Sunday, August 17, 2014

Prehistoric Art in Indian Head Canyon, Beaverhead Mountains, Idaho



Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Cave at the Entrance to Indian Head Canyon

When Daniel Griffin told me about prehistoric rock art in Skull Canyon and Indian Head Canyon, I knew I had to find it some day. Ben and I went looking for the ancient paintings in Skull Canyon earlier in the summer. We scoured the canyon walls in key locations and struck out. The only thing that made the trip memorable was getting two flat tires at the same time at the top of the canyon. Later, we visited Indian Head Canyon and found the prominent cave at the entrance which contains several paintings. Sometimes I think this kind of record speaks of shaman like rituals...spiritual awakenings or spiritual beings. The paintings could be documents of great journeys, great hunts, or heroic accomplishments. At other times I think it just might be the equivalent of graffiti. Whatever the motivation was, such marks on cave walls and rock faces speak to our humanness and our desire to leave some kind of record. I am intrigued and amazed whenever I see such marks.

Beaverhead Mountains, Idaho
Clouds Over the Beaverheads From Birch Creek Valley, Idaho

indian head canyon idaho
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art 
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Indian Head Canyon Prehistoric Art
Lemhi Range, Bell Mountain, Idaho
Leaving Indian Head Canyon
The Lemhi Range with Bell Mountain in Center




Saturday, August 16, 2014

Climbing Mount Borah, Idaho's Tallest Peak

Climbing Mount Borah
The Stairway to Heaven or As Close As You Can Get to it in Idaho

Ben has been after me to hike Mount Borah this summer. We made it to the top of Leatherman, Idaho's second tallest peak, last month and he wanted to bag Borah before school began. Last week, we packed the car and drove to the campground at the trail head to Borah. Since Borah is officially the highest peak in Idaho, it is a destination climb for many. The campground was packed the Friday we arrived. Every camp was taken and every possible place to park was taken. The site was a happening place. We drove back to the highway to take advantage of the evening light for making photographs.  After dark we drove back to the campground. There were a few places along the road to pull off before reaching the main camp area. We found a good place to bed down for the night and went to sleep. Here are some of the images made the night before the climb.

mount borah Idaho
Mount Borah on the Left
mount borah Idaho
Changing Light

mount borah Idaho
Highway 93 and Dickey Peak North of Borah

mount borah Idaho
Dickey Peak and Doublespring Pass North of Borah


mount borah Idaho
Mount Borah on the Right

mount borah Idaho
Mount Borah on the Left
Mount Idaho is the pyramid shape peak between Borah and Morrison
 The next morning we were on the trail by 7:A.M. The best thing about this climb is the excellent well traveled trail. After bushwhacking all summer, the trail was a vacation. We made quick work of the trail leading to the east ridge of the cirque. Once the ridge is gained, the fun begins. Hiking the ridge around and up, you can see the massive ridge, the infamous Chicken Out Ridge, and snow field ahead.

mount borah Idaho
Looking down on the East Ridge
climbing mount norah idaho
Trail Leading to Chicken Out Ridge and the Snow Field
Mount Idaho is in the Distance
 After climbing to the ridge, some solid class 3 climbing is required. However, there is a bypass trail that skirts the steepest and longest sections of the ridge for those less inclined to climb up and over narrow twenty-foot rock obstacles with not much other than air on both sides for a couple thousand feet down. The group coming right behind us took one look at the ridge and took the bypass trail. Ben saw the ridge and took to it like a monkey. He plowed into it going right up and over. I had to slow him down for my benefit!

climbing mount norah
Chicken Out Ridge
Chicken Out Ridge
climbing mount norah
Chicken Out Ridge
After crossing and climbing down Chicken Out Ridge the narrow ridge of the snow field is next. I remembered crossing this obstacle on a previous climb of Borah in mid April. In April, it is still winter at 12,000 plus feet. I remembered crossing this slippery narrow ridge with heavy wind gusts and seeing a slide of snow on both sides for several thousand feet. During this August climb, the ridge was anticlimactic. It was all but melted and a solid trail of rocks was worn across the top. The slopes were not nearly as steep as I remembered them. I am including a few photos of that April climb years ago for fun.

climbing mount norah
Camping on the Saddle of the East Ridge
The huge snow cornices were impressive
climbing mount norah
Preparing to Ascend to Chicken Out Ridge

climbing mount norah
Climbing Chicken Out Ridge
climbing mount norah
On Top of Borah
Back to the August climb. The views of the surrounding area are incredible during the hike. I am including a few here.

climbing mount norah
View from Mount Borah Looking South
The Borah Peak is in the foreground, Leatherman Pass can be seen in the distance with Leatherman just south of the pass
climbing mount norah
Leatherman, Leatherman Pass, White Cap Peak, Peak 11,000 something, and Mount Idaho
Sacajawea is in the foreground
climbing mount norah
Sacajawea Just South of Borah
Mount Idaho and Morrison
Once past the snow field, the trail leads to the top of Borah.

climbing mount norah
Borah Peak in the Distance
The Stairway to Heaven
or
As Close as You Can Get to it in Idaho
climbing mount norah
View From the Top of Borah
climbing mount norah
Ben and Rueban on Top of Borah
climbing mount norah
Ben and Rueban on Top of Borah
climbing mount norah
Checking Out the Register
Other Resources:

Tom Lopez Website:
Mount Borah

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