Topping Idaho - Borah Peak

Some of you have been wondering what kind of a doosy this weekend would bring. Rather then go into a long description, I'll list a few highlights and those interested can get the full description at websites like http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150190/borah-peak.html or Google search "Borah Peak Idaho". Here's the quick list:
Round Trip: ~7 miles
Elevation Gain: ~5,500 feet (For those good at math, you can figure out the average grade. For those who aren't, it's ~30%.)
Highest Point: 12,662 feet (tallest in Idaho)
Hiking Time: 6 - 12 hours, scrambling required
Number of Fatalities: What are you, crazy? I can't tell you that - my Mom reads this thing.
Friday night we camped at the base of Borah Peak and these were the views as the sunset shone on Chicken Out Ridge (background, right) and Borah Peak (background, center).
The Wieschhaus' watching the sun set. After a fire, Catch Phrase, some quick sleep and oatmeal, we were off. There were 11 of us either brave enough, stupid enough or just ignorant enough to head out. I'll have to post a group picture to indict the rest of the crew once I get it.
Chris pretends like the first mile wasn't so strenuous. OK, so he wasn't tired, and yes, he was the oldest in our group.
I don't remember the elevation at this point, but here's a view looking back. As you go through the rest of the pictures, you'll recognize the parking lot and campground. I also circled the barren "hill" with 3 little trees on top that seemed so high the night before.
Standing at the same spot and looking up, you can see from Chicken Out Ridge to the top. There's probably a mile of hiking that's out of view on the right as the sun washes out the view of the mountain.
Eric gets a picture from the ridge we were walking along.

A colorful peak across from Borah on our way up.

Up a little further you can see the final trail leading to Chicken Out Ridge on the right. You'll see the snowfield that starts in the middle of the saddle again. Later pictures make crossing the snow look easy, so keep this one on mind.
More views to the South.
How come none of the trail descriptions recommend gloves for rock climbing? Maybe next time...
Looking back at the ridge where the pictures with the red lines were taken. That's the ridge Eric was standing on in a previous picture and if you click on it, you'll see people on the trail. All I know is that our legs informed us that it's not as flat as it looks!

Getting closer to the peak!
More amazing views on the way up.
Looking back at the ridge and road to the campsite.

I'm not sure if the glare is from the sun or Chris as he takes the high route over Chicken Out Ridge. Marny starts out on the lower route. You can barely see the snow field in the middle of the picture.
A picture after crossing the snow field on the low route. Soon after taking this picture, while waiting for the rest of the crew to cross Chicken Out Ridge, I heard a sliding noise followed by "Mark!!! Mark!!! Maaaarrrrkkkk!!!" as a man tempted fate by walking across the snow field where there was no trail. Fortunately, he was able to grab a rock as he floundered and broke his slide. If he hadn't stopped there or at the trail, the ending to this story would have been different considering the next stopping point was a few thousand feet lower in elevation.
Hikers climbing up and down the nose at the top of the snow field.
What are flowers doing at 11,000 feet?

After crossing the ridge, we got a better view of the rest of the hike. If you look close, you can see the trail leading to the top.
Views off the East face, including a little lake at the bottom.
Chris doesn't understand why you can't take a picture here and pretend it's the top.
Eric wins King of the Mountain, but where is Joe?

Phew - still keeping up.
Team RPCO (Eric, Chris, Ryan, Brandon, Joe; Not pictured - Jamie) at 12,662 feet. Brandon is clearly the tallest point in Idaho...
...but not to be out done, Eric gives it a jump...
...and he doesn't just jump. Nope, he does it with a rope! (And you all thought I was crazy.)
The Lewis brothers (Ryan and Tyler) with their shirts on and not kicking up a dust storm.

Enough with the short jokes, cause that right foot is currently the tallest thing in Idaho at about 12,668 feet.
Another look back at the ridge and road to the campsite, more then a mile below us in elevation.
Jamie leads the pack from the peak.

View on the way down. Despite the clear blue sky on the way up, it snowed on top and we did compete for space with two lightening bolts as the sporadic rain clouds moved in.

Simply amazing!

Since none of us had done this hike, we weren't sure what to expect. But we all made it alive and even enjoyed, well, at least the view! And, I suppose after a few days we might even forget about the sore muscles, aching joints, cuts and bruises as we all took a few spills and attempted some acrobatic maneuvers sliding down the rocks.

The real question is this... how am I going to top that next weekend??? Hmmm....