Thanks David, I'm glad we were able to go up there and do Borah! It's definitely nice to be able to look back later on and remember how fun a hike was.
Thanks, I'm glad it helped bring back some fun memories. That's the main reason I write these. Since I'm not always able to get out into the mountains as often as I'd like, I figure it's at least worth the effort to document some of my bigger hikes.
StartingOver - Aug 11, 2015 11:53 am - Voted 10/10
Brings back nice memories
The report also brought back fond memories for me.
I climbed Borah as a teenager in the 90s. To this day, it remains my most successful accomplishment in hiking/climbing -- my attempt on Rainer failed in 2009, and I came up just short on Agassiz a couple of weeks ago (not good enough conditioning). Anyway, enough about me -- I really enjoyed the pics and memories of my hike to the summit about 20 years ago that the report brought back to me.
Thanks, that helps me feel better about the time it takes to do these reports (usually as long as the hike itself). That's neat that you did it as a teenager, since summiting this peak at any age is quite a nice accomplishment, and it sounds like it gave you the mountain bug for life. I can relate to the challenges of staying in shape for big hikes like these (completely bonked when I tried Capitol Peak a few years back), but hopefully all of the pictures in these reports help show that the journey can be just as rewarding as the destination.
StartingOver - Aug 12, 2015 11:52 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Brings back nice memories
The time effort you put in shows in the quality of this report, and why it is garnering so many votes. A 2-paragraph trip report that says something like "I climbed this mountain, please cheer for me," with no photos or information is not helpful. This report is both enjoyable reading for those of us that have climbed Borah, and helpful information for those that have not climbed it -- and, in my novice opinion, that is exactly what a trip report should be.
Many thanks for your other thoughts. I've always had the mountain bug, but it's only recently with my move from Chicago to the Los Angeles area that I've been able to act on it again. And you are most definitely right about the journey versus the destination. After succesfully climbing Borah those many years ago, I wanted to go back just to look at the mountain again, so the next spring after my climb I hiked with a friend up to the area that is called something like Point 10,600 -- the flat area just before Chicken-Out Ridge. I had no intention of summiting -- I just wanted to enjoy the amazing view from that area. I enjoyed that hike and had no regrets about not attempting the summit -- it was May and the summit wouldn't have been doable that day without gear such as an nice ax and crampons that we neither had nor would have been qualified to use even if we did have them. Nevertheless that trip was well worth it.
My hike on the Bishop Pass trial to the Mt. Agassiz two weeks ago was my first hike into the High Sierra, and the scenery there is truly spectacular. It's hard to rival my native Idaho or the Tetons (where I hiked many times as a kid), but the High Sierra do it. With the quota system now in place for much of the High Sierra, the area isn't even as overcrowded as one would expect. I only saw a few other people that day (granted it was a Tuesday).
Thanks again and please keep the excellent trip reports coming!
That's a nice write-up. You captured very well the character of the Lost Rivers! That steep, steep pitch from the very beginning that doesn't let up until you summit. I hope those blisters didn't bother you too much ...
Oh and just a note - that's not a pica. It's a ground squirrel. But a damned cute one!
Thanks. I'd seen a few pictures beforehand, but the Lost Rivers were more rugged than I thought they'd be. The blisters weren't too bad (it's scarier/grosser after a full day of skiing, when enough steam rises from my sweaty boots to make it look like some sort of industrial factory). Thanks for the animal correction. All of those little squirrels/chipmunks/pikas look the same to me sometimes.
Thanks for taking the time on the report. The son (12 and capable) have it on our list The detailed information and photos really help. Did you happen to get the Boy Scout troop number?
I didn't get their troop number, unfortunately, but they said they were from Idaho Falls (correct me if I'm wrong, David). If your son is able to do Borah at only 12, then it's likely he'll be able to summit any other peak he wants to if he puts his mind to it.
David Mortensen - Aug 7, 2015 5:24 pm - Hasn't voted
Nice work!Great trip report Brandon. I appreciate you doing this. It is a great way to preserve the memories.
Rocky Alps - Aug 10, 2015 2:33 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice work!Thanks David, I'm glad we were able to go up there and do Borah! It's definitely nice to be able to look back later on and remember how fun a hike was.
