Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 44.03980°N / 114.5884°W
Activities Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Ice Climbing, Mixed, Scrambling
Additional Information Elevation: 11815 ft / 3601 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

As has been said in various guidebooks and even on a few websites, the stories of mishaps, and hardships stand on Castle Peak. It is a striking peak that dominates the White Clouds. The White Clouds are a proposed wilderness area that sits across from the Sawtooth's, and in between Ketchum & Stanley.

There are over 25 lakes that are visable from the summit along with the Sawtooth's, Smokies, and even the Lost River Range.

Tom Lopez author of Idaho A Climbing Guide describes "Castle Peaks talus routes are in a class by themselves. They mix steepness with cliffs, talus with boulders, and present multiple route-finding difficulties"

I would say the standard route is Chamberlain Basin due to the realtive easy access, a class 3 scramble that involves plenty of route choices.

Getting There

Take Highway 75 36 miles past Ketchum over Galena summit. Take a right on the Pole Valey Road
2.4 Miles East Take Germania Creek Road
Follow this road for 6.8 Miles to the Pole Creek Summit
From here access FST-047 which will lead you to Chamberlain Basin.

Red Tape

You will need to purchase a Sawtooth Recreation Area permit. It will cost $15 for an annual pass, or $5 for a 3-day pass.

When To Climb

Usual climbing season is from June to September. Can be climbed year round, but Avalanches and access are a major concern

Camping

Camping is allowed throughout the area. Best place to camp is in the Chamberlain Basin below the peak. Other parties will camp at Washington Lake, makes for a longer approach but it is a great place to camp also

Mountain Conditions

Sawtooth National Recreation Area 800-260-5970 can give general info but not climbing specific.

The Stanley Ranger Station is a better resource but they are tougher to get a hold of.
208-774-3000

External Links



Children

Children

Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. For example, the Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children.

Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.

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