dawnclymb - Sep 1, 2023 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2023
Incredible Ridgeline Scramble to Church
I approached Church and Donaldson via the North Fork Jones Creek. The hike in is lovely through old growth forest with an active creek still running late in August. We had many creek crossings, but never had to worry about getting our feet wet. I felt really good about my route through the Headwall, and on the ridgeline scramble. The scree was miserable, but the ridge line made up for this completely! We saw pronghorn, and big horned sheep on this hike. This was my 4th and 5th Idaho 12er and my favorite peaks so far.
Tracks here: https://caltopo.com/t/LV8JE5PMGR
rennerkj - Aug 17, 2020 12:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2020
4th 12er!
Climbed this along with Donaldson, this made for a long tiring day, about 11.5 hours. The ridge between Donaldson and Church is a fun exposed scramble. Approached from the N.F. of Jones Cr.
Scrambling Man - Aug 27, 2019 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2019
Awesome Ridge
Fun ridge climb. Did Donaldson first and then Church. Came in from North Fork of the Jones.
IdahoDaisy - Aug 25, 2019 8:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
LOVE the ridgeline!
My #7th 12er- headwall was not as bad as I thought it would be. Went up the left "blue" route then immediately to the right. Summitted Donaldson first, then over to Church- took us 6 hours to get to summit of Church then 4 hours down to car. I was nervous about this one but it ended up being one of my favorites if not my favorite so far. Ridgeline is just amazing!
LazyJSkwires - Oct 26, 2018 5:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2014
Started really early d/t threat of weather later. Half way up headwall I didn't care if it stormed, I was summiting because I told myself I was never doing this again! I always thought I'd leave Church undone because of the ridge, but I did it.. 9/9. I may have cried. Got down to the car and the lightning started. Just in time. N. Jones.. so much better then Pete creek!
I guess I have to do it with my daughter, but I'll need a few years to forget the pain and the sprained MCL.
DrGranola - Aug 10, 2017 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2017
Good Day
Don't like the headwall, love the ridge. Finished the 12ers.
derekperc - Aug 3, 2016 12:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2016
North Fork Jones
The cairns along the approach were great. Thanks, fellas!
The wind coming over the saddle was horrendous. Certainly enough to throw me off balance when traversing the ridge crest. It sounds like that's a regular occurence.
3 hours to Donaldson summit, 8 hours car to car with Donaldson & Church
DrGranola - Jun 7, 2016 11:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2016
elcy79.gp - Oct 20, 2015 12:54 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2015
Church #7
Hiked the 2 miles up Jones Ck with Jon and Ryan and made camp around 9,700' - Started around 6am next working and quickly made our way up to Donaldson then across the fun ridge hike to Church.
Went straight when we should have made a right coming down the chute and ended up on a sketchy slope with a lot of steep runout.
bhobbs - Feb 20, 2014 1:42 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2010
North Face
Watched skunk ape ski off the face. Gorgeous day.
Deltaoperator17 - Jan 30, 2013 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
Wind Blown...
Great day up North Jones Creek with a good ol bunch (Blue Axe), the snow started to fly and the wind blew us off the SW face of Church, we should have gone via Donaldson, the group made the wrong decision.
Mlasky - Aug 13, 2011 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2001
East Ridge
Originally tried to bag this with Donaldson, but the wind picked up to nasty speeds on the traverse. A truely classic climb.
The ridge was a fun scramble, the scree getting there wasn't. Beautiful day.
IdahoPeakBagger - Feb 8, 2011 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2007
Church
My last Idaho 12,000 foot peak. East ridge via Jones Creek (I went up N. Fork Jones Creek for Donaldson and think the N. Fork was slightly easier approach). Overnighted on the 10,000 ft saddle between N. Fork Jones Crk and Jones Crk on the ascent. Very windy. There are two small ponds above 10,000 feet. Depending on when you climb they may still hold drinkable water. On our climb in mid July the first pond was dry, but the higher pond had water. Ditto the other comments on ridgeline wind and being the most difficult Idaho 12K peak.
Scarp172 - Jan 4, 2011 7:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2009
East ridge
Climbed with Donaldson. It was an extremely windy day, which made the ridgeline a little harrowing. Great climbs though.
montanaboy - Aug 8, 2010 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
N. Fork Jones Creek
The Indian Paintbrush was outstanding. A Lost River hail storm dished out some punishment on the descent. A thunder symphony was the music of choice as an accompaniment for the hail.
Mt. Church was my 2nd Lost River peak after doing Donaldson. Great views of the entire range and area. The ridge connecting Donaldson and Church is a blast!
boisedoc - Jul 25, 2010 2:31 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
final 12er
this was a tough climb. I think clearly it is the hardest Idaho 12er by the easiest route. The ridge is exposed and fun. The miserable scree on the way to the ridge is a nightmare ascending and descending. Surprisingly, there was still a bit of snow to deal with
dawnclymb - Sep 1, 2023 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2023
Incredible Ridgeline Scramble to ChurchI approached Church and Donaldson via the North Fork Jones Creek. The hike in is lovely through old growth forest with an active creek still running late in August. We had many creek crossings, but never had to worry about getting our feet wet. I felt really good about my route through the Headwall, and on the ridgeline scramble. The scree was miserable, but the ridge line made up for this completely! We saw pronghorn, and big horned sheep on this hike. This was my 4th and 5th Idaho 12er and my favorite peaks so far.
