marieg - Aug 21, 2023 9:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2023
Solo Summit!
Summit register is still there, bring your own pen though! The way up was rad, I'm sure it wasn't the 'right' way up, but it was awesome. Down, not so much. Very sketchy downclimb when solo. Had to triple check every foot and hand placement - zero room for errors.
We found much of the information on the west ridge ascent to be misleading (or at least exaggerated) so I'll offer my insights.
I wouldn't consider any route-finding necessary; it's obvious where the summit is and you can go up anywhere you'd like. If at any point you don't like the rock in front of you then just move a few feet to the right.
We stayed on the ridge crest all the way to the summit because it made for a fun scramble. The book says you eventually need to get off of it to avoid technical climbing. I'm a class 3/4 climber with a fear of heights and had no problems.
We hiked straight down the gully afterwards. Being on this terrain confirmed our idea that one could also ascend anywhere without a need for route-finding challenges.
These are just the opinions of two climbers that I thought might help others. Whenever I visit the Sawtooths I'm reminded of what difficult scrambling and route-finding is like. Cobb was simple and straightforward.
Ascent was 3.5 hours car to summit.
mfox79 - Jul 24, 2011 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2011
West Ridge
I climbed this route via the west ridge on a perfect weather day with no wind or even a cloud in the the sky. the scrambling was fun but allot more mellow expected. we made it car to car in exactley 9hrs.a true classic idaho scramble that even has somewhat of a trail and rock carrins from time to time.
idpeakgirl - Jul 20, 2011 10:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2009
From west ridge
My favorite peak in Idaho so far. Got a hailstorm an hour away from the summit, but it passed, and the sun came out again. This climb had everything I like about mountains: sedimentary and metamorphosed geology, route-finding, scrambling, killer views and a ridgeline to Old Hyndman that beckoned to be tried, wildflowers, butterflies, and a cool meadow with burbling stream at the base for a lounge after the climb. Very nice.
boisedoc - Jun 26, 2011 11:40 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2011
Awesome day
Great weather, great snow and great company. The crux was crossing the creek on the way down. The couloir on the SW face (which skiers call comma couloir) make a fine snow climb. We found some gear at the base of the couloir likely left by some skiers caught in an avalanche back in April (they survived)
Super Dave - Jun 26, 2011 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2011
Comma
Made our way up the west ridge, then out onto the soutwest face to snowclimb the "comma couloir" for the last 1000 feet to the summit. A great day in the Pioneers with Michael, Pat, and Steve. Trip Report.
BeDrinkable - Oct 4, 2010 9:30 am Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2010
Gorgeous day, views
Walked up west ridge / face route. The gully wasn't quite as steep as I expected, but it does go on forever!
SawtoothSean - Sep 8, 2009 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2009
Traverse
Up the west ridge and then over to Old Hyndman. It was good to get back on Cobb after getting lightninged off earlier this summer. I thought the west ridge was a good scramble.
nickkarl - Aug 24, 2008 6:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
West Ridge
A hard climb. Was a great scramble the tricky part was traversing over the ribs to the gully leading to the summit. My Dad, Brother and I all made it and we earned each foot of elevation! Was the most rewarding climb I have done yet.
Scrambling Man - Sep 11, 2006 3:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2006
West Ridge
3 of us made it to the top. The views were a bit hazy because of the smoke from the forest fires, but we still had great views of the nearby Pioneers. A fun scramble.
The first visit of most hikers to this area is to climb Hyndman Peak. Lucky for me my climbing partner had already been there and convinced me to tackle Cobb. I'm glad he did. We dicided to scramble up the SW face and found a comfortable class 3/4 route pretty much the whole way up, with only one technical scamper across a ten foot knife edge ridge about 2/3 of the way up. One of the most enjoyable trips I've taken.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: July 10th/05
I climbed on the only cold, windy, rainy day so far of July. Had absolutely no clearing on the summit and the exposure was frightening with snow fields, zero visibility, and the slick rock from the precipitation.
marieg - Aug 21, 2023 9:04 am Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2023
Solo Summit!Summit register is still there, bring your own pen though! The way up was rad, I'm sure it wasn't the 'right' way up, but it was awesome. Down, not so much. Very sketchy downclimb when solo. Had to triple check every foot and hand placement - zero room for errors.
derekperc - Jul 28, 2016 3:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2016
Simpler than expectedWe found much of the information on the west ridge ascent to be misleading (or at least exaggerated) so I'll offer my insights.
