Ramblings: Swanson Peak

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Trip Report: Swanson Peak (10,808), Lemhi Range, Idaho

Swanson Peak from the north ridge

Swanson Peak taken in 2015, south ridge

August 10, 2016
Team: Ben and me
Summit:

Swanson Peak

Route: South Ridge
YDS: Class 2
Total Elevation Gain: 4,072 feet
Total Miles: 5.83 miles

This summer has sped by without many mountain outings. I busied myself with projects around the home...reworking the irrigation system, building two decks, and prepping for a concrete pad and footing for next year's shed project. I hope to make up for it by getting out as much as possible during the next week. Yesterday, Ben and I went to the Lemhis to climb Swanson Peak and make plans for collecting the summits of Sunny Bar and 10,965.

Sunny Bar Peak from the north ridge of Swanson Peak

Peak 10,965 and the impressive east face of Nicholson Peak

We drove to the trail head of Uncle Ike Creek just north of North Creek. To get there travel north from Howe on the Little Lost River Highway. Look for the point where it looks like an ancient slide carried part of the Lemhis to where the road was built. Pass this point and soon you will see the marked North Creek Road. Continue past and get ready to turn right on the next available road.

The road is very good for Lemhi Standards, although a high clearance 4X4 may be preferred for the last part leading to the small oasis at the entrance to the narrow canyon from which the creek once flowed. A trickle still can be found there; the creek is diverted upstream into a presumable irrigation system. Do not make the mistake of trying to get to the higher green areas to the north. Stay on the desert floor and park in a grassy area before entering the canyon.

From here it is 2.3 miles to where we left the trail and entered into Sunny Bar Canyon. For this trip, we brought the four-wheeler and made quick work of those miles. Right before the Sunny Bar Canyon you will cross the creek. We made the mistake of trying to bushwhack here through the dense growth and marshy ground. On the return trip, we learned that if we had followed the road just a bit more we would have found a great place to cross the stream.

The plan was to start a traverse up the western slopes of the mountain. The ground was good and going easy. We made the southern ridge at about 9,200 feet 1 hour and 15 minutes into the hike. The rest was simple, just follow this meandering ridge to the summit. Once we left the tree line, the rocky ridge was solid. The scree/talus was blocky and provided good footing. What could have been a long scree slog was surprisingly pleasant.

Ben on the south ridge of Swanson Peak

Once on the summit of Swanson, we eyed a high point on the ridge to Little Diamond. Wanting a bit more of a challenge we dropped off Swanson and headed north to what we called Red Shale Point. This ridge was class 3 with several spots of exposure. At one point, we came across an interesting natural arch.

North ridge of Swanson Peak, Red Shale Point in front of Little Diamond Peak

Ridge line between Red Shale Point and Swanson

Arch in ridge

Ridge line looking south back towards Swanson

Ben striking a pose

The high point of the day at 10,922

From Red Rock Point to Little Diamond would be an easy stroll

Boulder Creek drainage to the west

Having reached the day's high point at 10,922, we rested on top of Red Shale Point taking in the views. Heading back, we carefully walked the ridge line. Our goal was to make for the saddle that sits west of Swanson on the ridge leading to Sunny Bar Peak. Once we reached the low spot on the ridge, we began a traverse leading to the saddle. First, we found a game trail that seemed to be going our way. All was well until I dropped off the trail and made straight for the saddle. Here, the challenges began. Traversing the steep slope of rocks was terrible. The rocks were just the right size and shape to roll under each step. Stubbornly, I slipped and teetered to the saddle. Ben was smart enough to stay on the game trail, and, although he gained some elevation, he beat me to the saddle in much better shape.

The saddle between Sunny Bar Peak and Swanson Peak

View looking south from the saddle between Sunny Bar and Swanson, Buckhorn Peak in the center distance

The initial gentle slope leading into Sunny Bar Canyon was a welcome change. We dropped elevation quickly and though how smart we were to have taken this path. Then we came to the dry creek that drained the canyon in the spring. Ben got a good lesson in extreme bushwhacking. Fallen twisted trees, dense vegetation, and irregular rocks challenge our progress. Ben ended up covered in spiky seeds and face planted into a tangle of dead trees. He was not a happy hiker. His hand was scratched and bruised when he caught himself and prevented his stomach, from being "impaled"...his words.

I was so happy to finally come out of the thickets and walk through tall grass and sagebrush back to the creek. Ben's sprits improved greatly during this last quarter of a mile. All in all, a pretty good day with a summit of Swanson a visit to Red Shale Point at 10,922.

A closing shot of me in front of Little Diamond Peak thanks to Ben

INDEX OF PEAKS

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Climbing Sunny Bar Peak (10,512) Lemhi Range, Idaho

July 22, 2015

Sunny Bar Peak
Little Diamond Peak on the right

Ben and I climbed Sunny Bar Peak in the Lemhi Range. We were looking for a nice class 2 trek without a lot of elevation gain. Thought Sunny Bar fit the bill. Drove to Fallert Springs near Uncle Ike Creek in the Little Lost River Valley. The road is passable but AWD, great tires, and good clearance are necessities. I made it to the springs in my 2003 Forester, but keep in mind I have light truck tires on my vehicle.

Before we began hiking, we drove up the road to a vantage above Uncle Ike Creek. Below you can see the beginning of the creek. On the other side of the divide, the South Fork of Pass Creek drains to the east.

Uncle Ike Creek

The false summit of Sunny Bar Peak above Uncle Ike Creek
Swanson Peak in the background

Sunny Bar Peak (false summit) and Swanson Peak
Fallert Springs is the upper oasis

Nearing Fallert Springs

From Fallert Springs, hike north and then west up the steep scrub covered slope. This is the most difficult part of the climb. You will gain about 1,500 feet in a little over half a mile. The footing is pretty good. Once the ridge is made, follow it all the way to the top. This is a great class 2 climb. However, this route will only get you to 10,200 feet. The final summit is a ragged peak that does not look very approachable from the high ridge top on the mountain. Ben and I walked over to the path to the summit block, but decided against a traverse and climb from our position. I am sure this line entails some solid class 3 climbing at the very least. The south face of the peak is very steep and full of loose rock. The east/west ridge line from above Rocky Run Creek looks like a more approachable line to the summit of this mountain.

Little Diamond and Swanson Peak from Sunny Bar Peak

Ben (in his pajamas) near the summit of Sunny Bar Peak

A side note:

On the way back to the springs, Ben found the remains of a Big Horn Sheep. There were the four legs spread out in a rectangle and the head with about fifteen inches of vertebrae still attached. It reminded me of how our cat leaves the remains of his prey. He leaves the legs and head but eats everything in between.

Of course I carried the head down for him. Found out that to legally posses a ram's head, you must report it to the Fish and Game within 30 days of finding it. Drove to Idaho Falls to do my civic duty today. They take tissue samples, measurements, and information regarding the location of the find. They then drill a hole behind one horn and embed a metal identification pin in the horn. Interesting.

Ben's ram skull

Route from Fallert Springs
Ignore the orange and red line. I forgot to end the excersize and began driving.

There are probably several ways to get to Fallert Springs. we came up from Howe and turned right on a road that looked like it would take us to the canyon between Sunny Bar and Buckhorn Peak. I took this photo of the two no trespassing signs right across the road from where we turned. There are also some beehives there, but of course they my not be there next year.