My 6th 12er! We approached Leatherman from the North through the Pahsimeroi Valley and took the East Ridge to the summit. There is a well defined path to follow through the valley, and footbridges/rocks across all of the stream crossings. This valley was lush, green and heavenly. It was a welcome change of pace from the dry, sage brush covered South side. The scramble up the East route was a very easy Class 3 (if that). The true crux of this whole route was the drive getting to the TH. It took us 2.5 hours to navigate the rough roads getting in there, and you have zero cell reception once you leave Hwy 93. We didn't even have cell service from the summit of Leatherman. For reference, we were in a Dodge Ram 1500, and Verizon is our carrier. We ended up blowing a tire, and stripping the lug nuts trying to get it changed. We had to hitch a ride back into Mackay, to get help. We learned lessons on this one!
rennerkj - Aug 14, 2020 8:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2020
Leatherman peak
2nd 12er!
IdahoDaisy - Sep 1, 2019 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2019
Road was the hardest part!
Approached from the east in the dark which made our drive very long- definitely the hardest part of this one! Beautiful walk up the river before cutting over into the gully. Just a short section of class 3-ish. Some scree skiing on the way down. Perfect weather. My 8th 12er- getting close!
derekperc - Aug 9, 2018 10:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2018
Sawmill to west ridge
At 8500' (very close to the end of the road) my Cherokee's tires were spinning in the skree field so I had to back down to the nearest parking at 8400'.
West ridge is a fun scramble. I was able to basically stay on the crest the whole time with only a few class4 moves. It always looked like the route was about to deadend which kept things exciting.
I consider Leatherman's northeast ridge to be class2+ (I took it over to 11909 and back). And it's something like 1700' of talus to get up to it- so if you're an experienced scrambler seeking the more interesting route, I recommend the western approach.
I climbed all around Leatherman that day: Leatherman>11909>Leatherman>Bad Rock
car to first summit was 2.5 hours. car to car was 10 hours
We have a siberian husky who has done a lot of hikes and climbs with us. Would it be safe to take him up Leatherman?
Scrambling Man - Jul 29, 2017 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2017
Second Highest Summit
My 9 year old son and I made it to the top. Great hike.
elcy79.gp - Aug 25, 2016 3:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2016
2nd time - Sawmill Gulch
Wanted to do this again since my grandson wasn't able to make it all the way up last time. Went up with Tristin (grandson) and met up with Oleg, Innes and Kerry. Started around 6:30am and took standard route from the westside, going over Leatherman Pass, dropping down ~900', climbing back up and over and into the main gully and up the snow to the saddle. Made the summit early afternoon where we had celebratory Scotch and Stella Artois for Oleg's final Idaho 12er.
Great weather and great boot scree skiing on the way down
live4hills - Aug 1, 2016 3:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2016
Lightning too close for comfort
Started out absolutely beautiful day from Pahsimeroi Valley, east side climb. Good stuff. Family of mountain goats said hi. My daughter had torn ACL so took 4.5 hrs up. Hung out on summit in blue skies. Saw a little rain cloud coming so headed down. 5 minutes onto the ridge the skies unleashed fury and hail. Love the Lost River weather. Gully still filled with snow so glissaded down quickly. Lightning too close for comfort. I've never heard rocks sizzle with electricity. Good times. Love the toilet at the camp ground, needed it after the thunderstorm :) 4/9 12ers with my daughter.
elcy79.gp - Oct 20, 2015 3:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2011
Pahsimeroi side
Drove the 25 miles to Pahsimeroi approach. First 22 miles took about an hour, the last 3 miles took an hour. Overnighted and the 3 of us took off early next morning. Easy climb up to the summit.
The summit was a little crowded with 3 humans and 2 dogs that day.
Went up Sawmill Gulch, well, tried to in my truck. Had a flat the week before and didn't feel like risking it, parked at 6900 feet. Lovely trail on the way to the pass, definitely my favorite approach of a Lost River Range Peak. But the route up from the pass... holy cow, to say it was eroded would be an understatement. Past a certain point, it's just dirt. It had rained the night before so I got blessed with some mud to create a bit of traction but I could not imagine going up or down on dry eroded portions.
I was also guilty of inadvertently sending some rocks cascading down, luckily there was no one else on the mountain. If there had been it would have created an extremely dangerous situation. There is hardly any protection on some of those steep portions. Don't think I'll be going back.