I wouldn't consider any route-finding necessary; it's obvious where the summit is and you can go up anywhere you'd like. If at any point you don't like the rock in front of you then just move a few feet to the right.
We stayed on the ridge crest all the way to the summit because it made for a fun scramble. The book says you eventually need to get off of it to avoid technical climbing. I'm a class 3/4 climber with a fear of heights and had no problems.
We hiked straight down the gully afterwards. Being on this terrain confirmed our idea that one could also ascend anywhere without a need for route-finding challenges.
These are just the opinions of two climbers that I thought might help others. Whenever I visit the Sawtooths I'm reminded of what difficult scrambling and route-finding is like. Cobb was simple and straightforward.
Ascent was 3.5 hours car to summit.
mfox79 - Jul 24, 2011 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2011
West RidgeI climbed this route via the west ridge on a perfect weather day with no wind or even a cloud in the the sky. the scrambling was fun but allot more mellow expected. we made it car to car in exactley 9hrs.a true classic idaho scramble that even has somewhat of a trail and rock carrins from time to time.
idpeakgirl - Jul 20, 2011 10:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2009
From west ridgeMy favorite peak in Idaho so far. Got a hailstorm an hour away from the summit, but it passed, and the sun came out again. This climb had everything I like about mountains: sedimentary and metamorphosed geology, route-finding, scrambling, killer views and a ridgeline to Old Hyndman that beckoned to be tried, wildflowers, butterflies, and a cool meadow with burbling stream at the base for a lounge after the climb. Very nice.
boisedoc - Jun 26, 2011 11:40 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2011
Awesome dayGreat weather, great snow and great company. The crux was crossing the creek on the way down. The couloir on the SW face (which skiers call comma couloir) make a fine snow climb. We found some gear at the base of the couloir likely left by some skiers caught in an avalanche back in April (they survived)
Super Dave - Jun 26, 2011 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2011
CommaMade our way up the west ridge, then out onto the soutwest face to snowclimb the "comma couloir" for the last 1000 feet to the summit. A great day in the Pioneers with Michael, Pat, and Steve. Trip Report.
BeDrinkable - Oct 4, 2010 9:30 am Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2010
Gorgeous day, viewsWalked up west ridge / face route. The gully wasn't quite as steep as I expected, but it does go on forever!
SawtoothSean - Sep 8, 2009 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2009
TraverseUp the west ridge and then over to Old Hyndman. It was good to get back on Cobb after getting lightninged off earlier this summer. I thought the west ridge was a good scramble.
nickkarl - Aug 24, 2008 6:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
West RidgeA hard climb. Was a great scramble the tricky part was traversing over the ribs to the gully leading to the summit. My Dad, Brother and I all made it and we earned each foot of elevation! Was the most rewarding climb I have done yet.
Scrambling Man - Sep 11, 2006 3:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2006
West Ridge3 of us made it to the top. The views were a bit hazy because of the smoke from the forest fires, but we still had great views of the nearby Pioneers. A fun scramble.
awilsondc - Mar 6, 2006 6:58 am
South West Face ScrambleThe first visit of most hikers to this area is to climb Hyndman Peak. Lucky for me my climbing partner had already been there and convinced me to tackle Cobb. I'm glad he did. We dicided to scramble up the SW face and found a comfortable class 3/4 route pretty much the whole way up, with only one technical scamper across a ten foot knife edge ridge about 2/3 of the way up. One of the most enjoyable trips I've taken.
IdahoKid - Jul 10, 2005 9:16 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: July 10th/05I climbed on the only cold, windy, rainy day so far of July. Had absolutely no clearing on the summit and the exposure was frightening with snow fields, zero visibility, and the slick rock from the precipitation.