Find Nearby Peaks

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 304 of the book. Published December 2019

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Peak 10743 is located on the Iron Divide, a prominent ridge line that separates the South Fork Big Creek from the Big Gulch drainage. This ridge line is west of the main Lemhi Range Crest. It includes three other ranked Lemhi summits on its ridge crest: Bear Mountain (10,744 feet), Iron Creek Point (10,736 feet), and Peak 10592. USGS Big Creek Peak

South Ridge, Class 2

Access

Big Gulch Road/FSR-099 [(C)(5) on Page 317]. Big Gulch Road is located along the Pahsimeroi Highway about a mile north of Summit Reservoir and exactly 6.6 miles south of the major road junction in Goldburg. Drive 2.0 miles up FSR-099 to the Challis National Forest boundary and park (7,180 feet).

The Climb

From the parking area, begin a two-mile cross-country trek to reach the base of the south ridge at the 4th creek crossing west of Big Gulch Road. Follow a fence row north from the Challis National Forest boundary down to Big Gulch Creek. Cross the creek about 100 feet upstream from the cattle fence in a willow-clogged area. Return to the fence row and follow it north then northwest until it ends. From that point, contour northwest through sagebrush to reach the final, 4th creek/stream crossing. Once across this final stream, you are at the base of the south ridge (7,850 feet).

Bushwhack north-northwest up through forested terrain with lots of blowdown and a base of loose scree/gravel. The south ridge is ill-defined at first but soon becomes very well-defined and easy to follow. The slope eases a bit and the ridge crest has less blowdown and more stable scree/gravel. There are no rocky outcrops to contend with. Reach a flattish ridge area near Point 9921. Once past Point 9921, the ridge temporarily heads right-ish/northeast and drops about 25 vertical feet to a minor saddle.

From the saddle, scramble north-northeast then north up the steepening ridge. The forest is open here and isn’t too bad. Reach tree line about 300 vertical feet from the summit. The terrain above tree line is a combination of talus and scree and is a bit loose but not too awful. The south ridge reaches the summit ridge about 0.2 miles west of the summit. An easy stroll east along the summit ridge on flat talus/scree brings you to the top. The summit has a nice cairn atop the high point.

Northwest Ridge, Class 2

Access

Same as for the south ridge

The Descent

From the summit, follow the ridge west then northwest for about 0.7 miles to the 10,020-foot connecting saddle with Peak 10592, dropping over 700 vertical feet on the way. The terrain on the northwest ridge is a combination of talus/scree (mostly) and some ridge crest pines (and blowdown) to slow you down. You will find goat trails to help circumvent some of the ridge crest issues. The ridge crest pines do block the west wind if you stay on the right/northeast side of the ridge crest. There are a few ups and downs along the way but nothing too tedious.