Scout, now almost two decades later it's fun to recall parts of that climb. Chicken out ridge was longer with more scrambling than I remembered. The highlight of my first trip was the down climb and crossing the snow/ice glacier at the end of chicken out ridge. This trip my highlight was probably the magnificent view from the summit of the mountains to the east. Also the rush of being at 12,662 feet and breathing the thin air felt pretty cool.
I summited with my brother and my sister-in-law... who both had each made several attempts but not reached the summit.
So the hike was a repeat and a success.
droot - Jul 3, 2012 11:42 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2011
Fresh snow
We woke up early in the morning to find that 4-5 inches of fresh snow had fallen above about 10,000'. Quite a few people at the trailhead decided not to climb it that day because of that. We went ahead and started anyways.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect about COR, as I had read some people calling it class 4, while others saying 3. After a steep climb, we finally arrived at COR. It is not class 4, maybe class 3+. There was one move to make it to the permanent snow field that I might have considered class 4 though.
At this point the summit was visible, and even though there was the 4 inches of fresh snow, it wasn't too bad, and we made the summit at 11 in the morning. Beautiful day from the top of Idaho!
Sorry, but I have to disagree. This is how REI defines class 3: "Climbing steep a hillside, moderate exposure, a rope may be carried but not used, and hands are used in climbing. A short fall could be possible." And this is how they define class 4: "It is steeper yet, exposed and most people use a rope due to the potential of long falls.". Apparently, it is not the scarcity of the foot and hand holds that separates class 4 from class 3, rather long vs. short falls. And potential falls on COR are by any measure the long ones. More than once you are on your fingers and toes over couple hundred feet drop-off - that's class 4. Subway hike at Zion requires at least 3 rappels, and it's still class 3, because the drop-offs are no more than 10 feet, and a fall would result in no more than twisted ankle. And "vertigo" does change class for some - half dozen people died on "Angel's landing" hike, even though it's just class 2.
RonGeorge4 - May 28, 2012 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
Borah Peak
Made it to the top after resting and hydrating just before chicken out ridge. The group I was with went on with out me after my insistance. Later they were surprised to see me asending when they were returning from the sumit. I did a stupid thing. I left my treking poles near the base of chicken out ridge near where others had left their poles. When I returned from the summit, they were no where to be found. I was awfully walking down the mountain with out them.
Sorry, but I have to clarify this a little. "Foot and hand holds are good and abundant" does mean that it is class three. The inability of a climber to negotiate or find those hand holds does not change the class. Having an "experienced friend" with you does not change climbing class either. It will only help you negotiate in the same way that a GPS will help you navigate. Better shoes will not change the length of a mile. "Vertigo" does not change class. Put a Class III ridge from Borah on a hill near Boise and it is still a class III ridge. I am not trying to tear apart your post, but to put class 4 and 5 on this WILL scare people off. The truth of the matter is that Chicken out ridge is about a class 3 scramble. Some people will negotiate it more easily than others depending on their experience and capabilities. This does not change the class. This is not a trail to the top of a hill, this is a climb. There is some risk and there is some exposure. People should not attempt it if they are not comfortable finding and using available hand and foot holds as that is what a class 3 is. I appreciate your post, but do not want people to be mislead. I have climbed Borah 3 times and had I read your post prior to my first attempt, I probably would not have gone even though I am completely capable. I do appreciate your advice to take someone along that is more experienced. Anyone can benefit from that.
Kirk B. - Mar 13, 2013 11:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2011
Just the 1st timeKind of a slog, but I dug the views, even though they were mostly obscured by mountains in most directions(!)
Headed up there again real soon. Like this coming Friday.
joshua.cook - Mar 5, 2013 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2004
BorahThird time up this mountain, everytime I do it I tell myself this is the last time...great hike as always!!
kylefrowe - Jan 6, 2013 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2012
smokypoor air quality pretty sunrise
ClimberJon - Dec 24, 2012 1:57 am Date Climbed: Oct 19, 2012
1st AscentLots of smoke the day I climbed, made for low visibility, and reduced oxygen. Great hike though, made it up in just over 6 hours.
Props - Oct 1, 2012 9:07 am Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Great PeakWhen my friends and I arrived at the snow bridge, it was icy and frozen solid. I was the only member of my group that didn't bring anything I could self arrest with and, even though my friends made it across o.k., something just didn't feel right. I turned back. Beautiful day and great mountain, just a bummer I didn't summit. Still feel good about my decision though.
dstevenson0204 - Sep 27, 2012 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2012
State HP #5Fun Hike! Took us about 7 hours round trip! Kept waiting for "chicken out ridge" and realized, when we were about 30 mins from the top, that we had passed it much earlier... My friend's little dog made it too. Fun Fun!!
joshuaray - Sep 4, 2012 12:06 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2011
BorahTerrific views!! Had some struggles on Chicken Out Ridge, but made it across. Very fun to be on the top of Idaho!
BrianChase - Aug 27, 2012 2:52 pm
Fun RouteHazy views from the Fires
DougBenton - Aug 12, 2012 10:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2010
Wonderful hike!Had a great solo experience! What a day!