Further reading suggests the East side is a much safer approach.
gbrill - Jun 17, 2014 12:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2014
Quick Climb
Approached via standard West Pahsimori route. Fairly easy and straight foreword climb with reaching the summit in 3 1/2 hours. Pahsimori valley was incredibly beautiful, despite the snow, hail, and periodic whiteout conditions before clearing up.
DrGranola - Jun 9, 2014 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2014
208samm - Aug 23, 2013 10:40 am Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2012
Great Fall Climb
Great fall climb. Started at 4 am from the Pahsimeroi side, and had a beautiful crisp hike to the east valley. Lots of scree, and doing it in the dark made it hard to find the best route, but eventually got on the North ridge for some solid rock. Beautiful climb!
Mlasky - Aug 13, 2011 2:25 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2002
Done on Snow
Done with a group from Idaho State Unviersity as a snow climb from the Mackay side. The snow softened up fast so we had to beat feet to get down and back to the saddle where we camped. Beautiful day. My first snowcamp and snow climb.
Scarp172 - Jan 4, 2011 7:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2010
East ridge
The drive in was more challenging than the climb! Next time we will head up the West ridge!
mtybumpo - Aug 8, 2010 1:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
My 9th and final 12er!
Climbed the East Ridge with Mike F. and Rob R. This was my absolute favorite 12er. Such a spectacular area that is so different from the other side of the range. The road, however, is positively the WORST road I have EVER driven on. The rain making it muddy didn't help much either. All in all though this was a totally awesome climb and is worth braving the road to do again!
Lots of rain,Thunder and mosquitos but one of the best peaks over 12K in the State! not to mention one of the most scenic places I have been. a fun mix of trail hiking, scrambling and snow climbing leads to one of the best views in the range. Not a major class 3 climb but more a class 2 with some scrambling for good measure. Climbed this with mtybmpo and Rob R. thanks guys for the fun trip.
dawnclymb - Sep 9, 2023 12:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2023
Lessons on LeathermanMy 6th 12er! We approached Leatherman from the North through the Pahsimeroi Valley and took the East Ridge to the summit. There is a well defined path to follow through the valley, and footbridges/rocks across all of the stream crossings. This valley was lush, green and heavenly. It was a welcome change of pace from the dry, sage brush covered South side. The scramble up the East route was a very easy Class 3 (if that). The true crux of this whole route was the drive getting to the TH. It took us 2.5 hours to navigate the rough roads getting in there, and you have zero cell reception once you leave Hwy 93. We didn't even have cell service from the summit of Leatherman. For reference, we were in a Dodge Ram 1500, and Verizon is our carrier. We ended up blowing a tire, and stripping the lug nuts trying to get it changed. We had to hitch a ride back into Mackay, to get help. We learned lessons on this one!
rennerkj - Aug 14, 2020 8:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2020
Leatherman peak2nd 12er!
IdahoDaisy - Sep 1, 2019 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2019
Road was the hardest part!Approached from the east in the dark which made our drive very long- definitely the hardest part of this one! Beautiful walk up the river before cutting over into the gully. Just a short section of class 3-ish. Some scree skiing on the way down. Perfect weather. My 8th 12er- getting close!
derekperc - Aug 9, 2018 10:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2018
Sawmill to west ridgeAt 8500' (very close to the end of the road) my Cherokee's tires were spinning in the skree field so I had to back down to the nearest parking at 8400'.
West ridge is a fun scramble. I was able to basically stay on the crest the whole time with only a few class4 moves. It always looked like the route was about to deadend which kept things exciting.
I consider Leatherman's northeast ridge to be class2+ (I took it over to 11909 and back). And it's something like 1700' of talus to get up to it- so if you're an experienced scrambler seeking the more interesting route, I recommend the western approach.
I climbed all around Leatherman that day: Leatherman>11909>Leatherman>Bad Rock
car to first summit was 2.5 hours. car to car was 10 hours
browny11 - May 15, 2019 1:28 am
Re: Sawmill to west ridgeWe have a siberian husky who has done a lot of hikes and climbs with us. Would it be safe to take him up Leatherman?
Scrambling Man - Jul 29, 2017 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2017
Second Highest SummitMy 9 year old son and I made it to the top. Great hike.
elcy79.gp - Aug 25, 2016 3:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2016
2nd time - Sawmill GulchWanted to do this again since my grandson wasn't able to make it all the way up last time. Went up with Tristin (grandson) and met up with Oleg, Innes and Kerry. Started around 6:30am and took standard route from the westside, going over Leatherman Pass, dropping down ~900', climbing back up and over and into the main gully and up the snow to the saddle. Made the summit early afternoon where we had celebratory Scotch and Stella Artois for Oleg's final Idaho 12er.
