dawnclymb - Sep 2, 2023 10:20 am Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2023
Little bit of Donaldson
Climbed this one in conjunction with Mt Church. Its only a 300 foot easy walk (I wouldn't even call it a scramble) up from the saddle that connect the two peaks. Super fun, easy peak to bag and soak up the summit views. :)
We approached via the North Fork of Jones Creek.
Tracks here: https://caltopo.com/t/LV8JE5PMGR
rennerkj - Aug 17, 2020 12:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2020
3rd 12er
Approached from the N.F. of Jones Cr. The headwall is a steep loose climb! Also traversed the ridge to Mount Church. Fun day in the LRR.
Scrambling Man - Aug 27, 2019 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2019
Fun Double Peak Day
Did Donaldson first by directly climbing almost to the top. Then did Church. Came in from the N. Fork of the Jones.
IdahoDaisy - Aug 25, 2019 8:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
Great views from this peak
Church gets more attention but the views from this peak were great. My 6th 12er- followed by Church. Only part I didn't love is the slow, tedious descent down the headwall. Otherwise truly loved every bit of this one!
LazyJSkwires - Oct 26, 2018 5:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2014
Rocky
Well there was lots of rock everywhere. Then a bunch of mosquitoes at the lake
8/9 12ers. Did with Church (9/9.. thank God it's over) Was cloudy, but storms seemed to just go around us. Spent 30 sec on the summit. Trying to decide which was worse, this or Breitenbach.
DrGranola - Aug 10, 2017 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2017
Donaldson x2
Tagged Donaldson again on the way to Mt. Church. My buddy and I did 3 12ers in 2 days.
derekperc - Aug 3, 2016 12:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2016
North Fork Jones
The cairns along the approach were great. Thanks, fellas!
The wind coming over the saddle was horrendous. Certainly enough to throw me off balance when traversing the ridge crest. It sounds like that's a regular occurence.
3 hours to Donaldson summit, 8 hours car to car with Donaldson & Church
elcy79.gp - Oct 20, 2015 12:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2015
Donaldson #6
Did this same day as Church. Fun climb but tough going up the
steep talus slopes. Loved going up the night before to camp for an early morning start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBvjavL5w28
DrGranola - Oct 13, 2015 9:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2015
7 of 9
Got up Donaldson no problem. Wind on the ridge up Church turned us back 500 vertical feet from the top. Trip report
Deltaoperator17 - Oct 7, 2014 5:57 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2013
My wife and I apparently stayed too far right below Donaldson Peak and ended up following the scree to the summit of Donaldson Peak. We thought about doing Church, but the scree and heat diminished the fun factor enough that chose to continue the weekend in a more vegetated area.
Accessed from Jones Creek drainage. Gear of the Day was double-seat pants for the intentional and unintentional butt slides down the scree slope below the saddle.
Mlasky - Aug 13, 2011 2:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2001
Blown Away
Was a planned two-fer with Church in the quest for the Idaho 12s, but a gust of wind at the saddle while we were traversing from Donaldson to Church made me hit the deck. The wind was clearly picking up beyond safe so we headed down. As we passed the lower small waterfall, we could see the water being blown "upwards" because of the wind.
Fun climb until the descent. One climber in our group tanked and after going down Jones creek several hours in the dark with only my headlamp, I built a fire and let her sleep while I went to the truck and got more flashlights.
Scarp172 - Jan 2, 2011 12:53 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2009
West Ridge
Extremely windy day, but a lot of fun. We're lucky we didn't get blown off the ridge!
montanaboy - Aug 8, 2010 11:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
N. Fork Jones Creek
Certainly the better drainage to take as the three guys I ran in to who came up Jones Creek voiced their displeasure with all the dead fall. Should have felt worse sharing my easy trek up on game trails.
If you lost your trekking poles, I dug them out from under a log and propped them up so you can see them next time you are in the area. Sorry, they aren't looking that great.
The talus filled chute of death between the lake and the ridge was interesting. Some decent exposure and lots of 3rd class keep things exciting.
boisedoc - Jul 25, 2010 2:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
great weather, horrible rocks
the canyon to the north of Jones creek was quite pleasant and even has a trail. Above treeline, the scree was horrible even by Lost River standards. Neither Church or Donaldson have summit registers right now
mtybumpo - Jul 25, 2010 12:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
12er #7
What a great climb! The scree was awful and the route finding hard. What else is to be expected in the Lost Rivers. After Donaldson I of course went over and did Mt. Church.
dawnclymb - Sep 2, 2023 10:20 am Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2023
Little bit of DonaldsonClimbed this one in conjunction with Mt Church. Its only a 300 foot easy walk (I wouldn't even call it a scramble) up from the saddle that connect the two peaks. Super fun, easy peak to bag and soak up the summit views. :)
We approached via the North Fork of Jones Creek.
