cascadescrambler - Aug 4, 2019 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 1996
Didn't chicken out
Climbed this a dry summer day when there was no snow except at the 'snow bridge.' C.O.R. was a nice diversion from slogging up a dusty trail
BKiser90 - Aug 22, 2017 12:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2017
Eclipse
Summited Borah using this route before the total solar eclipse. Not nearly as difficult as it is hyped up to be. If you have done any scrambling before, you'll be fine. The most difficult part for me was the last 1000 feet after Chicken Out. The whole route is quite the steep slog, though.
asmrz - Nov 5, 2016 1:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2016
Sweet scramble
My wife Penelope and I scrambled up the ridge August 01, 2016, Monday. We arrived at the TH on Sunday only to find 64 cars parked in space for 5 cars and decided to enjoy the day drinking wine and enjoying ourselves. Monday, the mountain was empty, well except for three people, two of which turned around at the base of the ridge. We thought this was a wonderful scramble up the highest point of Idaho. Unfortunately, there is a total lack of snow in the surrounding mountains, the peaks of The Lost River Range will need some successive heavy snow years to catch up.
Rocky Alps - Aug 5, 2015 2:57 am Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2015
Chicken-Out Ridge
Hiked up the standard route of Borah Peak in perfect weather, and didn't have to cross any snow. The scrambling along the ridge was solid and fun, and there were plenty of options to either stay on easy class 3 terrain or try something harder. The views near the top, especially of the other peaks to the south, were quite impressive. See "Roof of Idaho" trip report for details.
montanajames - Sep 2, 2014 10:37 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2014
Snow in August
It snowed on us the whole time we were on Chicken Out Ridge making for some slick surfaces. But we took our time, had fun, and made the top in about 6 hours.
gimpilator - Jul 1, 2014 3:00 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
Very Scenic Route
I can see why this route is popular. The scramble section was much easier than I anticipated except for the sections that were completely snow covered. We walked across one section which was an exposed knife-edge snow ridge.
I was the only climber to summit that day due to a few inches of snowfall making chicken out ridge slippery for the 8 novice climbers attempting. Cold, cloudy, and windy in the morning, but turned out to be a nice day in the afternoon. RT time 6.25 hours, with 1/2 hr. spent at the summit. Straightforward peak climb, easier than many Colorado 14ers.
kevinhansen - Mar 19, 2012 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2005
Cold but nice
I put together a group of folks from ISU OP to climb this route a few days before the official start of the Winter season. Everyone but Chad called and bailed out the night before we left. Valley temps were Minus 8 Degrees so we were thinking is was going to be like minus 25 degrees up at the tree line camp sites. We couldn't have been more wrong. An inversion gave us +25 degrees up on the ridge. The climb was great with blue bird skys.
blakemj33 - Dec 25, 2011 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2010
Saweeeet
Fun climb and yes I'd have to agree that Chicken Out ridge is way overated.
Garfimi - Oct 10, 2011 5:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Chicken-Out What?
Great route. Great hike. COR was fun. I really fun scramble. Don't believe all the hype.
reboyles - Aug 22, 2011 4:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2011
28 and Counting
I was reluctant to waste my remaining cartilage on another trip down Chicken Out Ridge but this year I was obligated to take my daughter to the summit before I finally shake off my obsession with this particular chunk of rock. I made my 28th trip to the summit on Sunday along with my daughter Anne and her best friend Kyndal. Good luck was with us on this trip because we had a very active upper atmosphere that produced a very spectacular show all weekend but completely missed Borah this time.
To those who diss off CO Ridge as overrated I should remind them that this route is by far the easiest way up or down the mountain. Outside of the dry season, this route can be quite technical in nature and in winter it's a whole different ball game in this mountain range.
This was my fourth idaho 12er since moving to Boise from Seattle this summer. Great views and a unique area of the state. Chicken Out Ridge had some nice exposure and was the highlight of the climb.
DougBenton - Jul 9, 2010 5:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2010
See my trip report!!
