Via the Queens Mine route how long would anyone expect it to take to summit boundary round trip from the trail head? How comparable is it to Borah Peak in Idaho? I noticed it's .6 miles longer than Borah Peak round trip, but it's 1,000 feet less in elevation gain, so I would think it wouldn't be as difficult of a hike as the initial 2 miles on Borah. Also Borah has a few sections of class 3 and this seems to be a class 1 trail. Just asking because I don't plan on being at the trail head until noon and want to try to summit in 6 hours round trip. Borah took 8 hours, so I would think this is feasible but want someone to correct me if i'm wrong.

Boundary is definitely not a class 1 trail. There isn't much of a trail, there is a lot of loose talus, and I guarantee that you will be putting your hands down occasionally. When are you going?

July 21st - 26th.... not sure which day yet.

For me, Boundary was a 7-hour RT whereas Borah took about 8:45. I always start early though; hate to leave myself without a margin for error.

My son & I hiked Borah last August and Boundary July 08. I thought Borah was much more difficult than Boundary. If you did Borah in 8 hours, Boundary in 6 is doable. It took us about 8 hours to summit and return, but we weren't in a rush. The "legendary" scree wasn't too bad and passed quickly. I would love to return some day and do it again.

From the 10,000 foot saddle with a group, it took me 3.5 hours to top Boundary. It took another 3 hours r.t. to bag Montgomery and back, though we took a long rest on both peaks. I recall we were all back to Hwy. 6 by 5 p.m., meeting that morning at the start of the Queens Canyon Rd by about 7-8 a.m.

Borah took me about 10 hours r.t., though I waited for an hour at the start of COR for the weather to get better. And for Borah, I was 13 years older, with a heavy day pack.

For Boundary, if you pick the right scree use trails, I'd say apart from steep sections it is all class 1. Definitely so on the scree descent.

Agreed that Boundary is not class 1, though much of it is. There are several short class 2 sections.

Regardless, it's easy, short and 6 hours shouldn't be a problem (for someone in reasonably good shape). If possible, though, it's totally worth setting aside time for a Montgomery bag too. Montgomery is a far sweeter peak, and it's right there!

I just looked at the GPS logs. For both Montgomery and Boundary, with a large group and 1/2 hour on each summit, we took just under 9 hours RT. We also started farther down in Trail Canyon.

Montgomery is mild class 3 and feels more like a mountain. Boundary is just 280' above the saddle between the two peaks.

Having done both of these peaks I would say Borah is far more physically demanding than Boundary. The Borah trail is much steeper and it is a pretty tough day, and I would think it will take you a few hours more for the round trip.

MoapaPk wrote:I just looked at the GPS logs. For both Montgomery and Boundary, with a large group and 1/2 hour on each summit, we took just under 9 hours RT. We also started farther down in Trail Canyon.

So if I was just summitting Boundary without Montgomery, then it is very possible to make a round trip time under 6 hours?

So if I was just summitting Boundary without Montgomery, then it is very possible to make a round trip time under 6 hours?

So long that altitude is no problem, it may cut it close, too. You have to keep track of your progress via an altimeter or what. Shame to get close to the top then have to turn around. Me, I'd allow for some slowness since I haven't been high for awhile, and to carry headlamps just in case I decided to go for it. Driving out on that road in the dark may be a problem, too. Just too much of an driving effort to not make it to the top. But good luck whatever you do.

I did Queens Mine Route in 2008. Boundary was pretty easy. Even if you start from the mine itself, and drive no further, it isn't that bad a day. A good hiker can make it up and down in 6 hours. Montgomery is another story. That is really tough. Brings lots and lots of water, and food. The ridge to Montgomery is very hard. Then on the way up the final stretch, we encountered a problem on the left side. It looked like it was easy class 2, but then there was a huge drop off. Better off going to the right side, or up the difficult class 3 rocky area. You don't have much choice. Just don't make the same mistake we did, because we didn't make it. We weren't prepared for just how difficult the ridge between Boundary and Montgomery is. It will take you at least 2 hours extra; maybe more.

gwave47 wrote:

MoapaPk wrote:I just looked at the GPS logs. For both Montgomery and Boundary, with a large group and 1/2 hour on each summit, we took just under 9 hours RT. We also started farther down in Trail Canyon.

So if I was just summitting Boundary without Montgomery, then it is very possible to make a round trip time under 6 hours?

Yes, barring dinosaur attack, acute flatulence, or a hail of frogs.

hgrapid wrote:Montgomery is another story. That is really tough. Brings lots and lots of water, and food. The ridge to Montgomery is very hard...It will take you at least 2 hours extra; maybe more.

All things are relative. I found it marginally trivial, and an easy 'bonus' effort after Boundary. It just depends on what shape you're in and what you're used to. For someone accustomed to scrambling and climbing in the Sierra, the North Cascades, the Tetons, wherever, the Boundary->Montgomery combo is no big deal.

Having carried a 50 pound pack over both peaks, and then doing what for me is an easy traverse for my 2X, I'd recommend bagging Montgomery. Shame if you decide to work on lists, esp. the DPS, and have to go back for this fine peak. I recall it's only some 500-600 feet down to the saddle and not too much to go back up. Hardly class 3, if you stick to the top of the ridge, I only recall a few short rocks to scramble over.

It does take some time, though. Just your style. Many people are wiped out by the altitude, and have had enough of thin air and scree.