Find Nearby Peaks

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 212 of the book. Updated November 2022

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Peak 10137 is located just southeast of Baker Peak on the main Smoky Mountain crest. USGS Baker Peak

Access

Same as for Baker Peak. This is the second leg of a 2-peak adventure that includes Baker Peak (10,174 feet) and Peak 10137.

North Ridge, Class 2

The Climb

From the 9,820-foot connecting saddle with Baker Peak, scramble east on either the narrow, choppy outcrops/talus of the ridge proper or up an easy, broken-rock slope then a talus slope to Point 10120+ (a rocky, narrow ridgeline point). I did the latter on the ascent and the former on the descent. From Point 10120+ (which measures only 10 feet lower than the true summit), scramble along a rocky, up-and-down, narrow ridge crest to reach a final saddle. From the saddle, head up over two more talus humps to reach the talus pile that is the summit of Peak 10137. The summit has a nice cairn with a stick in it.

North Ridge, Class 2

Descent Back to Baker Lake Trailhead

From the summit, return to the 9,820-foot connecting saddle with Baker Peak. Rather than re-climb Baker Peak and descend its northeast ridge, descend directly north off the saddle on a use trail that switchbacks its way down through loose scree/gravel into Slide Rock Canyon. The helpful trail soon disappears but the terrain in Slide Rock Canyon is not difficult. Angle diagonally downward and left/north to reach the north side of the basin/canyon. Stay just left/north of the half-burnt pine forest in the basin. The terrain here is mostly short scrub or dirt/pine duff.

Keep heading down the basin/canyon until reaching the 8,800-foot level. At that point, begin a diagonal left/northeast traverse to reach the critical ridgeline west of Point 8905. The terrain is easiest from 8,800 feet to 8,700 feet. The terrain then becomes thicker scrub and is at a steeper angle to contour over onto the ridge. Once on the ridge, descend diagonally right/northeast down through the burnt forest to reach Baker Creek, aiming for the [visible] trailhead parking lot. Cross Baker Creek on a log and contour left/north to reach the Baker Lake Trail just above the parking lot. Follow the trail for a short distance down to the parking area and your vehicle.