Great weather and great boot scree skiing on the way down
live4hills - Aug 1, 2016 3:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2016
Lightning too close for comfortStarted out absolutely beautiful day from Pahsimeroi Valley, east side climb. Good stuff. Family of mountain goats said hi. My daughter had torn ACL so took 4.5 hrs up. Hung out on summit in blue skies. Saw a little rain cloud coming so headed down. 5 minutes onto the ridge the skies unleashed fury and hail. Love the Lost River weather. Gully still filled with snow so glissaded down quickly. Lightning too close for comfort. I've never heard rocks sizzle with electricity. Good times. Love the toilet at the camp ground, needed it after the thunderstorm :) 4/9 12ers with my daughter.
elcy79.gp - Oct 20, 2015 3:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2011
Pahsimeroi sideDrove the 25 miles to Pahsimeroi approach. First 22 miles took about an hour, the last 3 miles took an hour. Overnighted and the 3 of us took off early next morning. Easy climb up to the summit.
The summit was a little crowded with 3 humans and 2 dogs that day.
2/9 is in the books.
browny11 - May 15, 2019 1:28 am
Re: Pahsimeroi sideWe have a siberian husky who has done a lot of hikes and climbs with us. Would it be safe to take him up Leatherman?
LazyJSkwires - Jul 12, 2015 11:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2015
Sketchy stuffWent up Sawmill Gulch, well, tried to in my truck. Had a flat the week before and didn't feel like risking it, parked at 6900 feet. Lovely trail on the way to the pass, definitely my favorite approach of a Lost River Range Peak. But the route up from the pass... holy cow, to say it was eroded would be an understatement. Past a certain point, it's just dirt. It had rained the night before so I got blessed with some mud to create a bit of traction but I could not imagine going up or down on dry eroded portions.
I was also guilty of inadvertently sending some rocks cascading down, luckily there was no one else on the mountain. If there had been it would have created an extremely dangerous situation. There is hardly any protection on some of those steep portions. Don't think I'll be going back.
Further reading suggests the East side is a much safer approach.
gbrill - Jun 17, 2014 12:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2014
Quick ClimbApproached via standard West Pahsimori route. Fairly easy and straight foreword climb with reaching the summit in 3 1/2 hours. Pahsimori valley was incredibly beautiful, despite the snow, hail, and periodic whiteout conditions before clearing up.
DrGranola - Jun 9, 2014 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2014
Snow climbVia the north face. Awesome day!
Trip Report
208samm - Aug 23, 2013 10:40 am Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2012
Great Fall ClimbGreat fall climb. Started at 4 am from the Pahsimeroi side, and had a beautiful crisp hike to the east valley. Lots of scree, and doing it in the dark made it hard to find the best route, but eventually got on the North ridge for some solid rock. Beautiful climb!
Mlasky - Aug 13, 2011 2:25 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2002
Done on SnowDone with a group from Idaho State Unviersity as a snow climb from the Mackay side. The snow softened up fast so we had to beat feet to get down and back to the saddle where we camped. Beautiful day. My first snowcamp and snow climb.
Scarp172 - Jan 4, 2011 7:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2010
East ridgeThe drive in was more challenging than the climb! Next time we will head up the West ridge!
mansfieo - Dec 19, 2010 5:26 am
Climbed w/BadrockSweet climb from Leatherman Saddle
mtybumpo - Aug 8, 2010 1:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
My 9th and final 12er!Climbed the East Ridge with Mike F. and Rob R. This was my absolute favorite 12er. Such a spectacular area that is so different from the other side of the range. The road, however, is positively the WORST road I have EVER driven on. The rain making it muddy didn't help much either. All in all though this was a totally awesome climb and is worth braving the road to do again!
mfox79 - Aug 7, 2010 10:49 pm
Fun climb up the east faceLots of rain,Thunder and mosquitos but one of the best peaks over 12K in the State! not to mention one of the most scenic places I have been. a fun mix of trail hiking, scrambling and snow climbing leads to one of the best views in the range. Not a major class 3 climb but more a class 2 with some scrambling for good measure. Climbed this with mtybmpo and Rob R. thanks guys for the fun trip.
mtybumpo - Aug 8, 2010 1:03 am
Re: Fun climb up the east faceYou mean Rob R.