Bark Eater - Aug 11, 2015 7:37 am - Voted 10/10
Nice reportThanks for taking the time to write such a thorough report. Brought back fond memories of our climb in 2011.
Rocky Alps - Aug 11, 2015 12:08 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice reportThanks, I'm glad it helped bring back some fun memories. That's the main reason I write these. Since I'm not always able to get out into the mountains as often as I'd like, I figure it's at least worth the effort to document some of my bigger hikes.
StartingOver - Aug 11, 2015 11:53 am - Voted 10/10
Brings back nice memoriesThe report also brought back fond memories for me.
I climbed Borah as a teenager in the 90s. To this day, it remains my most successful accomplishment in hiking/climbing -- my attempt on Rainer failed in 2009, and I came up just short on Agassiz a couple of weeks ago (not good enough conditioning). Anyway, enough about me -- I really enjoyed the pics and memories of my hike to the summit about 20 years ago that the report brought back to me.
Rocky Alps - Aug 11, 2015 12:13 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Brings back nice memoriesThanks, that helps me feel better about the time it takes to do these reports (usually as long as the hike itself). That's neat that you did it as a teenager, since summiting this peak at any age is quite a nice accomplishment, and it sounds like it gave you the mountain bug for life. I can relate to the challenges of staying in shape for big hikes like these (completely bonked when I tried Capitol Peak a few years back), but hopefully all of the pictures in these reports help show that the journey can be just as rewarding as the destination.
StartingOver - Aug 12, 2015 11:52 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Brings back nice memoriesThe time effort you put in shows in the quality of this report, and why it is garnering so many votes. A 2-paragraph trip report that says something like "I climbed this mountain, please cheer for me," with no photos or information is not helpful. This report is both enjoyable reading for those of us that have climbed Borah, and helpful information for those that have not climbed it -- and, in my novice opinion, that is exactly what a trip report should be.
Many thanks for your other thoughts. I've always had the mountain bug, but it's only recently with my move from Chicago to the Los Angeles area that I've been able to act on it again. And you are most definitely right about the journey versus the destination. After succesfully climbing Borah those many years ago, I wanted to go back just to look at the mountain again, so the next spring after my climb I hiked with a friend up to the area that is called something like Point 10,600 -- the flat area just before Chicken-Out Ridge. I had no intention of summiting -- I just wanted to enjoy the amazing view from that area. I enjoyed that hike and had no regrets about not attempting the summit -- it was May and the summit wouldn't have been doable that day without gear such as an nice ax and crampons that we neither had nor would have been qualified to use even if we did have them. Nevertheless that trip was well worth it.
My hike on the Bishop Pass trial to the Mt. Agassiz two weeks ago was my first hike into the High Sierra, and the scenery there is truly spectacular. It's hard to rival my native Idaho or the Tetons (where I hiked many times as a kid), but the High Sierra do it. With the quota system now in place for much of the High Sierra, the area isn't even as overcrowded as one would expect. I only saw a few other people that day (granted it was a Tuesday).
Thanks again and please keep the excellent trip reports coming!
BeDrinkable - Aug 11, 2015 2:24 pm - Voted 10/10
FantasticThat's a nice write-up. You captured very well the character of the Lost Rivers! That steep, steep pitch from the very beginning that doesn't let up until you summit. I hope those blisters didn't bother you too much ...
Oh and just a note - that's not a pica. It's a ground squirrel. But a damned cute one!
Rocky Alps - Aug 11, 2015 7:20 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: FantasticThanks. I'd seen a few pictures beforehand, but the Lost Rivers were more rugged than I thought they'd be. The blisters weren't too bad (it's scarier/grosser after a full day of skiing, when enough steam rises from my sweaty boots to make it look like some sort of industrial factory). Thanks for the animal correction. All of those little squirrels/chipmunks/pikas look the same to me sometimes.
mtzfamily - Aug 12, 2015 7:18 pm - Voted 10/10
Great reportThanks for taking the time on the report. The son (12 and capable) have it on our list The detailed information and photos really help. Did you happen to get the Boy Scout troop number?
Rocky Alps - Aug 13, 2015 12:44 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great reportI didn't get their troop number, unfortunately, but they said they were from Idaho Falls (correct me if I'm wrong, David). If your son is able to do Borah at only 12, then it's likely he'll be able to summit any other peak he wants to if he puts his mind to it.