Does anyone know what the current conditions are like on Borah Peak, or more generally in the Lost River Range? Was it a heavy snow year there? I'm trying to decide whether or not to bring ice ax and crampons for the short snow bridge crossing or on the upper ridge on the COR. I'll be up there in 2 weeks.

Thanks!

So what are the conditions? The link didnt work for me.

The poster pulled the trip report (?!?).
Basically, it said Borah was snowy on and above Chickenout. Although it's been really warm recently (well, still below average but warm for this weird spring) so things are melting fast, Idaho's high country got snow on the night of July 2.

Here's the Willow Creek webcam, which shows Borah just right of center:
http://birice.vaisala.com/photos/02DA39 ... 3_cam1.jpg

He deleted the original trip report and resubmitted it for some reason.

http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/633963/solo-hike-on-6-29-10.html

We crossed Chickenout Ridge yesterday. There were lots of folks climbing and summitting Borah, maybe 20?
There is still quite a bit of snow, but it's soft and probably melting fast. No one was using the normal traverse trail out of the saddle on Chickenout, instead going straight up over the ridgetop. We didn't see any crampon marks, and some were without axes.
http://www.splattski.com/2010/sacagawea ... ar_big.jpg

splattski wrote:We crossed Chickenout Ridge yesterday. There were lots of folks climbing and summitting Borah, maybe 20?
There is still quite a bit of snow, but it's soft and probably melting fast. No one was using the normal traverse trail out of the saddle on Chickenout, instead going straight up over the ridgetop. We didn't see any crampon marks, and some were without axes.
http://www.splattski.com/2010/sacagawea ... ar_big.jpg

Yep, that's what we ended up doing. That turned a class 2/3 scramble into an airy class 4/5 rock climb. It was easy climbing but it stretched my tolerance for risk doing it unroped wearing hiking boots. We summited on Weds and what a glorious day it was! Not a cloud in the sky!

A buddy and I climbed Borah on July 28. We had one very short snow crossing before the main snow couloir (just beyond the 20' downclimb) which is filled in and has nice big footprints to walk in. The night of the 27th was 50 degrees at the trailhead and consequently the snow was not very frozen when we got there around 8:30 or 9. The crossing was easy and few would feel the need for an axe. The trail up the summit pyramid is almost free of snow. Some pics/text here:

http://blog.regehr.org/archives/230

I'm heading that way the last week of August/beginning of Sept. I'll be heading in to SLC on 8/28, and then look to stay in Pocatello, and then hike Borah. I'd be willing to give anyone a ride as long as it doesn't go too far out of the way. I'm ready to do it solo, but some company would be welcome.