What a beautiful peak!! The rest is in my report!
reboyles - Mar 1, 2010 10:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2008
27 Times
I made my 27th ascent with my neighbor Dave under near perfect conditions. That includes 6 ascents of the North Face and 21 times up CO Ridge. I've made 25 trips down CO Ridge, one down the North Face and a midnight descent of the West Face in winter. If my knees stay healthy, I'll go for 30. On my first trip up in 1973 there was only a rumor of a trail on the ridge. Not finding a trace of a trail, Carl and I used the steep gully to the right of what is now the main trail. We made it to the summit in under 3 hours and came back down by the same route. In the late 70s a climax avalanche roared down this gully snapping trees that were 6' in diameter and left a pile of debris nearly 100 feet deep until it melted away. The evidence of this slide is clearly visible to this day.
I never intended to climb Borah so many times nor do I care about any kind of record. Year-after-year my friends keep asking to go with them so how can I refuse a friend? Be aware though. Climbing Borah with a friend, relative or child just might create a bond that lasts a lifetime.
byates - Jul 22, 2009 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
Chicken out way overrated
So this is it? a few slippery hand holds due to over use? On the other hand the thunderstorm was way scary, bolts flying all over the place on Chicken out on the way down at 9 to 9;30 am, I thought they were supposed to hold off till noon. Up in 2:45 down in 2;15 due to being chased by the lightning
Scott Wesemann - Mar 19, 2009 12:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2002
Saweeet ridge!!
I have done COR twice and it is a fantastic ridge with fun exposure. I like to stay right on top of the ridge. There are excellent hand holds and as long as exposure doesn't bother you, you will be fine.
BCJ - Oct 4, 2008 3:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2007
cascadescrambler - Aug 4, 2019 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 1996
Didn't chicken outClimbed this a dry summer day when there was no snow except at the 'snow bridge.' C.O.R. was a nice diversion from slogging up a dusty trail
BKiser90 - Aug 22, 2017 12:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2017
EclipseSummited Borah using this route before the total solar eclipse. Not nearly as difficult as it is hyped up to be. If you have done any scrambling before, you'll be fine. The most difficult part for me was the last 1000 feet after Chicken Out. The whole route is quite the steep slog, though.
asmrz - Nov 5, 2016 1:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2016
Sweet scrambleMy wife Penelope and I scrambled up the ridge August 01, 2016, Monday. We arrived at the TH on Sunday only to find 64 cars parked in space for 5 cars and decided to enjoy the day drinking wine and enjoying ourselves. Monday, the mountain was empty, well except for three people, two of which turned around at the base of the ridge. We thought this was a wonderful scramble up the highest point of Idaho. Unfortunately, there is a total lack of snow in the surrounding mountains, the peaks of The Lost River Range will need some successive heavy snow years to catch up.
alexghackett - Jul 27, 2016 6:45 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2015
Borah SummitStarted all the Idaho 12ers this day.
Rocky Alps - Aug 5, 2015 2:57 am Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2015
Chicken-Out RidgeHiked up the standard route of Borah Peak in perfect weather, and didn't have to cross any snow. The scrambling along the ridge was solid and fun, and there were plenty of options to either stay on easy class 3 terrain or try something harder. The views near the top, especially of the other peaks to the south, were quite impressive. See "Roof of Idaho" trip report for details.
montanajames - Sep 2, 2014 10:37 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2014
Snow in AugustIt snowed on us the whole time we were on Chicken Out Ridge making for some slick surfaces. But we took our time, had fun, and made the top in about 6 hours.
gimpilator - Jul 1, 2014 3:00 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
Very Scenic RouteI can see why this route is popular. The scramble section was much easier than I anticipated except for the sections that were completely snow covered. We walked across one section which was an exposed knife-edge snow ridge.
