NanitaD - Feb 22, 2006 1:26 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 1995
Route climbed: from Glacier Gorge Overlook
Ida was the first summit of five that day...Ida, Chief Cheley, Cracktop, Julian, and Terra Tomah. Actually Ida was the first and last summit that day since once we went out to Terra Tomah we returned over all of the peak and back to Ida. By the time we reached the summit for the second time the sun had just set. With no moon we couldn't see two feet in front of us even with headlamps and ended up huddling up until sunrise when we returned to our vehicle. I've returned to the summit of Ida 4 times since that day.
Route Climbed: Milner Pass Date Climbed: June 6, 2004, August 4, 2004, and July 23, 2005
Every time I've summitted, it has been a little different. The first time I snowshoed most of the way to the summit without following a trail (basically just going straight up). The second time I took my family and friends up the trail...which made things much easier! The final time I climbed was on route to Bear Lake.
Brian Kalet - Oct 13, 2005 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2010
Climbed Twice
8/7/2010: TR
12/21/2003: Day 3 of a Rocky Mountain National Park traverse from Cameron Pass to Grand Lake.
Route Climbed: via Milner Pass Date Climbed: September 11, 2005
Beautiful day. Climbed Ida on Continental Divide ridge traverse between Milner Pass and Bear Lake. Think we saw pksander and Fabio in saddle between Ida and Chief Cheley, but didn't know (who) until I read this summit log just now.
Route Climbed: via Milner Pass Date Climbed: September 11, 2005
Climbed Mount Ida and Chief Cheley Peak with Fabio on a beautiful September day. Cold in the mountains at our 5 a.m. start and a great hike to the summit of Ida and then down the steep ridge to the saddle and up Chief Cheley. A long and fun day.
Route Climbed: Milner Pass past Marmot Rock, up and over to summit Date Climbed: July 30 2005
5 hours to top, primarily due to a 50 lb. six-year old daughter who needed to be carried most of the way, and then an overzealous ram bighorn who stood in our way near the start of the boulder hopping. After he laid down for awhile and then turned around, we could resume our climb past 3 or 4 false summits to the top. After lunch, a nice return to the pass after a few snowflakes and raindrops at the top.
Route Climbed: From Trailridge Road Store Date Climbed: Summer 03
20 miles round trip- after summiting Mount Ida, we went for a little "off-road excursion!" We descended down the slopes to TOUCH all of the Gorge Lakes: Azure, Highest (this was my first time climbing scree- I was actually quite scared, I laugh at that now!), Inkwell, (yeah, ever cling to a rockface wall with a lake below you?!), Arrowhead, Doughnut, & Loves Lakes. We then begun the long UP and DOWN treck through Forrest Canyon, back to our start. From dawn 'till dusk... ended the last hour of the hike with one shoe off (blisters- don't get them anymore with my new awesome Merril boots!:-) The Lakes are AMAZING- each are unique and different in color- I've hiked most of the lakes now in RMNP, and these are by far my favorite. Do this hike, it's incredible! (You can do the Milner Pass trail and just "look" at the lakes.... but how fun is that?!:-)
Route Climbed: Standard from Milner Pass Date Climbed: September 10, 2004
Good hike and was proved to be an elusive summit. Clouds limited visibility to around 100 yds. on the ascent and lifted about a mile or so into the descent.
Yes, Mt. Ida is a lovely and easy tundra walk. The day I summited we turned it into one of my longest and toughest days in RMNP! The recipe: park one car at Milner Pass, the other at Forest Canyon Overlook. After climbing Ida walk the divide to climb Chief Cheley Peak, then drop down into the often seen but rarely visited Gorge Lakes cirque.
Make your way down into Forest Canyon, cross the Big Thompson River, then climb and climb up to the Overlook. At one point on the descent we nearly used our short length rope to rappel a short section, but then found a way around on a narrow ledge. We went in this direction to avoid afternoon thunderstorms on the divide. It's a good idea to take a compass bearing on the overlook destination parking lot before you drop into the dense Forest Canyon.
NanitaD - Feb 22, 2006 1:26 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 1995
Route climbed: from Glacier Gorge OverlookIda was the first summit of five that day...Ida, Chief Cheley, Cracktop, Julian, and Terra Tomah. Actually Ida was the first and last summit that day since once we went out to Terra Tomah we returned over all of the peak and back to Ida. By the time we reached the summit for the second time the sun had just set. With no moon we couldn't see two feet in front of us even with headlamps and ended up huddling up until sunrise when we returned to our vehicle. I've returned to the summit of Ida 4 times since that day.
jennakate - Oct 16, 2005 8:19 am
Route Climbed: Milner Pass Date Climbed: June 6, 2004, August 4, 2004, and July 23, 2005Every time I've summitted, it has been a little different. The first time I snowshoed most of the way to the summit without following a trail (basically just going straight up). The second time I took my family and friends up the trail...which made things much easier! The final time I climbed was on route to Bear Lake.
