Gained the ridge from the trailhead. It was nice to spread out the 3500' vertical evenly over 3.5 miles, but the lower bushwacking did load up my clothes with burrs and foxtails. Standard procedure if you're the type who likes to climb the random sagebrush hills in the area. On the way back I went straight down to the trail- which as others mentioned is overgrown in places with stinging nettle.
What a day. Clear views, wandering thunderstorms, wildflowers, wildflowers, wildflowers. I think the views from this peak are some of the best I've seen in the Pioneers. And this is one photogenic mountain range.
gbrill - Jun 4, 2014 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2014
West Ridge
North ridge was too corniced, so we down climbed and ascended the West Ridge.
idpeakgirl - Aug 7, 2012 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2012
West Ridge & Loop hike
Straightforward hike up west ridge. Great views of Cobb/Old Hyndman area from midway up and to summit. Gray's has a stunning, photogenic upper ridgeline. Descended SW, near point 8975 and caught a trail that continued on to points 9047 and 8923 before dropping into upper Timber Draw; lots of avy debris through here, making it a fun obstacle course, with lush greenery and rushing water exiting good sized snow piles. Stinging nettle spotted only in lower reaches of TD, and not tall/thick enough yet to cause concern. Great training hike!
Was a fun day in Fedral Gulch. the views of the pioneer range are some of the best from the summit
mtybumpo - Jul 22, 2012 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Last minute
Tagged it last minute while in the area. Great View!
boisedoc - May 19, 2012 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2012
good spring climb
fun early season climb with splattski. A little snow on the ridge for cramponing but very straightforward.
Mlasky - Aug 7, 2011 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2011
Solo #2
My second solo outing. Everyone was busy...I hated not having anyone to share it with. Perfect climbing conditions, quiet day...not a soul around. Took the west ridge ascent from the parking lot, and on the descent scrambled down to catch the Federal Gulch trail back to the trailhead.
Went up the west ridge which was very fun with little scrambles here and there. Surprisingly, the footing was really good, which made for good time. Went down the Federal Gulch trail with no stinging needle noted...
nickkarl - Jun 27, 2010 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Clear And Beautiful
Hiked from the trail out of Federal Gulch once to the saddle made my way up the ridge to the summit. Fast hike RT 6hrs 8miles, great class 2 hike one of the best views I've ever seen!
nickkarl - Jun 27, 2010 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Clear And Beautiful
Hiked from the trail out of Federal Gulch once to the saddle made my way up the ridge to the summit. Fast hike RT 6hrs 8miles, great class 2 hike one of the best views I've ever seen!
Perfect day heading up the west ridge from the camp ground. Thanks to all for the warning about the brush and nettle at the lower trail. That sucked came down that way. But all else was spectacular. Saw a bull elk scrambling across the scree just below the summit. Quite a ruckus.
hgrapid - Aug 4, 2006 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2006
Hard route
Climbed a new route, I call Gully#2 (will be up soon). This was a tricky climb once I got off the trail. Lots of loose scree. The view at the summit was INCREDIBLE!
Scrambling Man - Feb 14, 2006 3:02 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2004
Federal Gulch to West Ridge
Enjoyable climb. Cool June day. Great views of the Pioneers.
Route Climbed: Federal Gulch up/West Ridge down Date Climbed: September 20, 2005
Enjoyed a beautiful fall day with my dog Jessie. Found a geocache at the summit. Kept hearing what I thought was bugling, but didn't quite sound right. Then I saw below me a white animal, thought maybe it was a wayward cow from the valley. As I descended the ridgeline, I came upon a goat. We were both startled. I'm not sure what a domestic goat was doing way up here. Also came upon a moose further down in the trees on the west ridge.
Route Climbed: federal gulch/west ridge Date Climbed: aug 9, 2005
lower half of trail is extremely overgrown with weeds/flowers and unfortunatly stinging nettle.
we had shorts on and it did not feel good.
nice weather on the way up and then the clouds started forming pretty bad on the way down with lightning over the main portion of the pioneers, we escaped and even had more sunshine once back in the lower portion of federal gulch. took about 5.5 hours total.
this has been a wet summer and the weeds/flower still green this late in the season. almost thought it was june...
Route Climbed: Standard Route From Saddle Date Climbed: June11th/04
A great mountain for scoping out more difficult Pioneer ascents... The wind on this day was blowing so hard on the ridge I could barely walk up. I estimated the wind chill factor in the single digits (in June)... Yikes!
TN310 - Oct 19, 2023 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2022
Gray's PeakSo fun.
derekperc - Jul 20, 2018 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2018
West ridge to Federal Gulch loopGained the ridge from the trailhead. It was nice to spread out the 3500' vertical evenly over 3.5 miles, but the lower bushwacking did load up my clothes with burrs and foxtails. Standard procedure if you're the type who likes to climb the random sagebrush hills in the area. On the way back I went straight down to the trail- which as others mentioned is overgrown in places with stinging nettle.