Trailboss88 - Sep 23, 2013 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2013
fun hike/scambleI was the only climber to summit that day due to a few inches of snowfall making chicken out ridge slippery for the 8 novice climbers attempting. Cold, cloudy, and windy in the morning, but turned out to be a nice day in the afternoon. RT time 6.25 hours, with 1/2 hr. spent at the summit. Straightforward peak climb, easier than many Colorado 14ers.
kevinhansen - Mar 19, 2012 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Dec 10, 2005
Cold but niceI put together a group of folks from ISU OP to climb this route a few days before the official start of the Winter season. Everyone but Chad called and bailed out the night before we left. Valley temps were Minus 8 Degrees so we were thinking is was going to be like minus 25 degrees up at the tree line camp sites. We couldn't have been more wrong. An inversion gave us +25 degrees up on the ridge. The climb was great with blue bird skys.
blakemj33 - Dec 25, 2011 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2010
SaweeeetFun climb and yes I'd have to agree that Chicken Out ridge is way overated.
Garfimi - Oct 10, 2011 5:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Chicken-Out What?Great route. Great hike. COR was fun. I really fun scramble. Don't believe all the hype.
reboyles - Aug 22, 2011 4:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2011
28 and CountingI was reluctant to waste my remaining cartilage on another trip down Chicken Out Ridge but this year I was obligated to take my daughter to the summit before I finally shake off my obsession with this particular chunk of rock. I made my 28th trip to the summit on Sunday along with my daughter Anne and her best friend Kyndal. Good luck was with us on this trip because we had a very active upper atmosphere that produced a very spectacular show all weekend but completely missed Borah this time.
To those who diss off CO Ridge as overrated I should remind them that this route is by far the easiest way up or down the mountain. Outside of the dry season, this route can be quite technical in nature and in winter it's a whole different ball game in this mountain range.
asaking11 - Jul 9, 2011 11:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2011
Awesome Route!This route is a ton of fun. The exposure isn't too bad, and some snow in some sections makes this route a lot of fun. Short but steep.
SawtoothExplorer - Jun 20, 2011 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2011
Tons of snowMixed snow conditions. Very windy and cold. Even got a little snow storm on the way back through COR just to make it interesting.
jamesmc2 - Sep 30, 2010 5:41 pm Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2010
The Big SpudThis was my fourth idaho 12er since moving to Boise from Seattle this summer. Great views and a unique area of the state. Chicken Out Ridge had some nice exposure and was the highlight of the climb.
DougBenton - Jul 9, 2010 5:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2010
See my trip report!!What a beautiful peak!! The rest is in my report!
reboyles - Mar 1, 2010 10:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2008
27 TimesI made my 27th ascent with my neighbor Dave under near perfect conditions. That includes 6 ascents of the North Face and 21 times up CO Ridge. I've made 25 trips down CO Ridge, one down the North Face and a midnight descent of the West Face in winter. If my knees stay healthy, I'll go for 30. On my first trip up in 1973 there was only a rumor of a trail on the ridge. Not finding a trace of a trail, Carl and I used the steep gully to the right of what is now the main trail. We made it to the summit in under 3 hours and came back down by the same route. In the late 70s a climax avalanche roared down this gully snapping trees that were 6' in diameter and left a pile of debris nearly 100 feet deep until it melted away. The evidence of this slide is clearly visible to this day.
I never intended to climb Borah so many times nor do I care about any kind of record. Year-after-year my friends keep asking to go with them so how can I refuse a friend? Be aware though. Climbing Borah with a friend, relative or child just might create a bond that lasts a lifetime.
byates - Jul 22, 2009 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
Chicken out way overratedSo this is it? a few slippery hand holds due to over use? On the other hand the thunderstorm was way scary, bolts flying all over the place on Chicken out on the way down at 9 to 9;30 am, I thought they were supposed to hold off till noon. Up in 2:45 down in 2;15 due to being chased by the lightning
Scott Wesemann - Mar 19, 2009 12:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2002
Saweeet ridge!!I have done COR twice and it is a fantastic ridge with fun exposure. I like to stay right on top of the ridge. There are excellent hand holds and as long as exposure doesn't bother you, you will be fine.
BCJ - Oct 4, 2008 3:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2007
Lots of funGreat route and a lot more fun than I expected.