T.M. Bannon by Rick Baugher

T.M. Bannon. USGS Photo

Thomas M. Bannon was also a self-taught mountaineer. Although his name is not widely known in mountaineering circles, during his surveying career from 1889 to 1917 he climbed nearly one thousand summits in the American West. More than two hundred of these summits were in Idaho. Bannon’s cryptic reports, supplemented by the rock Cairns, Wooden triangulation signals, chiseled cross-reference marks; … Continue reading

Southern Lemhi Traverse by Daniel Todd

The Lemhi Range’s southern crest between Diamond Peak and Saddle Mountain perfectly frames the northern horizon when viewed from almost anyplace between Idaho Falls and American Falls. This stretch of high mountains with twelve 10ers was constantly on my mind. Sometime in the last few years, I got it in my head that I should traverse the whole thing in … Continue reading

Climbing the Slopes of Mount Borah—the Dean of Idaho Peaks

Editor’s note: This article from The Idaho Statesman (February 10, 1935) was written by Lyman Marden, one of the participants in the 1934 USGS mapping of the 15-minute Mount Borah quadrangle.  The Idaho Statesman (February 10, 1935). By Lyman Marden  During the season of 1934, the United States Geological Survey began the mapping of the Borah Peak quadrangle that includes … Continue reading

From Diamond Peak to Hyndman Peak: Kelly Lance’s 12er Traverse by Tom Lopez

Kelly Lance, a 49-year-old endurance runner from Pocatello, climbed all of Idaho’s 12,000-foot peaks in a 119-mile, 78-hour push starting on September 2, 2017. Unlike the others who have climbed the 12ers in a single push, Kelly did it without resorting to mechanized transportation, the first traverse of its kind and perhaps the most over-the-top accomplishment on these peaks to … Continue reading

Summit Idaho by Outdoor Idaho

In 2013, Idaho Public Television’s iconic series Outdoor Idaho broadcast a show dedicated to mountain climbing in Idaho. The show included ascents of Vienna Peak in the Sawtooth Range, Scotchman Peak in the Cabinet Mountains, Gilmore Peak in the Lemhi Range, and He Devil in the Seven Devils Mountains. Click on this link to view the show courtesy of Outdoor Idaho. Many … Continue reading

Missing Eleveners and New Routes by Judi Steciak and Carl Hamke

The second ascent team, Carl Hamke and Judi Steciak.

Editor’s Note: Carl Hamke and Judi Steciak recently became the third and fourth climbers to summit all of Idaho’s peaks exceeding 11,000 feet. George Reinier and Johnny Roache were the first climbers to summit all of these peaks, while Judi is the first woman to accomplish this exceedingly difficult task. The short article below summarizes their quest and lists the … Continue reading