Penelope and I soloed the North Ridge (except for the rap) from the south end of Sawtooth Lake in September 2019. The approach was great via the slabs above the lake and the scramble was on great quality rock with clean ridge climbing all the way. The rap had several decent slings (we used our 30 meter, 8 mm rope to rap it) and the ridge above was a nice class 4 with steps of easy 5th. Great alpine outing. The tail (the descent) is what got us. If you have never been up the regular route PLEASE NOTE-- It is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to find the descent from the summit. It would be prudent to check the regular SE Ridge route prior to climbing this North Ridge. If anyone has GPS points for the descent route, please post it...
asmrz - Jul 5, 2023 10:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2022
Sawtooth Grand Loop
My wife Penelope and I hiked the Fabulous Sawtooth Grand Loop starting from Redfish Lake in early July, 2022. Went over Cramer Divide, Ardeth and Ingeborg Lakes to GrandJean. Took couple days off at GrandJean (great breakfasts and burgers at the GrandJean Lodge), then hiked back to Redfish via Baron Creek Trail, about 75-80 miles of incredible scenery. Started from Redfish Lake as it is much easier to access and to return to than Grand Jean. Incredible trip at our age. The Redfish Lake Lodge manager didn't remember anyone our age doing the Loop in 20 years.
wyatt_meyers - Jul 26, 2021 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Best of the best
It all started with a backpacking trip to Alpine Lake when I was 12
asmrz - Aug 4, 2019 4:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2019
The Range of my dreams
I first visited this place in 1973 at the age of 24. We hiked one of the loops from Petit Lake to Redfish, scrambled up Mt Cramer and couple others, hiked up Castle Peak and backpacked to Boulder Lakes. I was hooked, wanted to move to Ketchum but my (then) better half would have none of it. Went again in 1975 for a month, hiked and scrambled, loved every minute. In 2017, Penelope and I returned. Went again in summer of 2018, spent a month skiing in Ketchum and Stanley in February 2019 and just got back from there this early summer. The Sawtooths are some of the best mountains in western US. We will be back, again.
During my first visit in 1973, in early fall, I bumped into the manager of the Redfish Lake Lodge (established 1929) as he was boarding it up for the winter. We exchanged friendly insults about accents and discovered that one was Czech (me) and the other nearby Hungarian. Only later did I discover that I met the legendary climber and mountaineer, Louis Sturr, who put up dozens of routes in the Sawtooths, sadly dying in a climbing accident in the early 1990s.
Sawtooth Scott - Jun 26, 2014 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1979
First and always the Sawtooths
Wander and explore where you like, but you always find your way back to the Sawtooths. My first backpacking experience in the Sawtooths was in 1979 while I was in high school. Over the years I have met people from all over the world who have set their compass to experience the Sawtooths. Now I share the Sawtooths with my sons as I hope to instill in them the same love of this country as is mine. From their earliest day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips to ski camps and scrambles, they are learning how to love and respect this wonderful range. I take pleasure in knowing that the SNRA (with thanks to Senator Church) will remain available to my family for future generations.
dstevenson0204 - Dec 16, 2013 7:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2013
Hometown
Grew up hiking in Idaho mountains. Sawtooths are amazing
reboyles - May 20, 2013 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1968
Sawtooth
I first visited the Sawtooth Range in 1968 and it was love at first sight. Over the years I have done 4 crossings, 2 north-to-south by way of the Queens and Boise River and 2 west-to-east along with a couple of crossings on skis. This was also the range where we learned, practiced and honed our mountaineering and technical rock climbing skills. I am not done yet.
andrew david - Mar 31, 2013 11:26 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2012
Great early season
I like to use the Sawtooths as a spring "tune up" because with low elevations and easy approaches, they melt out before other ranges and offer a good mix of all kinds of mountain challenges I will see the rest of summer. Want to go in winter sometime. Great range. I've been up 10 peaks so far, a couple without names.
