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All the United States Idaho Mackay Borah Peak

Borah Peak

This highest peak in Idaho can only be reached by traversing a formation known as "Chicken-Out Ridge."

Mackay, Idaho

Added By
Thomas Harper
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Borah Peak   Brent on Flickr
Borah Peak   Wikipedia
Summit of Borah peak   dorncameron / Atlas Obscura User
The approach to Chicken-Out Ridge. You can see the trail making its way up the black rocks in the middle right of the photo.   Drew Harkey / Atlas Obscura User
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If climbers can brave "Chicken-Out Ridge," a dangerous expanse that essentially speaks for itself, they can ascend to the highest point in Idaho at 12,668 feet above sea level, Borah Peak.

For highpointers, the summits of the northwestern states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, are the most technically difficult and require a very significant amount of mountain climbing experience. While the highest points of the other 44 states are only a Class 1 (mostly a simple walk) or 2 (scrambling) climb on the Yosemite Decimal Scale to grade the difficulty of trails, these peaks are Class 3 (scrambling with significant exposure) or 4 (vertical grades with an option for rope or a glacier climb).

Borah Peak, named after an Idaho senator, has a standard route that is Class 3. The Southwest Ridge Route is a short 3.5 miles but gains over 5,000 vertical feet. Before the summit is an arête, a thin ridge of rock that climbers will likely have to climb alongside instead of over. This is known as "Chicken-Out Ridge," since many climbers take one look at the challenging expanse and turn tail. Climbers who manage to overcome this fear may want to use an ice axe and crampons to negotiate the arête to the summit and the long views of the Lost River Range.

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From US 93 in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, turn east on Birch Springs Road, signed as 279. Park at the Borah Peak Trailhead. Climb 3.5 miles to the summit. Be prepared with an ice axe and crampons.

Community Contributors

Added By

thomasharper

Edited By

EricGrundhauser, Drew Harkey, dorncameron

  • EricGrundhauser
  • Drew Harkey
  • dorncameron

Published

July 31, 2014

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  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borah_Peak
Borah Peak
Mackay, Idaho, 83251
United States
44.137389, -113.781101

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