Mt Borah 1983 Earthquake Pictures

On top of Idaho: Mt. Borah Pt 1

I do believe that many great adventures tend to happen on a whim and the day I decided to climb Idaho’s highest peak was very much that. You see, my brother had called me and told me that he was going to hike it alone and that had me concerned because I have heard stories of people climbing this mountain and either having extreme difficulty making it back down or not making it back alive, so I naturally insisted that I tag along. The comforting thing about Mt. Borah is that during certain times of the year just about anyone can make it up and down without any real issues.

It was mid-August, the best time to attempt a summit, and with this in mind I gently informed my employer that I would be taking a day off in the middle of the week so I could attempt this endeavor with my brother. Was I worried? Yeah! There is a place on this mountain called “chicken out ridge.” The peak rises 12,662 ft in to the atmosphere and, though I like to believe I am an outdoor person, I don’t have any experience climbing high peaks. I also found out that there was an earthquake in 1983 that lifted the peak my nearly 8ft and if you look closely you can see a line at the base of the mountain that looks like a road, but it was actually caused from the quake.

I caught up with my brother in the small town of Arco, Idaho and we made our way north to the base of Mt. Borah with enough time to put up our tent and settle in for the short night. At the base there are camping spots and even an outhouse and maps with information. According to this map it would take the average hiker roughly 10 hours to climb Mt. Borah but climbs over 5,000 ft in just 3.2 miles. For more information on Mt. Borah check out: http://www.summitpost.org/borah-peak/150190

It was a couple of hours before day break when we hit the trail. The trail head is easy to find and due to the amount of people who attempt the mountain each year, the trails are well groomed. It didn’t take long for some younger guys to pass my brother and I but, one thing you must remember on an adventure like this is that you are not racing anyone. As the climb ventured on I took a picture of the mountains to the west and as inspiring as it may be, I had no idea of what breath taking views lay ahead. I had also decided to break in my new pair of Danner hunting shoes that I had purchased a few months earlier. All I can say about breaking in a new pair of shoes is bring some mole skin or wear an extra pair of socks. Despite the abuse they were about to take I was optimistic they would hold up great! The grandeur of Mt. Borah and the views that I had already taken in, this was already an instant adventure!

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