Tracks here: https://caltopo.com/t/LV8JE5PMGR
rennerkj - Aug 17, 2020 12:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2020
3rd 12erApproached from the N.F. of Jones Cr. The headwall is a steep loose climb! Also traversed the ridge to Mount Church. Fun day in the LRR.
Scrambling Man - Aug 27, 2019 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2019
Fun Double Peak DayDid Donaldson first by directly climbing almost to the top. Then did Church. Came in from the N. Fork of the Jones.
IdahoDaisy - Aug 25, 2019 8:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
Great views from this peakChurch gets more attention but the views from this peak were great. My 6th 12er- followed by Church. Only part I didn't love is the slow, tedious descent down the headwall. Otherwise truly loved every bit of this one!
LazyJSkwires - Oct 26, 2018 5:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2014
RockyWell there was lots of rock everywhere. Then a bunch of mosquitoes at the lake
live4hills - Sep 15, 2017 5:12 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2017
N. Jones route8/9 12ers. Did with Church (9/9.. thank God it's over) Was cloudy, but storms seemed to just go around us. Spent 30 sec on the summit. Trying to decide which was worse, this or Breitenbach.
DrGranola - Aug 10, 2017 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2017
Donaldson x2Tagged Donaldson again on the way to Mt. Church. My buddy and I did 3 12ers in 2 days.
derekperc - Aug 3, 2016 12:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2016
North Fork JonesThe cairns along the approach were great. Thanks, fellas!
The wind coming over the saddle was horrendous. Certainly enough to throw me off balance when traversing the ridge crest. It sounds like that's a regular occurence.
3 hours to Donaldson summit, 8 hours car to car with Donaldson & Church
elcy79.gp - Oct 20, 2015 12:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2015
Donaldson #6Did this same day as Church. Fun climb but tough going up the
steep talus slopes. Loved going up the night before to camp for an early morning start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBvjavL5w28
DrGranola - Oct 13, 2015 9:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2015
7 of 9Got up Donaldson no problem. Wind on the ridge up Church turned us back 500 vertical feet from the top. Trip report
Deltaoperator17 - Oct 7, 2014 5:57 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2013
ScreeDidn't attempt Church
gbrill - Jul 29, 2014 12:33 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2014
Lots of screeMy wife and I apparently stayed too far right below Donaldson Peak and ended up following the scree to the summit of Donaldson Peak. We thought about doing Church, but the scree and heat diminished the fun factor enough that chose to continue the weekend in a more vegetated area.
mjholmes - Sep 9, 2012 7:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2012
Scree-festAccessed from Jones Creek drainage. Gear of the Day was double-seat pants for the intentional and unintentional butt slides down the scree slope below the saddle.
Mlasky - Aug 13, 2011 2:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2001
Blown AwayWas a planned two-fer with Church in the quest for the Idaho 12s, but a gust of wind at the saddle while we were traversing from Donaldson to Church made me hit the deck. The wind was clearly picking up beyond safe so we headed down. As we passed the lower small waterfall, we could see the water being blown "upwards" because of the wind.
merrill - Jul 30, 2011 9:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2011
West RidgeFun climb until the descent. One climber in our group tanked and after going down Jones creek several hours in the dark with only my headlamp, I built a fire and let her sleep while I went to the truck and got more flashlights.
Scarp172 - Jan 2, 2011 12:53 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2009
West RidgeExtremely windy day, but a lot of fun. We're lucky we didn't get blown off the ridge!
montanaboy - Aug 8, 2010 11:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
N. Fork Jones CreekCertainly the better drainage to take as the three guys I ran in to who came up Jones Creek voiced their displeasure with all the dead fall. Should have felt worse sharing my easy trek up on game trails.
If you lost your trekking poles, I dug them out from under a log and propped them up so you can see them next time you are in the area. Sorry, they aren't looking that great.
jamesmc2 - Jul 25, 2010 11:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
First Lost River PeakThe talus filled chute of death between the lake and the ridge was interesting. Some decent exposure and lots of 3rd class keep things exciting.
boisedoc - Jul 25, 2010 2:36 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
great weather, horrible rocksthe canyon to the north of Jones creek was quite pleasant and even has a trail. Above treeline, the scree was horrible even by Lost River standards. Neither Church or Donaldson have summit registers right now
mtybumpo - Jul 25, 2010 12:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
12er #7What a great climb! The scree was awful and the route finding hard. What else is to be expected in the Lost Rivers. After Donaldson I of course went over and did Mt. Church.