We were planning on going to the Seven Devils, but decided it was better suited for a long weekend. So, after scrambling around for a last minute idea, I decided on Galena Peak at about 11:30 the night before the hike. It totally fit the bill for a last minute adventure... a short hike with amazing scenery and relatively easy terrain. I have been dealing with achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and tibial tendon tears the entire summer, so the easy terrain was much appreciated!
Mlasky - Jan 11, 2016 2:29 am Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2015
West Ridge via Cherry Creek
Ascended what is normally the winter, skiers route, but in summer. Fun scrambling on the outcrops. Saw a mountain goat and her baby up high. Very fun, rewarding views.
Made it this time after encountering icy snow about a month ago. Didn't have any snow gear and turned around 200 feet from the summit. Snow free and easy sailing this time.
Climbed up the SW ridge with my brother. The snow is soft this time if year so we switched into snowshoes about half an hour into the hike. Pretty steep slopes up top so crampons are essential. The greatest view of alpine landscape I've ever seen. Great views of Easley and silver peaks in the boulder mountain range as well as castle peak in the white clouds to the north and the sawtooths to the southwest. Best glissading I've ever experienced. Watch for cornices and avalanches.
My brother and I hiked up the SW ridge, and back down the W ridge a ways before abandoning it for a nice glissade. We found some large cornices on top, and heavy wind from the treeline up! It was the first experience with crampons for both of us. We were happy to get up and down without injury except for a nice sunburn. I won't forget the sunscreen in the car next time!
After being winded off Galena on our first attempt in early spring 2010 we were back in Sun Valley during the summer. No snow or wind just nice (smokey) sunny skies. Did the SW up and the W down. Went up the valley a ways and bushwacked our way to the ridge and on up to point 9824. Stayed high on the ridge of the rock crux which can be a bit hairy. Not a sole and no real trail except for the way down. We found this to be steep the whole way through, up and down. I would hate to deal with the sandy scree and steepness on the final 750 feet up the W ridge. Under 5 hours but a lot of fun and hard work.
Zach and I tackled Galena today via the West Ridge. It was a relatively easy and straightforward hike. The summit was VERY windy though. We saw two goats near the summit as well. Surprisingly there was a trail all the way to the summit and while we were sitting up there another man hiked up. This is only the second time I have had to share an Idaho summit with another person/party. This is a great peak with a big payoff for not a lot of work.
DrGranola - Aug 16, 2010 10:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
Finished.
Camped in the meadow off the road and watched the meteor shower. Took the west ridge which is relentless! I dubbed the flat rock on the south summit, "the alter of sacrifice". My first 11er!
Was going to try the SW ridge but coming up the valley from Senate Meadows the route up to gain the West ridge seemed more straight forward. Got close to 10k and it was just too windy. I may have pushed a little further but my 95 pound girlfriend could have easily been blown off. Lots of wind loading also and saw too many avalanches. Glad we turned around when we did because I did a lot of postholing down the ridge. Tough time of the year with all the snow and warmth. Still a great day!
toddschwarz - Sep 12, 2009 12:55 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2009
Excellent summit | west ridge
Couldn't have been a more perfect day and a great 9.11 memory. Clear, cloudless views of the Boulders, Whiteclouds (incredible view of Castle Peak), Sawtooths, Pioneers, and even south to Smoky Dome.
So I drove out there and found that the senate creek road actually fork's and it does not show it on my map. I started up what I thought was the correct ridge, turns out I was on the wrong one.
After backtracking, and heading up the creek valley instead of the west ridge because I thought I would make better time, I made it to about the 9,000ft level and turned back due to the day getting late. Anyways, the conditions were warm with a nice breeze from time to time. I did see quite a few bear tracks and scat. The snow is limited to a few patches, non of which are on the west ridge. Lots of fallen trees and the rocky areas were very lose which made for somewhat of a difficult hike on steep slopes after I climbed out of the valley.
I was disappointed that I had wasted 2hrs hiking in the wrong direction because I really wanted to get up this peak! I plan on returning soon and if anyone wants to come along or has any suggestions that might help that would be great!
sassyplatt - Jan 24, 2009 7:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2004
West Ridge
Crazy windy on top but very satisfying.
SawtoothSean - Dec 1, 2008 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2008
NIce Nov Day
No cramp-ons or snow shoes required yet. Nice day with great views. Started at 12pm and back to the car at 5:05pm. Direct, steep hike.
Super Dave - Mar 16, 2008 5:46 pm Date Climbed: Mar 9, 2008
Southwest Ridge
My first winter 11er. Climbed the southwest ridge with Geo and Splattski, then descended the west ridge with a nice glissade mixed in. Great weather and views. Here’s a trip-report and some photos. It was a great day!
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 12:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2004
Bushwhack
A bit of a bushwhack. My dog made it most of the way up but tore his paws up a bit so he waited for me at treeline. Pretty short and to the point with essentially no approach before starting the ascent.
TN310 - Aug 28, 2020 6:30 am Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2020
Galena Peak1:20 Galena Lodge to Summit
larch32 - Jun 7, 2020 3:38 pm
SkiGreat ski. It was so warm and sunny at the bottom that we farted around and built some silly ski jumps.
cascadescrambler - Aug 6, 2019 12:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 1996
Total scrambleWe sort of picked our own route directly up the south slope until we were above the trees and then up the ridge.
TheWolfIsLoose - Sep 20, 2016 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2016
A Great Day on the West Ridge!We were planning on going to the Seven Devils, but decided it was better suited for a long weekend. So, after scrambling around for a last minute idea, I decided on Galena Peak at about 11:30 the night before the hike. It totally fit the bill for a last minute adventure... a short hike with amazing scenery and relatively easy terrain. I have been dealing with achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and tibial tendon tears the entire summer, so the easy terrain was much appreciated!
