Elevation: 7,090 ft
Prominence: 310
This peak is not in the book. Published November 2019
Wheaton Mountain is a fun, short scramble up the southwest ridge from Burns Canyon. Much to my surprise, this is mostly a trail hike and has a lot of open terrain up on the ridge, contrary to what the USGS topo map suggests. Wheaton Mountain is the westernmost bump on the LONG west ridge of Chicken Peak. USGS Wheaton Mountain
Southwest Ridge, Class 2
Access
Burns Canyon Road/FSR-210 is located along the Snake River, exactly 1.2 miles upstream from the Fullmer Boat Ramp and 4.9 miles upstream from the junction of FSR-217 and FSR-204. Drive up Burns Canyon Road for 0.4 mile to an unsigned junction with a jeep road on the right/east side of the road. Park here (5,210 feet).
The Climb
From the road junction, follow the old jeep road as it descends diagonally down to Burns Creek and a dam. Cross to the south side of Burns Creek on a metal grate/footbridge. Bushwhack briefly through relatively easy brush into an obvious drainage. Quickly find FST-087/Old Ranger Trail and follow it up the dry drainage to the base of the open, but steep, grassy southwest face of Point 6229. Leave the trail here and climb northeast up the grassy face to reach the top of cairned Point 6229. The view of the Snake River from atop Point 6229 is simply stunning.
Point 6229 is relatively barren and has some grass/scrub and scattered mountain mahogany. This is the southwest ridge of Wheaton Mountain. There is a large gully on the right/south side of the ridge here. There is also a use/game trail on the ridge crest that is not shown on any maps. The ridge crest is a mix of grass/scrub and scattered pines/mountain mahogany with no real rock to speak of. The use trail leads all the way to the summit. The summit of Wheaton Mountain is open terrain. The high point has a small cairn.
Additional Resources
Mountain Range: Big Hole and Snake River Mountains
Longitude: -111.44819 Latitude: 43.60739