Brandon Prince is our Newest Contributor

Brandon Prince is the newest contributor to the website. Brandon is a top-level technical climber with many difficult Sawtooth climbs on his resume. His first contribution is an essay on climbing Warbonnet Peak entitled: Warbonnet Peak and the Fine Art of “Not Giving Up.” I think you will enjoy Brandon’s perspective on climbing one of Idaho’s most challenging summits. Warbonnet Peak … Continue reading

The Breath of God by Joe Leonard

Joe Leonard has provided us with another riveting chapter from his book Son of the Madam Mustang Ranch. This story, The Breath of God, involves a Winter climb on Mount Shasta. Like all of Joe’s writings, you will find yourself caught up in the struggle with the mountain and life. Read The Breath of God. … Continue reading

Larry Prescott R.I.P

Sadly, my friend and fellow climber Larry Prescott passed away during a climb in the Lemhi Range yesterday. Larry was an exceptional human being and I will miss his company in the mountains, miss his good nature and positive attitude, and miss his trip reports. Condolences to his family and friends. Larry Prescott (1960 to 2016) The Heart of the … Continue reading

John Platt Completes the Box Lake USGS Quad Peaks

Last week, John Platt completed all of the ranked peaks on the Box Lake USGS quadrangle. While many Southern Idaho climbers think the world begins and ends in Eastern Idaho’s Lost River Mountain, John has methodically demonstrated that the Lick Creek subrange of the Salmon River Mountains is a granitic wonderland for climbers. The Box Lake quad is arguably the … Continue reading

Lyman Dye’s Memoir

Lyman Dye has provided a memoir for our reading enjoyment: Heeding The Call of the Mountains. Lyman is one of the giants of Idaho climbing and his many first ascents are documented in the book. He operated the first climbing guide service in the Sawtooths and also guided climbers, including the Iowa Mountaineers and the Mazamas, on many first ascents. … Continue reading

Mount Borah Warning

There is no shortcut that bypasses Chicken-Out Ridge on Mount Borah’s Standard Route. Wes Collins of the Butte County Sheriff’s Department reports that he has responded to 3 Search and Rescue events on Mount Borah involving climbers who got lost or stranded after attempting a bypass of Chicken-Out Ridge (COR). All of these climbers reported that they heard about a … Continue reading

Seeking Solitude: 4 Ways to Explore Idaho’s Rugged Gospel Hump Wilderness by Pete Zimowsky

Check out this fine article if you have or are  contemplating a visit to Idaho’s least known Wilderness, the Gospel Hump Wilderness: Seeking Solitude: 4 Ways to Explore Idaho’s Rugged Gospel Hump Wilderness by Pete Zimowsky, 2016. In 1978, Congress designated 206,053 acres land east of Riggins, Idaho, and north of the Salmon River as the Gospel-Hump Wilderness. The terrain varies … Continue reading

99Boulders publishes in-depth guide to bouldering grades.

As bouldering has grown in popularity over the past couple decades, bouldering grades have increasingly become a topic of confusion and, sometimes, contention. The inherent subjectivity of grades makes it difficult to come to any sort of consensus about the difficulty of a particular problem. This can affect the sport, or someone’s experience of it, in various ways. For example, … Continue reading

Boise Backcountry Adventures

I am not sure how I missed this book when it came out in 2012. However, better late than never, check out Boise Backcountry Adventures by Sandy Epeldi with Dave Nevins. This great book covers many trails in an extended Boise area. I highly recommended this great resource which will help you reach many peaks.  … Continue reading

New edition of Steve Stuebner’s Boise Trail Guide

I highly recommend the new edition of Steve’s Boise Trail Guide which is a key to unlocking 90 hiking and trail-running routes close to home for us Boiseans. Here are the details: BOISE – Hikers, dog-walkers and trail-runners can rejoice in the launch of the 2nd edition of Boise Trail Guide, which has been one of author Steve Stuebner’s most popular … Continue reading

Larry Prescott Photos

Larry Prescott has become a contributor. Larry is a great photographer and has climbed extensively in eastern Idaho. I have added his photos to many peaks and linked to his excellent Blog. Check his Blog out by clicking on this sentence. Check ot the view from Leatherman Peak by clicking on this sentence. … Continue reading

River Runners Are Climbers Too.

I recently discovered this guidebook to running the Salmon River by Eric Newell. It just happens that besides getting his feet wet in the river, Eric also climbs Idaho Mountains. Check out the March 13th entry on his Facebook page for great photos of a winter climb up Mount Breitenbach. Check out his guidebook by clicking on this sentence. … Continue reading

Volunteers Needed

Idaho: A Climbing A Guide supports the Idaho Trails Association which “promotes the continued enjoyment of Idaho’s hiking trails.” Please visit the Association’s web site and join up. Check the Association’s website for 2015 projects and consider volunteering.   … Continue reading

Idaho’s Steepest Peaks

Need a new list to challenge your climbing habit? Tim Worth has provided us with just that list. His article entitled Idaho Summit Steepness list the steepest 500 Idaho peaks. You will find the list provides both challenges and a surprising number of summits that you and I never thought to climb. Tim has linked the list to the Lists … Continue reading

A Better Approach To Donaldson And Church

I recently learned that climbers have established a better approach route leading to the Church-Donaldson cirque. This route utilizes the next drainage north from the traditional Jones Creek approach. You can read about this approach on the Donaldson Peak page. Climbing Mount Church and Donaldson Peak just got easier. It is evident when you travel this route that it has … Continue reading

Clint Cummins Sawtooth Rock Climbing Route Ratings and Descriptions..

California climbing legend Clint Cummins has contributed the web page he put together documenting many technical climbs in the Sawtooths. It is the single best resource I know of for Sawtooth rock climbing on the Elephants Perch and many other iconic Sawtooth formations like the Finger of Fate and the Goat Perch as well as lesser know features like the Black buttress. … Continue reading

Backcountry Cooking Gone Wild

Steve Weston’s  backpacking cookbook, IN THE WILD Chef, can make life better in any base camp. Steve notes that  “Many a hungry backpacker has arrived at camp to the dismal sight of an over-priced, freeze-dried meal….. and resolved immediately with intense conviction that the menu must be improved. The outdoor experience provides a myriad of different satisfactions for participants, but … Continue reading