BeDrinkable - Jul 23, 2014 6:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2014
Flowers, flowers everywhere.What a day. Clear views, wandering thunderstorms, wildflowers, wildflowers, wildflowers. I think the views from this peak are some of the best I've seen in the Pioneers. And this is one photogenic mountain range.
gbrill - Jun 4, 2014 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2014
West RidgeNorth ridge was too corniced, so we down climbed and ascended the West Ridge.
idpeakgirl - Aug 7, 2012 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2012
West Ridge & Loop hikeStraightforward hike up west ridge. Great views of Cobb/Old Hyndman area from midway up and to summit. Gray's has a stunning, photogenic upper ridgeline. Descended SW, near point 8975 and caught a trail that continued on to points 9047 and 8923 before dropping into upper Timber Draw; lots of avy debris through here, making it a fun obstacle course, with lush greenery and rushing water exiting good sized snow piles. Stinging nettle spotted only in lower reaches of TD, and not tall/thick enough yet to cause concern. Great training hike!
mfox79 - Jul 22, 2012 10:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Fun HikeWas a fun day in Fedral Gulch. the views of the pioneer range are some of the best from the summit
mtybumpo - Jul 22, 2012 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Last minuteTagged it last minute while in the area. Great View!
boisedoc - May 19, 2012 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2012
good spring climbfun early season climb with splattski. A little snow on the ridge for cramponing but very straightforward.
Mlasky - Aug 7, 2011 8:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2011
Solo #2My second solo outing. Everyone was busy...I hated not having anyone to share it with. Perfect climbing conditions, quiet day...not a soul around. Took the west ridge ascent from the parking lot, and on the descent scrambled down to catch the Federal Gulch trail back to the trailhead.
DrGranola - Jul 9, 2010 9:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2010
Very fun.Went up the west ridge which was very fun with little scrambles here and there. Surprisingly, the footing was really good, which made for good time. Went down the Federal Gulch trail with no stinging needle noted...
nickkarl - Jun 27, 2010 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Clear And BeautifulHiked from the trail out of Federal Gulch once to the saddle made my way up the ridge to the summit. Fast hike RT 6hrs 8miles, great class 2 hike one of the best views I've ever seen!
nickkarl - Jun 27, 2010 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Clear And BeautifulHiked from the trail out of Federal Gulch once to the saddle made my way up the ridge to the summit. Fast hike RT 6hrs 8miles, great class 2 hike one of the best views I've ever seen!
toddschwarz - Jul 27, 2009 8:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2009
West ridgePerfect day heading up the west ridge from the camp ground. Thanks to all for the warning about the brush and nettle at the lower trail. That sucked came down that way. But all else was spectacular. Saw a bull elk scrambling across the scree just below the summit. Quite a ruckus.
hgrapid - Aug 4, 2006 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2006
Hard routeClimbed a new route, I call Gully#2 (will be up soon). This was a tricky climb once I got off the trail. Lots of loose scree. The view at the summit was INCREDIBLE!
Scrambling Man - Feb 14, 2006 3:02 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2004
Federal Gulch to West RidgeEnjoyable climb. Cool June day. Great views of the Pioneers.
sadicoff - Sep 21, 2005 2:57 pm
Route Climbed: Federal Gulch up/West Ridge down Date Climbed: September 20, 2005Enjoyed a beautiful fall day with my dog Jessie. Found a geocache at the summit. Kept hearing what I thought was bugling, but didn't quite sound right. Then I saw below me a white animal, thought maybe it was a wayward cow from the valley. As I descended the ridgeline, I came upon a goat. We were both startled. I'm not sure what a domestic goat was doing way up here. Also came upon a moose further down in the trees on the west ridge.
ker b - Aug 10, 2005 12:32 pm
Route Climbed: federal gulch/west ridge Date Climbed: aug 9, 2005lower half of trail is extremely overgrown with weeds/flowers and unfortunatly stinging nettle.
we had shorts on and it did not feel good.
nice weather on the way up and then the clouds started forming pretty bad on the way down with lightning over the main portion of the pioneers, we escaped and even had more sunshine once back in the lower portion of federal gulch. took about 5.5 hours total.
this has been a wet summer and the weeds/flower still green this late in the season. almost thought it was june...
ker-b
IdahoSummits - Feb 19, 2005 2:51 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Direct Date Climbed: April 17, 2004Climbed on a snowy day with kpdonaldson. Finally saw the peak when I climbed a nearby peak a few months later :-)
kdonaldson - Nov 12, 2004 12:40 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Direct Date Climbed: April 17, 2004Climbed through falling snow and low visibility to summit with bigdan. We headed directly up the west ridge instead of travelling up Federal Gulch.
IdahoKid - Nov 11, 2004 11:43 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Route From Saddle Date Climbed: June11th/04A great mountain for scoping out more difficult Pioneer ascents... The wind on this day was blowing so hard on the ridge I could barely walk up. I estimated the wind chill factor in the single digits (in June)... Yikes!