Tracks here: https://caltopo.com/t/LV8JE5PMGR
rennerkj - Aug 17, 2020 12:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2020
4th 12er!Climbed this along with Donaldson, this made for a long tiring day, about 11.5 hours. The ridge between Donaldson and Church is a fun exposed scramble. Approached from the N.F. of Jones Cr.
Scrambling Man - Aug 27, 2019 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2019
Awesome RidgeFun ridge climb. Did Donaldson first and then Church. Came in from North Fork of the Jones.
IdahoDaisy - Aug 25, 2019 8:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2019
LOVE the ridgeline!My #7th 12er- headwall was not as bad as I thought it would be. Went up the left "blue" route then immediately to the right. Summitted Donaldson first, then over to Church- took us 6 hours to get to summit of Church then 4 hours down to car. I was nervous about this one but it ended up being one of my favorites if not my favorite so far. Ridgeline is just amazing!
LazyJSkwires - Oct 26, 2018 5:42 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2014
North forkNo snow but lots of scree, nice hike
live4hills - Sep 15, 2017 4:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2017
Son of a b*tchStarted really early d/t threat of weather later. Half way up headwall I didn't care if it stormed, I was summiting because I told myself I was never doing this again! I always thought I'd leave Church undone because of the ridge, but I did it.. 9/9. I may have cried. Got down to the car and the lightning started. Just in time. N. Jones.. so much better then Pete creek!
I guess I have to do it with my daughter, but I'll need a few years to forget the pain and the sprained MCL.
DrGranola - Aug 10, 2017 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2017
Good DayDon't like the headwall, love the ridge. Finished the 12ers.
derekperc - Aug 3, 2016 12:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2016
North Fork JonesThe cairns along the approach were great. Thanks, fellas!
The wind coming over the saddle was horrendous. Certainly enough to throw me off balance when traversing the ridge crest. It sounds like that's a regular occurence.
3 hours to Donaldson summit, 8 hours car to car with Donaldson & Church
DrGranola - Jun 7, 2016 11:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2016
North FaceWet sloppy snow direct up the north face.
Trip report
elcy79.gp - Oct 20, 2015 12:54 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2015
Church #7Hiked the 2 miles up Jones Ck with Jon and Ryan and made camp around 9,700' - Started around 6am next working and quickly made our way up to Donaldson then across the fun ridge hike to Church.
Went straight when we should have made a right coming down the chute and ended up on a sketchy slope with a lot of steep runout.
Made it down by 3 for a milkshake at Pickles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBvjavL5w28
Michael Tilden - Dec 29, 2014 1:44 pm
Idaho winter climbingLots of snowshoeing - Fun push to the summit
bhobbs - Feb 20, 2014 1:42 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2010
North FaceWatched skunk ape ski off the face. Gorgeous day.
Deltaoperator17 - Jan 30, 2013 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
Wind Blown...Great day up North Jones Creek with a good ol bunch (Blue Axe), the snow started to fly and the wind blew us off the SW face of Church, we should have gone via Donaldson, the group made the wrong decision.
Mlasky - Aug 13, 2011 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2001
East RidgeOriginally tried to bag this with Donaldson, but the wind picked up to nasty speeds on the traverse. A truely classic climb.
merrill - Jul 30, 2011 8:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2011
East RidgeThe ridge was a fun scramble, the scree getting there wasn't. Beautiful day.
IdahoPeakBagger - Feb 8, 2011 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2007
ChurchMy last Idaho 12,000 foot peak. East ridge via Jones Creek (I went up N. Fork Jones Creek for Donaldson and think the N. Fork was slightly easier approach). Overnighted on the 10,000 ft saddle between N. Fork Jones Crk and Jones Crk on the ascent. Very windy. There are two small ponds above 10,000 feet. Depending on when you climb they may still hold drinkable water. On our climb in mid July the first pond was dry, but the higher pond had water. Ditto the other comments on ridgeline wind and being the most difficult Idaho 12K peak.
Scarp172 - Jan 4, 2011 7:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2009
East ridgeClimbed with Donaldson. It was an extremely windy day, which made the ridgeline a little harrowing. Great climbs though.
montanaboy - Aug 8, 2010 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
N. Fork Jones CreekThe Indian Paintbrush was outstanding. A Lost River hail storm dished out some punishment on the descent. A thunder symphony was the music of choice as an accompaniment for the hail.
jamesmc2 - Jul 25, 2010 11:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
Great ViewsMt. Church was my 2nd Lost River peak after doing Donaldson. Great views of the entire range and area. The ridge connecting Donaldson and Church is a blast!
boisedoc - Jul 25, 2010 2:31 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
final 12erthis was a tough climb. I think clearly it is the hardest Idaho 12er by the easiest route. The ridge is exposed and fun. The miserable scree on the way to the ridge is a nightmare ascending and descending. Surprisingly, there was still a bit of snow to deal with