asmrz - Jul 7, 2023 3:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2019
Mt Regan, North Ridge, II, 5.4Penelope and I soloed the North Ridge (except for the rap) from the south end of Sawtooth Lake in September 2019. The approach was great via the slabs above the lake and the scramble was on great quality rock with clean ridge climbing all the way. The rap had several decent slings (we used our 30 meter, 8 mm rope to rap it) and the ridge above was a nice class 4 with steps of easy 5th. Great alpine outing. The tail (the descent) is what got us. If you have never been up the regular route PLEASE NOTE-- It is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to find the descent from the summit. It would be prudent to check the regular SE Ridge route prior to climbing this North Ridge. If anyone has GPS points for the descent route, please post it...
asmrz - Jul 5, 2023 10:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2022
Sawtooth Grand LoopMy wife Penelope and I hiked the Fabulous Sawtooth Grand Loop starting from Redfish Lake in early July, 2022. Went over Cramer Divide, Ardeth and Ingeborg Lakes to GrandJean. Took couple days off at GrandJean (great breakfasts and burgers at the GrandJean Lodge), then hiked back to Redfish via Baron Creek Trail, about 75-80 miles of incredible scenery. Started from Redfish Lake as it is much easier to access and to return to than Grand Jean. Incredible trip at our age. The Redfish Lake Lodge manager didn't remember anyone our age doing the Loop in 20 years.
wyatt_meyers - Jul 26, 2021 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Best of the bestIt all started with a backpacking trip to Alpine Lake when I was 12
asmrz - Aug 4, 2019 4:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2019
The Range of my dreamsI first visited this place in 1973 at the age of 24. We hiked one of the loops from Petit Lake to Redfish, scrambled up Mt Cramer and couple others, hiked up Castle Peak and backpacked to Boulder Lakes. I was hooked, wanted to move to Ketchum but my (then) better half would have none of it. Went again in 1975 for a month, hiked and scrambled, loved every minute. In 2017, Penelope and I returned. Went again in summer of 2018, spent a month skiing in Ketchum and Stanley in February 2019 and just got back from there this early summer. The Sawtooths are some of the best mountains in western US. We will be back, again.
During my first visit in 1973, in early fall, I bumped into the manager of the Redfish Lake Lodge (established 1929) as he was boarding it up for the winter. We exchanged friendly insults about accents and discovered that one was Czech (me) and the other nearby Hungarian. Only later did I discover that I met the legendary climber and mountaineer, Louis Sturr, who put up dozens of routes in the Sawtooths, sadly dying in a climbing accident in the early 1990s.
Sawtooth Scott - Jun 26, 2014 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 1979
First and always the SawtoothsWander and explore where you like, but you always find your way back to the Sawtooths. My first backpacking experience in the Sawtooths was in 1979 while I was in high school. Over the years I have met people from all over the world who have set their compass to experience the Sawtooths. Now I share the Sawtooths with my sons as I hope to instill in them the same love of this country as is mine. From their earliest day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips to ski camps and scrambles, they are learning how to love and respect this wonderful range. I take pleasure in knowing that the SNRA (with thanks to Senator Church) will remain available to my family for future generations.
dstevenson0204 - Dec 16, 2013 7:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2013
HometownGrew up hiking in Idaho mountains. Sawtooths are amazing
reboyles - May 20, 2013 6:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1968
SawtoothI first visited the Sawtooth Range in 1968 and it was love at first sight. Over the years I have done 4 crossings, 2 north-to-south by way of the Queens and Boise River and 2 west-to-east along with a couple of crossings on skis. This was also the range where we learned, practiced and honed our mountaineering and technical rock climbing skills. I am not done yet.
andrew david - Mar 31, 2013 11:26 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2012
Great early seasonI like to use the Sawtooths as a spring "tune up" because with low elevations and easy approaches, they melt out before other ranges and offer a good mix of all kinds of mountain challenges I will see the rest of summer. Want to go in winter sometime. Great range. I've been up 10 peaks so far, a couple without names.