"After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, which is the most horrible thing in the world."
--Oscar Wilde on Absinthe
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Cascade Scrambler - Aug 5, 2007 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2007
Chicken out what?"Chicken Out Ridge" disappointed me. We waited 45 minutes to gain the entrance to the ridge due to a large bottleneck of people who were obviously contemplating chickening out. At this point we thought that the ridge must be pretty gnarly if all those people were backing off (they were not descending). Once we gained the entrance to the ridge, it was a piece of cake. Taking the trail on the north face of the ridge allowed us to bypass at least 20 people who were struggling on the south side. I'm still wondering what I got all psyched out about, hoping that it might be difficult, but I guess each person's level of comfort is different. 5.5 hours to the top (including that 45 minute wait at Chicken Out Ridge), 2 hours to get down. Great views, nice hike.
reboyles - Jul 30, 2007 7:48 am
Mt BorahI made my 25th successful ascent this past August. 7 trips up the N. Face and 18 on the W. Ridge. Going for 30 if my knees last long enough. I find poles to be most useful for the descent.
Redwic - Jul 29, 2007 12:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2007
To "Chicken Out" Was Not An OptionA friend and I climbed the infamous "Chicken Out Ridge". Although neither of us had any true scrambling experience before, and we analyzed every available handhold/foothold in the rocks, we still successfully traversed the ridge and then the summit (and on our first attempt)! During our descent we gave advice & assistance to several ascending hikers, and, for me, the steep descent was great assisted by a hiking stick.
Moogie737 - Jul 13, 2007 12:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2007
Summer funIf someone tells you this climb is either not steep or doesn't involve scree, they're fibbing. But Chicken Out Ridge is nothing more than an open invitation to delightful ridge scrambling. Lana, Kim, Anne and I made it to the top in 3+36, not at all bad considering one of us was feeling under the weather.
J Fox - Jun 26, 2007 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 1998
Chicken Out RidgeI climbed this with my Dad to get in shape for my Rainier climb later in the year. We had a blue skies the entire day. My Dad chickend out on Chicken Out Ridge so I summied on my own. By the time I had made it back down to the ridge he had built up his strength so I summited again with him. We had a hellacious descent through the scree and an 7 hour drive back to Lewistion but the climb was well worth the effort.
Curt - Jun 24, 2007 7:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Good day on BorahNice day, fun mountain. Going up Chicken Out Ridge and the summit made for great scrambling.
madsjim - Jun 24, 2007 5:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Almost Chickened Out!Almost gave up after seeing the last snowfield on the COR but we pushed on. This is a relentlessly steep bugger, so be warned! The COR is great fun and lots of scrambling.
JBRunyan - Jun 21, 2007 8:57 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2007
Awesome!Awesome Climb. Camped out at the trailhead and made the hike in the morning. We had to cross 3-4 snow bridges but had no problems. The weather was perfect outside and the views from the top were amazing.
idahomtnhigh - May 8, 2007 7:22 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 1997
Best Bachlor Party everThe week before my brother got married we climbed Borah Peak. It was a great climb and a good way to get away from all the wedding stress. Also while we were there we got to enjoy the most intents lighting storm ever. It averaged 6 to 10 strikes per second for 4 hours.
Dates Climbed:
Jun 17, 1997
Sept 2, 2007
Sept 5, 2009
kwag - Apr 10, 2007 10:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2006
Steep climbGreat view of the valley below. Almost got nailed by a rock knocked loose by my dad. The trail gets right up the mountain and fast. Great hike and good weather. Climb down is painful. It was my first scrambling experience and I can't wait for more.
mgeo - Mar 25, 2007 8:03 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1997
Old FriendThis was the first peak of significance I had ever climbed. The class 3 section was almost a turn around put, but we pushed on. It was a great climb (started at about 5a.m.) and had wonderful views, great weather. I have to get back and do it again some day.
bhobbs - Mar 20, 2007 4:39 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2006
The Poodle Slap!Went with my brother Jake and sweet Itza. One of the greatest nights ever. TOUGH grunt.
The edge - Mar 14, 2007 4:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2003
HP #43With a giant blister on my foot due to lack of intelligence hiking with new boots on Granite... two days before...
Summitted with flip-flops ...
Chicken out ridge was awesome...
Nice views and weather on the top!!
Only 7 to go!!!
skunk ape - Feb 26, 2007 11:16 pm
Idaho's Great Grunt.Climbed first time in Aug, 1989,
Climbed 7th time Feb 6,2007
weeds19 - Feb 20, 2007 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2001
Quick day tripI had spent the weak in Logan, UT at a conference and headed to Borah on Saturday morning for the hike. The trail was steep but easy going and Chicken out ridge was free of snow so the going was pretty easy. Made it up in just over two hours and spent some time enjoying the ID mountains before heading down.
patascent - Feb 11, 2007 4:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
Standard RouteClimbed with 2 friends and a dog from Victor. I suspect Elsa (the dog) was among the first dogs to summit this season. She wasn't too keen on the exposure on the way up ( so we belayed her), but she had the route wired on the way down. We just followed her off the mountain. I think it was my 4th time on the summit with at least 2 prior failed attempts over the years.
smithdc27 - Dec 10, 2006 2:25 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2006
woot2nd twelver, a long hard hike
Vagabond Manifesto - Oct 23, 2006 10:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2002
ToughThis remains the toughest hike I've ever done--very steep, and came at the end of several weeks of hiking and backpacking in the Sawtooths.
surgent - Sep 12, 2006 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2003
Didn't chicken out2nd attempt, first successful. Beautiful, long rewarding hike.
TravisU - Sep 6, 2006 7:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
My Son's First Real Summit!My 9-year old son and I started for the top at 5:30am and made the summit (after he did a lot of coaxing to get me across Chicken Out Ridge) at 12:45pm. I was told I could not come home without him alive. He was a real trooper. We spent 45 minutes at the top on a cool clear day. We made it back to the trailhead at 5:45pm. The downhill about did us both in, but he loved the climb and now wants to do more. My wife said she gets to go next year.