Elevation: 9,980 ft
Prominence: 520
This peak is not in the book. Percoski and Platt found evidence of a prior ascent but nothing to date the earlier climb. So far a search of the literature has not found a reference to this peak nor a name. This is surprising as nearly every other technically difficult summit in this area was climbed and named by the late 1970s. Published October 2025
Spectacular Peak 9980 sits on the main Sawtooth crest between Braxon Peak and Red Sentinel. Shattered Quartzite Peak is located due east of it. This section of the crest is arguably one of the most technically challenging areas found in the Sawtooth Range. USGS Warbonnet Peak
Southwest ridge of Peak 9980 from neighboring Peak 9980 (Red Sentinel). Derek Percoski Photo
Southeast Face by Derek Percoski
After a few visits to this peak, I successfully climbed the summit pitch with Kaden Platt on 7/8/2025. We were perplexed to find a cairn on the summit but no tat. The filthy southeast face suggests earthquake alterations. So it’s possible part of the summit block fell off in 2020.
Access
Leave the Redfish Creek trail, FST-101 [(A)(6)(b) Page 206] at 7300’ (44.07581, -114.99021) and make a steep bushwhack up to the 8900 unnamed lake. I’ve done this path several times and found it’s best to stay right. From the lake, head due north then ascend the most prominent couloir on the northeast face. There’s a bit of class-4 at the start, then the rest is class-3. Top out on the summit ridge.
Approaching Peak 9980. Derek Percoski Photo
Climbing up the dirty southeast face with Quartzite Peak in the background. Derek Percoski Photo
Southeast Face, Class 5.7
Once on the summit ridge look for a tunnel on the left for the easiest passage to the summit. Pitch 1 has multiple options. There’s a chimney you’ll see first, but beyond that is the fastest way up. You can mount a flake then make a “dyno mantle” over a gap. It’s possible to protect the mantle by throwing a rope over the back. The summit pitch generally only offers small cracks for pro. We brought and used two ball nuts. We used a 40m rope which was about the minimum needed for the second rappel.
Kaden making the dyno mantle” over a gap. Derek Percoski Photo
Possible to protect by throwing a rope over the back. The summit pitch generally only offers small cracks for pro. We brought and used two ball nuts.
Kaden leading the summit pitch. Derek Percoski Photo
Kaden used a Blue and Red ballnut (#1-#2). Then built a “nest of courage” in a chockstone bellow the start using #1 & #3 Friends (Wildcountry).
Additional Resources
Mountain Range: Sawtooth Range
Longitude: -115.0024 Latitude: 44.0842