Brian Kalet - Oct 13, 2005 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2010
Climbed Twice8/7/2010: TR
12/21/2003: Day 3 of a Rocky Mountain National Park traverse from Cameron Pass to Grand Lake.
Joe_Parvis - Oct 6, 2005 5:55 pm
Route Climbed: via Milner Pass Date Climbed: September 11, 2005Beautiful day. Climbed Ida on Continental Divide ridge traverse between Milner Pass and Bear Lake. Think we saw pksander and Fabio in saddle between Ida and Chief Cheley, but didn't know (who) until I read this summit log just now.
pksander - Sep 11, 2005 10:48 pm
Route Climbed: via Milner Pass Date Climbed: September 11, 2005Climbed Mount Ida and Chief Cheley Peak with Fabio on a beautiful September day. Cold in the mountains at our 5 a.m. start and a great hike to the summit of Ida and then down the steep ridge to the saddle and up Chief Cheley. A long and fun day.
jbouman - Aug 14, 2005 9:18 pm
Route Climbed: Milner Pass past Marmot Rock, up and over to summit Date Climbed: July 30 20055 hours to top, primarily due to a 50 lb. six-year old daughter who needed to be carried most of the way, and then an overzealous ram bighorn who stood in our way near the start of the boulder hopping. After he laid down for awhile and then turned around, we could resume our climb past 3 or 4 false summits to the top. After lunch, a nice return to the pass after a few snowflakes and raindrops at the top.
ktiffany22 - Jun 11, 2005 10:34 pm
Route Climbed: From Trailridge Road Store Date Climbed: Summer 0320 miles round trip- after summiting Mount Ida, we went for a little "off-road excursion!" We descended down the slopes to TOUCH all of the Gorge Lakes: Azure, Highest (this was my first time climbing scree- I was actually quite scared, I laugh at that now!), Inkwell, (yeah, ever cling to a rockface wall with a lake below you?!), Arrowhead, Doughnut, & Loves Lakes. We then begun the long UP and DOWN treck through Forrest Canyon, back to our start. From dawn 'till dusk... ended the last hour of the hike with one shoe off (blisters- don't get them anymore with my new awesome Merril boots!:-) The Lakes are AMAZING- each are unique and different in color- I've hiked most of the lakes now in RMNP, and these are by far my favorite. Do this hike, it's incredible! (You can do the Milner Pass trail and just "look" at the lakes.... but how fun is that?!:-)
ajsamuel - Sep 13, 2004 8:54 am
Route Climbed: Standard from Milner Pass Date Climbed: September 10, 2004Good hike and was proved to be an elusive summit. Clouds limited visibility to around 100 yds. on the ascent and lifted about a mile or so into the descent.
thebeave7 - Sep 10, 2004 3:35 am
Route Climbed: Timber Lake Date Climbed: August 5th, 2004Nice scramble, got stuck in some thick brush at one point, but the meadows and views above were spectacular.
Eric J Lee
Chris - Mar 22, 2004 9:47 pm
Route Climbed: Standard trail from Milner Pass Date Climbed: July 2002Nice climb, part of a 4 day Continental DIvide traverse from Milner Pass to Bear Lake.
Nelson - Oct 3, 2003 8:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1989
Route Climbed: Milner Pass ascent, Gorge Lakes descentYes, Mt. Ida is a lovely and easy tundra walk. The day I summited we turned it into one of my longest and toughest days in RMNP! The recipe: park one car at Milner Pass, the other at Forest Canyon Overlook. After climbing Ida walk the divide to climb Chief Cheley Peak, then drop down into the often seen but rarely visited Gorge Lakes cirque.
Make your way down into Forest Canyon, cross the Big Thompson River, then climb and climb up to the Overlook. At one point on the descent we nearly used our short length rope to rappel a short section, but then found a way around on a narrow ledge. We went in this direction to avoid afternoon thunderstorms on the divide. It's a good idea to take a compass bearing on the overlook destination parking lot before you drop into the dense Forest Canyon.
Don't plan on being home for dinner!
smudge - May 4, 2003 2:36 pm
Route Climbed: Standard route, from Milner Pass Date Climbed: August 14, 2001Nice tundra walk. A lot of wildlife. It's a pretty easy stroll, and has wonderful views into Forest Canyon.