gte-step - Jan 30, 2011 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 1999
East Ridge
Kicking steps in the snow to gain the ridge blew-off the sole of my boot, love that duct tape. This is a great peak,a very scenic classic Sawtooth Peak! Take the time and trouble to put a camp at Lake Kathryn, it's a wonderful place to spend time. Climbed Reward while I was in the neighborhood...
Okay, I lied. We didn't really climb Elk Peak. We actually climbed Peak 9785 that sits above Limber Lake and is west of Reward Peak. Back when we climbed up here topos were not available for the Sawtooths. The area was not mapped by air until 1978 and topos didn't show up until 1979. I still have my 1973 Sawtooth Wilderness Area map and it only indicates 2 peaks, Reward and Elk so we picked one and called it good. Maybe I can round up enough content to build a page for this summit.
SawtoothSean - Jul 23, 2007 1:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
Long and Rugged
Long day from the trail head. Ran to near Lake Kathryn, then slow boulder hopping (large and loose) for 1 mile to the base of the couloir. Left the couloir before it angles up and to the right (bad conditions- dangerous). Then scramble straight up very loose boulders and climbed 15 feet of easy 5th to gain the East Ridge. Traversed the ridge with many drops to the south side to avoid more 5th Class. Easy 4th class over large loose boulders to the East Summit, then more 4th Class over to the base of the West Summit, then straight up it (Class 3-4). No Summit register was surprising, so I left one. The Forest Fire near Jackson peak dominated the west sky. Descended the southeast slopes (some 4th Class down climbing) to the valley near Lake 8488. Then found the trail again and ran as fast as I could (after 10 hrs of climbing) to catch the last shuttle boat (barely) where I cramped up on the ride back. It was 10 hrs of hard movement, but well worth it. Very rugged and impressive peak.
gte-step - Jan 30, 2011 10:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 1999
East RidgeKicking steps in the snow to gain the ridge blew-off the sole of my boot, love that duct tape. This is a great peak,a very scenic classic Sawtooth Peak! Take the time and trouble to put a camp at Lake Kathryn, it's a wonderful place to spend time. Climbed Reward while I was in the neighborhood...
reboyles - Jul 31, 2007 7:07 pm
Elk PeakOkay, I lied. We didn't really climb Elk Peak. We actually climbed Peak 9785 that sits above Limber Lake and is west of Reward Peak. Back when we climbed up here topos were not available for the Sawtooths. The area was not mapped by air until 1978 and topos didn't show up until 1979. I still have my 1973 Sawtooth Wilderness Area map and it only indicates 2 peaks, Reward and Elk so we picked one and called it good. Maybe I can round up enough content to build a page for this summit.
SawtoothSean - Jul 23, 2007 1:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2007
Long and RuggedLong day from the trail head. Ran to near Lake Kathryn, then slow boulder hopping (large and loose) for 1 mile to the base of the couloir. Left the couloir before it angles up and to the right (bad conditions- dangerous). Then scramble straight up very loose boulders and climbed 15 feet of easy 5th to gain the East Ridge. Traversed the ridge with many drops to the south side to avoid more 5th Class. Easy 4th class over large loose boulders to the East Summit, then more 4th Class over to the base of the West Summit, then straight up it (Class 3-4). No Summit register was surprising, so I left one. The Forest Fire near Jackson peak dominated the west sky. Descended the southeast slopes (some 4th Class down climbing) to the valley near Lake 8488. Then found the trail again and ran as fast as I could (after 10 hrs of climbing) to catch the last shuttle boat (barely) where I cramped up on the ride back. It was 10 hrs of hard movement, but well worth it. Very rugged and impressive peak.