Counting on Idaho by Rick Baugher
For me the pleasure of reaching the summits of Idaho mountains has for better or worse devolved into a motivationally oriented numbers game. My most recent and seemingly elusive quest has been to reach 2000 unique Idaho summits. By the way, the numerical count is my own, using USGS traditionally mapped data. All peaks were ranked 300’+ prominence at the time they were done.
I expect this goal completion to be my grand finale (or swan song?).
Now I can retire cheerfully from the counting game, tho it would be fun to putter around say for 1-2 more years into my 80’s.
Finally! Idaho peak #2000, 9/6/2025. Doing a ‘chin-up’ on highest summit rock of Peak 7183′ ‘Upper Stanley’, Salmon River Mountains.
To get a feel for time spans here’s a look at some of my rather unsuspecting waypoints:
7/4/1980 Idaho peak #1 Borah Peak
5/22/2011 Idaho peak #1000 ‘Indian Springs Mountain 6830’ (Power County)
9/6/2025 Idaho peak #2000 ‘Upper Stanley’ 7183′ (Custer Co)
A related category ‘Total Unique US Peaks’ culminates with Idaho playing a key role.
9/28/2004 US #1000 ‘Mountain Home Peak’ 10132′ (Custer Co)
9/7/2012 US #2000 ‘Fairview Peak’ 9188′ (Lemhi Co)
9/26/2021 US #3000 Peak 6460′ (Cassia Co)
Thank you to John Kirk, the brains behind listsofjohn.com, for helping me conceptualise number goals for a good part of my journey. ‘Idaho A Climbing Guide’ by Tom Lopez developed my Idaho-centric view of the world starting in 1990.
Should anyone ask for advice, which I doubt, I’d say “Don’t underestimate the challenge. Use common sense, and be prepared to learn things you never thought you’d need to learn.” So, enjoy your time in the mountains! Count on that.