Highpoint #41 ID Borah Peak 12,662 ft. Rank #11

Well the last time you heard from us on the State Highpointing front was August 10th 2008.  Since that date Mary Ruth and I have had Rylynn, been on several trips, and have had several other athletic endeavors.  We have missed our time in the mountains.

I knew coming into the year I wanted to climb high point number 41, as it had been far too long.  Mary Ruth had starting planning the trip to couple this climb at the front end of a trip to Glacier National Park with longtime Highpointing friends Kent and Jess.

We met them in Challis, Idaho and rented a house for two days, and our friend Bethany came up from SLC to watch Jake, Eyrleigh, and Rylynn.  Unfortunately Jess did not sleep a wink the night before, as she wasn't feeling well, so she stayed behind with the kids.

Though we have high-pointed a ton with Kent and Jess we have done most high points at different times and in different order, it just so happened all 3 of us were heading up high point #41.

We made the drive down to the trail head and parked the car before sun up at 6am.  After a quick potty break we were off.  The first mile was fairly mild, and it ticked away rather quickly.

Mile 2 started the steep below and at treeline, and was rugged rock hiking, nothing horrible.

Mile 3 was Chicken Out Ridge.  Most people "Out for a day hike." turn around here.  It is slightly technical and is easy to lose the trail.  I fact we did, but we quickly found t again.  This ridge involves hand and foot rock climbing. REAL climbing.  I loved it, and we were shielded from the sun so the temps were still fairly mild.  I wish I was as smart as Kent and brought a pair of leather gloves.

Mile 4 was high under-rated in all ascent reports we read.  at the end of Chicken Out Ridge you are at 11,300 feet high.  The last bit was a mix of steep rock climb and scree, it was tough climbing.  At mile 4.5 on my GPS we reached the summit 5 hours later.

The Summit is the size of your living room and it feels like the world falls away when you are up there.  The wind whipped and the sun shown down on the highest faces in Idaho.  Our faces.

The way down was uneventful and we made it down in around 3.5 hours.  BTW I am glad I didn't see this mountain coming to the trail head, as it is very intimidating.  Don't kid yourself, this is a tough day's work.

41 down, 9 to go.  Nevada? Do you hear us coming?  You're Next.