Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2023

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Peak 8556 is a rock-and-forest, ridgeline summit that sits due east of Golden Trout Lake in the Bighorn Crags. It is overlooked by climbers because it is four feet shy of being a ranked summit. But it is a beautiful mountain and is a worthy climbing objective. Finding it through the thick forest is arguably the crux. USGS Hoodoo Meadows

Access

From the 4-way road junction, drive north then west then southup FSR-113 for a rugged, rutted 8.3 miles to a signed junction with FSR-114/Yellowjacket Lake Road.  Turn right/northwest to stay on FSR-113/Bighorn Crags Road and drive 1.8 miles to a signed junction for the “Outfitters Camp” (left). Park just past this junction in a meager roadside pullout (8,450 feet; 45⁰06’08”N, 114⁰31’05”W).

Southwest Ridge, Class 3

The Climb

From the road junction, bushwhack northeast down through easy pine forest down a face. There is an understory of short grass with minimal deadfall. The terrain morphs from a face to the right/southeast side of a ridge. Move onto the ridge crest and quickly reach a tiny saddle in the thick forest. From the saddle, scramble northeast up the ridge of pines and rocky outcrops/boulders to reach the summit area. Skirt the left/northwest side of several large ridge boulders/blocks to reach the hidden pile of blocks/boulders that constitute the high point of Peak 8556.

I mistakenly climbed one or two of the [lower] ridge blocks, thinking that I had reached the summit, which is not visible until you get very close to it. Scramble up the left/north side of the summit boulders (Class 3) to reach the top. There was no sign of previous ascent. The summit offers a magnificent, unobstructed view of the surrounding area. The southwest ridge is a mix of pines, ridge boulders/outcrops, granite gravel, short scrub, and minimal deadfall. It is an enjoyable short scramble to the summit boulders.