osatrik - Aug 16, 2006 5:20 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 1988
Long Hot Day
Vanessa and I did this on the second anniversary of our highpoints quest. We were mid-week (spending time at Sun Valley) and didn't see a soul. Very reasonable scramble, no reason to be intimidated, just take your time. It was number 31 of my 49 state high points, and number 30 for Vanessa.
Thomas Beasley - Aug 14, 2006 6:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2006
Chicken Out Ridge
Warm up climb before getting back out to the Tetons. Left trail after chicken out to climb up the ridge.
Renardo - Aug 6, 2006 8:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2004
Fun climb
My second attempt, this time it was fast and fun. Up in 3 hours and back down in 3. Not much snow on the ridge. Left early and avoided most of the other people on the way up.
Dennis Poulin - Jul 25, 2006 5:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2006
Chicken Out Ridge
Tough steep dayhike. I know why they call it Chicken Out Ridge now. I saw a guy "chicken out". The snow bridge was about 70 ft across.
Tie-Dye Mike - Jul 19, 2006 10:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2006
Damn!
Hard but fun, took two days and camped above the tree line.
Here's a trip report.
http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/208354/tie-dye-s-1st-solo-highpoint-borah-pk-.html
I agree with the murder on the knee's comment! Getting Down is almost worse that Climbing up!
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
Good scrambling
Trail doesnt mess around. Pretty steep but the altitude is not as problematic as many Colorado mountains. The first part of Chicken Out Ridge is fun scrambling without too much exposure and lots of possible variations. The last part of the ridge involves a downclimb that is intimidating from above as it is hard to see the footholds (climbing up it on the way back is no problem)- usually there is snow in the col but by late summer it was snow free. Anyway, if there is no snow in the gully it is quite simple to drop down 70 or 80 feet off the north side of the ridge and walk up this gully and avoid the semi-nasty down climb. In any event, the rest of the climb is straightforward and there are great views from the top.
IdaClimber - Jul 10, 2006 9:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2006
Route same as everyone else.
This is a steep climb. The down climb is murder on the knees.
awilsondc - Jul 6, 2006 12:52 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2006
Route Climbed: Standard Trail
I finally decided to bag Idaho's highest mountain, and did it on the tail end of a 4 day trip. I camped at the trail head and got of to a late start in the morning (6:45). The trail was just as steep as everyone had said, but I was feeling really good and wanted to do the whole thing with out stopping. After almost an hour of tredging up steep dirt, I was ready for a break until I caught sight of the other group who had camped at the TH with me and got off to an earlier start. This was some good motivation, and I caught up with them fairly quickly, at the point where the trail gains the first ridge and mellows out for a bit. I continued to keep the legs moving and made it past COR to the snow bridge, which was very icy and dangerous, but with good boot prints to step securely in. I didn't see the trail skirting around to the left below the snow bridge, so I ended up scrambling up to the 11898 point. It was here I gave up on going non-stop, and stopped for a minute or two so I could add a layer of clothing. From here I continued to hug the ridge and scrambled it up to the summit... much more enjoyable than following the trail of scree and loose dirt. Great views from the summit which I had all to myself! After a half hour plus of enjoying my surroundings, I headed back to the car. I think the trail was actually worse on the way down... very hard on the knees. I made it back to the TH at 12:23 - a little more than 5 1/2 hours car to car.
zoink - Jun 27, 2006 3:51 am Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2006
Have to get back to the area
Underestimated the mountain and a little out of shape but still a fun climb.
mad maximus - Jun 26, 2006 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2006
Great Climb
Great climb. The climb seemed much longer than the route is listed as. Fun exposure on COR and great views. We spent the night at 10k near the bivy site and made a run up and all the way back down on day two. Great fun!!
Route Climbed: Standard Route Climbed August 25, 2002
What a mountain! Good exposure, but not that bad. Busy Mtn, but it is Idaho's tallest. Start early and don't get caught in a storm.
Rocker Paully - Jun 14, 2006 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2000
Route: west side
Climbed it with my dad when I was 13. First time ever scrambling for me. My mom and sister chickened out halfway through Chicken Out ridge.
Tracy - Mar 31, 2006 9:49 am Date Climbed: Mar 9, 1985
Route climbed: standard winter climb (from the highway)
Great winter climbing conditions. Had to hike in from the main highway. Planned to camp one night under an almost full moon. Ended up spending a tired, cold, and hungry 2nd night also. It was worth it though. I found a deputy sheriff's business card on my windshield when I got back to my car. A note asked us (Jon Tanner and I) to make a call so that he could cancel the search and rescue party that was being organized.
Route Climbed: Southwest- run Date Climbed: August 28, 1998
One of my first mountain runs- I was able to keep a run for about 75% of the time. It was steep, but direct and fairly quick. There was a skiff of snow above Chicken Out and I was back to the car in 3 hrs 45 minutes
Climbed Borah on our way back to Missoula, MT from the Wind River Range. The day began overcast and smoky from nearby wildfires, but by the time we reached the summit had cleared considerably.
osatrik - Aug 16, 2006 5:20 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 1988
Long Hot DayVanessa and I did this on the second anniversary of our highpoints quest. We were mid-week (spending time at Sun Valley) and didn't see a soul. Very reasonable scramble, no reason to be intimidated, just take your time. It was number 31 of my 49 state high points, and number 30 for Vanessa.
Thomas Beasley - Aug 14, 2006 6:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2006
Chicken Out RidgeWarm up climb before getting back out to the Tetons. Left trail after chicken out to climb up the ridge.
