Wet Peak

Nearest Paved Roads:  ID-93

Nearest Dirt Roads / Conditions:  Pass Creek Road (good), Bear Creek CG Road (rough)- To reach the end of the road may require 4WD, otherwise a sedan could park 0.75 miles from TH.

Approach Trails / Conditions:  Bear Creek Trail (good)

Main Route:  Bear Creek Trail to the Bear Creek Lake trail.  Once at the Lake contour around the lake (east) and head north up a narrowing drainage.  At the Octoberfest-Hidden saddle, follow the open basin to either the saddle between Wet and South Wet  or the saddle between Hidden and Wet.  The north ridge presents more route finding and steeper scrambling.  The southeast ridge is an easy walk up.

Descent:  Retrace your steps.

Main Route Stats:  11 miles / 4851 (round trip) / 16% Average Grade

Average RT Time:  4-6 hours

Traverse Route:  Follow the Bear Creek Trail to the pass between Warren and Octoberfest.  Follow the ridge to Warren Mountain, retrace steps and follow the broad ridge west, then north onto Octoberfest (Class 2).  From Octoberfest, drop to the saddle with Hidden.  Either gain Hidden's northeast ridge from the basin (Class 3), or use the southeast ridge (Class 3).  From Hidden, descend to the saddle with Wet.  Climb the north ridge (Class 3).  Depending on exact route and snow, this section could go Class 3-4.  From Wet, follow the broad ridge south to the obvious saddle with South Wet. There's a hydrological container of some type at this saddle.  Climb the north slopes to South Wet (Class 2).

Descent:  Follow the scenic ridge northeast to the upper Bear Creek Basin (Hidden-Octoberfest saddle).

Main Route Stats:  15.1miles / 8095 (round trip) / 8% Average Grade

Average RT Time:  9-12 hours

Red Tape

Jurisdiction:  National Forest (Challis National Recreation Area)

Permit:  No

Other Users / Issues:  Pack Animals

Maps:  USGS Quad- Massacre Mtn, Mackay

Guide Book:  Tom Lopez,  Idaho: A Climbing Guide, 

When to Climb

Climbing Season:  Summer, Fall (June-Dec)

Ideal Climbing Time:  June-Oct

Nearest Weather Station:  Mackay

Weather Relative to Region:  located in the southern part of the range and overshadowed by the larger peaks, this area sees less precipitation and melts out earlier.  Like much of the Lost River Range, you can often climb with little snow until Dec or Jan.  From Mar-May, the area receives the bulk of it's snow.  Winds are usually strong on the ridges.

Camping

Car Camping Sites:  Bear Creek Campground areas offer lots of drive in camp sites plus many primitive sites along Pass Creek Road.

Backpacking Sites:  Bear Creek Lake or the upper basin are ideal sites

Flora & Fauna

Potential Wildlife:  Badger, Beaver, Black Bear, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Cougar, Coyote, Elk, Marmot, Marten, Moose, Mountain Goat, Pika,

Confirmed Wildlife: Pika, Elk, Mule Deer, Mountain Goat

Vegetation:  Stinging Nettles, Willow, Berry Brush, Pine (little vegetation above 8600 ft)

Images

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