ALM4400 - Aug 6, 2012 1:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2012
Borahpalooza!A great day in the hills. It was pretty crowded but still a great climb.
joseyinnet - Aug 1, 2012 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
Not nearly as hard as expectedI think I pretty much psyched myself out of this one before heading up, because it was a lot easier than I expected. Don't get me wrong, still quite a few challenges, but incredibly fun. Really great weather too. Unfortunately I found out too late that my camera was broken. Guess I'll have to do it again some time with a decent camera. State #16
McCannster - Aug 1, 2012 10:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2012
#21Bluebird day with very little wind. Quite a steep hike, fun scrambling up higher if you stick to the ridgeline. 21st state highpoint.
reboyles - Jul 28, 2012 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2012
29 was just fineI made my 29th ascent of Mt Borah on Wednesday by way of a new route that starts on the East Face and finishes on the Northeast Ridge route. 16 pitches of snow, rock, more snow and even a bit of WI2 water ice. One more? We'll see next year.
reboyles - Jul 28, 2012 6:59 pm
Re: Truth about CORI've been up Borah 29 times now and I have to agree, there are a couple of places where you could fall a hundred feet or more. In particular, the short hand/foot traverse from the "V" notch to the Tan Band is one of those places. Granted, you won't free fall 100 feet but you sure could take a nasty fall there.
ScottN - Jul 18, 2012 3:32 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Repeat - SuccessI climbed Borah Peak as a Boy Scout, now almost two decades later it's fun to recall parts of that climb. Chicken out ridge was longer with more scrambling than I remembered. The highlight of my first trip was the down climb and crossing the snow/ice glacier at the end of chicken out ridge. This trip my highlight was probably the magnificent view from the summit of the mountains to the east. Also the rush of being at 12,662 feet and breathing the thin air felt pretty cool.
I summited with my brother and my sister-in-law... who both had each made several attempts but not reached the summit.
So the hike was a repeat and a success.
droot - Jul 3, 2012 11:42 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2011
Fresh snowWe woke up early in the morning to find that 4-5 inches of fresh snow had fallen above about 10,000'. Quite a few people at the trailhead decided not to climb it that day because of that. We went ahead and started anyways.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect about COR, as I had read some people calling it class 4, while others saying 3. After a steep climb, we finally arrived at COR. It is not class 4, maybe class 3+. There was one move to make it to the permanent snow field that I might have considered class 4 though.
At this point the summit was visible, and even though there was the 4 inches of fresh snow, it wasn't too bad, and we made the summit at 11 in the morning. Beautiful day from the top of Idaho!
mountainvlad - Jun 11, 2012 7:53 pm
Re: Truth about CORSorry, but I have to disagree. This is how REI defines class 3: "Climbing steep a hillside, moderate exposure, a rope may be carried but not used, and hands are used in climbing. A short fall could be possible." And this is how they define class 4: "It is steeper yet, exposed and most people use a rope due to the potential of long falls.". Apparently, it is not the scarcity of the foot and hand holds that separates class 4 from class 3, rather long vs. short falls. And potential falls on COR are by any measure the long ones. More than once you are on your fingers and toes over couple hundred feet drop-off - that's class 4. Subway hike at Zion requires at least 3 rappels, and it's still class 3, because the drop-offs are no more than 10 feet, and a fall would result in no more than twisted ankle. And "vertigo" does change class for some - half dozen people died on "Angel's landing" hike, even though it's just class 2.
RonGeorge4 - May 28, 2012 1:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
Borah PeakMade it to the top after resting and hydrating just before chicken out ridge. The group I was with went on with out me after my insistance. Later they were surprised to see me asending when they were returning from the sumit. I did a stupid thing. I left my treking poles near the base of chicken out ridge near where others had left their poles. When I returned from the summit, they were no where to be found. I was awfully walking down the mountain with out them.
Jermover - May 18, 2012 5:08 pm
Re: Truth about CORSorry, but I have to clarify this a little. "Foot and hand holds are good and abundant" does mean that it is class three. The inability of a climber to negotiate or find those hand holds does not change the class. Having an "experienced friend" with you does not change climbing class either. It will only help you negotiate in the same way that a GPS will help you navigate. Better shoes will not change the length of a mile. "Vertigo" does not change class. Put a Class III ridge from Borah on a hill near Boise and it is still a class III ridge. I am not trying to tear apart your post, but to put class 4 and 5 on this WILL scare people off. The truth of the matter is that Chicken out ridge is about a class 3 scramble. Some people will negotiate it more easily than others depending on their experience and capabilities. This does not change the class. This is not a trail to the top of a hill, this is a climb. There is some risk and there is some exposure. People should not attempt it if they are not comfortable finding and using available hand and foot holds as that is what a class 3 is. I appreciate your post, but do not want people to be mislead. I have climbed Borah 3 times and had I read your post prior to my first attempt, I probably would not have gone even though I am completely capable. I do appreciate your advice to take someone along that is more experienced. Anyone can benefit from that.
IdahoDaisy - Apr 7, 2012 12:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2011
Summit #2 of Borah2nd time successfully climbing Borah. Perfect weather all day. Such a beautiful mountain to have as our tallest!