Renardo - Aug 6, 2006 8:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2004
Fun climbMy second attempt, this time it was fast and fun. Up in 3 hours and back down in 3. Not much snow on the ridge. Left early and avoided most of the other people on the way up.
Dennis Poulin - Jul 25, 2006 5:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2006
Chicken Out RidgeTough steep dayhike. I know why they call it Chicken Out Ridge now. I saw a guy "chicken out". The snow bridge was about 70 ft across.
Tie-Dye Mike - Jul 19, 2006 10:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2006
Damn!Hard but fun, took two days and camped above the tree line.
Here's a trip report.
http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/208354/tie-dye-s-1st-solo-highpoint-borah-pk-.html
I agree with the murder on the knee's comment! Getting Down is almost worse that Climbing up!
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
Good scramblingTrail doesnt mess around. Pretty steep but the altitude is not as problematic as many Colorado mountains. The first part of Chicken Out Ridge is fun scrambling without too much exposure and lots of possible variations. The last part of the ridge involves a downclimb that is intimidating from above as it is hard to see the footholds (climbing up it on the way back is no problem)- usually there is snow in the col but by late summer it was snow free. Anyway, if there is no snow in the gully it is quite simple to drop down 70 or 80 feet off the north side of the ridge and walk up this gully and avoid the semi-nasty down climb. In any event, the rest of the climb is straightforward and there are great views from the top.
IdaClimber - Jul 10, 2006 9:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2006
Route same as everyone else.This is a steep climb. The down climb is murder on the knees.
awilsondc - Jul 6, 2006 12:52 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2006
Route Climbed: Standard TrailI finally decided to bag Idaho's highest mountain, and did it on the tail end of a 4 day trip. I camped at the trail head and got of to a late start in the morning (6:45). The trail was just as steep as everyone had said, but I was feeling really good and wanted to do the whole thing with out stopping. After almost an hour of tredging up steep dirt, I was ready for a break until I caught sight of the other group who had camped at the TH with me and got off to an earlier start. This was some good motivation, and I caught up with them fairly quickly, at the point where the trail gains the first ridge and mellows out for a bit. I continued to keep the legs moving and made it past COR to the snow bridge, which was very icy and dangerous, but with good boot prints to step securely in. I didn't see the trail skirting around to the left below the snow bridge, so I ended up scrambling up to the 11898 point. It was here I gave up on going non-stop, and stopped for a minute or two so I could add a layer of clothing. From here I continued to hug the ridge and scrambled it up to the summit... much more enjoyable than following the trail of scree and loose dirt. Great views from the summit which I had all to myself! After a half hour plus of enjoying my surroundings, I headed back to the car. I think the trail was actually worse on the way down... very hard on the knees. I made it back to the TH at 12:23 - a little more than 5 1/2 hours car to car.
zoink - Jun 27, 2006 3:51 am Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2006
Have to get back to the areaUnderestimated the mountain and a little out of shape but still a fun climb.
mad maximus - Jun 26, 2006 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2006
Great ClimbGreat climb. The climb seemed much longer than the route is listed as. Fun exposure on COR and great views. We spent the night at 10k near the bivy site and made a run up and all the way back down on day two. Great fun!!
summitlovinaddict - Jun 19, 2006 2:56 am
Route Climbed: Standard Route Climbed August 25, 2002What a mountain! Good exposure, but not that bad. Busy Mtn, but it is Idaho's tallest. Start early and don't get caught in a storm.
Rocker Paully - Jun 14, 2006 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2000
Route: west sideClimbed it with my dad when I was 13. First time ever scrambling for me. My mom and sister chickened out halfway through Chicken Out ridge.
Tracy - Mar 31, 2006 9:49 am Date Climbed: Mar 9, 1985
Route climbed: standard winter climb (from the highway)Great winter climbing conditions. Had to hike in from the main highway. Planned to camp one night under an almost full moon. Ended up spending a tired, cold, and hungry 2nd night also. It was worth it though. I found a deputy sheriff's business card on my windshield when I got back to my car. A note asked us (Jon Tanner and I) to make a call so that he could cancel the search and rescue party that was being organized.
Mountain Jim - Mar 11, 2006 4:39 am
SoloUp and down the Southwest Ridge in a little over 3 1/2 hours. A very interesting and beautiful mountain.
Scrambling Man - Feb 14, 2006 3:26 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2004
Idaho's TallestClimbed Borah on back-to-back days. Always a fun and challenging grind to the top. Also climbed the peak in August of 1999.
Snidely Whiplash - Feb 8, 2006 10:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2005
Route Climbed: Standard RouteA fun, easy climb and practically snowless, making the exit from Chicken-out Ridge very easy and not scary at all.
SawtoothSean - Dec 31, 2005 12:16 am
Route Climbed: Southwest- run Date Climbed: August 28, 1998One of my first mountain runs- I was able to keep a run for about 75% of the time. It was steep, but direct and fairly quick. There was a skiff of snow above Chicken Out and I was back to the car in 3 hrs 45 minutes
kyledod - Nov 18, 2005 8:41 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: August 2005Climbed Borah on our way back to Missoula, MT from the Wind River Range. The day began overcast and smoky from nearby wildfires, but by the time we reached the summit had cleared considerably.
rok_doc - Nov 18, 2005 10:47 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Date Climbed: September 21My 8th trip to the summit of Borah. It was a little chilly on top, but a great day!
dyscti - Oct 29, 2005 3:47 pm
Route Climbed: Main Trail Date Climbed: August 23rd, 2005First state highpoint for me and an awesome hike. Only saw 2 other people up there the whole day and perfect weather.