Mlasky - Jan 11, 2016 2:29 am Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2015
West Ridge via Cherry CreekAscended what is normally the winter, skiers route, but in summer. Fun scrambling on the outcrops. Saw a mountain goat and her baby up high. Very fun, rewarding views.
LazyJSkwires - Jul 29, 2015 9:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2015
Second time's the charmMade it this time after encountering icy snow about a month ago. Didn't have any snow gear and turned around 200 feet from the summit. Snow free and easy sailing this time.
gbrill - Jun 4, 2014 11:47 pm
Nice HikeWent up with my then girlfriend, now wife, years ago. Nice views and a great area.
jlfriesen - Apr 21, 2014 5:27 pm Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2014
my favorite so farClimbed up the SW ridge with my brother. The snow is soft this time if year so we switched into snowshoes about half an hour into the hike. Pretty steep slopes up top so crampons are essential. The greatest view of alpine landscape I've ever seen. Great views of Easley and silver peaks in the boulder mountain range as well as castle peak in the white clouds to the north and the sawtooths to the southwest. Best glissading I've ever experienced. Watch for cornices and avalanches.
jafriesen - Apr 14, 2014 6:57 pm Date Climbed: Apr 13, 2014
SW ridgeMy brother and I hiked up the SW ridge, and back down the W ridge a ways before abandoning it for a nice glissade. We found some large cornices on top, and heavy wind from the treeline up! It was the first experience with crampons for both of us. We were happy to get up and down without injury except for a nice sunburn. I won't forget the sunscreen in the car next time!
Tonka - Sep 23, 2012 11:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2012
Got back at GalenaAfter being winded off Galena on our first attempt in early spring 2010 we were back in Sun Valley during the summer. No snow or wind just nice (smokey) sunny skies. Did the SW up and the W down. Went up the valley a ways and bushwacked our way to the ridge and on up to point 9824. Stayed high on the ridge of the rock crux which can be a bit hairy. Not a sole and no real trail except for the way down. We found this to be steep the whole way through, up and down. I would hate to deal with the sandy scree and steepness on the final 750 feet up the W ridge. Under 5 hours but a lot of fun and hard work.
mtybumpo - Sep 4, 2010 10:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
Fun PeakZach and I tackled Galena today via the West Ridge. It was a relatively easy and straightforward hike. The summit was VERY windy though. We saw two goats near the summit as well. Surprisingly there was a trail all the way to the summit and while we were sitting up there another man hiked up. This is only the second time I have had to share an Idaho summit with another person/party. This is a great peak with a big payoff for not a lot of work.
DrGranola - Aug 16, 2010 10:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
Finished.Camped in the meadow off the road and watched the meteor shower. Took the west ridge which is relentless! I dubbed the flat rock on the south summit, "the alter of sacrifice". My first 11er!
Tonka - Apr 26, 2010 12:41 pm Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2010
Too WindyWas going to try the SW ridge but coming up the valley from Senate Meadows the route up to gain the West ridge seemed more straight forward. Got close to 10k and it was just too windy. I may have pushed a little further but my 95 pound girlfriend could have easily been blown off. Lots of wind loading also and saw too many avalanches. Glad we turned around when we did because I did a lot of postholing down the ridge. Tough time of the year with all the snow and warmth. Still a great day!
toddschwarz - Sep 12, 2009 12:55 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2009
Excellent summit | west ridgeCouldn't have been a more perfect day and a great 9.11 memory. Clear, cloudless views of the Boulders, Whiteclouds (incredible view of Castle Peak), Sawtooths, Pioneers, and even south to Smoky Dome.
DrGranola - Jul 16, 2009 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2009
Returning soon.So I drove out there and found that the senate creek road actually fork's and it does not show it on my map. I started up what I thought was the correct ridge, turns out I was on the wrong one.
After backtracking, and heading up the creek valley instead of the west ridge because I thought I would make better time, I made it to about the 9,000ft level and turned back due to the day getting late. Anyways, the conditions were warm with a nice breeze from time to time. I did see quite a few bear tracks and scat. The snow is limited to a few patches, non of which are on the west ridge. Lots of fallen trees and the rocky areas were very lose which made for somewhat of a difficult hike on steep slopes after I climbed out of the valley.
I was disappointed that I had wasted 2hrs hiking in the wrong direction because I really wanted to get up this peak! I plan on returning soon and if anyone wants to come along or has any suggestions that might help that would be great!
sassyplatt - Jan 24, 2009 7:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2004
West RidgeCrazy windy on top but very satisfying.
SawtoothSean - Dec 1, 2008 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2008
NIce Nov DayNo cramp-ons or snow shoes required yet. Nice day with great views. Started at 12pm and back to the car at 5:05pm. Direct, steep hike.
Super Dave - Mar 16, 2008 5:46 pm Date Climbed: Mar 9, 2008
Southwest RidgeMy first winter 11er. Climbed the southwest ridge with Geo and Splattski, then descended the west ridge with a nice glissade mixed in. Great weather and views. Here’s a trip-report and some photos. It was a great day!
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 12:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2004
BushwhackA bit of a bushwhack. My dog made it most of the way up but tore his paws up a bit so he waited for me at treeline. Pretty short and to the point with essentially no approach before starting the ascent.
Scrambling Man - Feb 14, 2006 8:53 pm
Big Group on Galena: June of 2000Nine LHBCers made it to the top on our Saturday off. Great views from the top. Glissaded down a large section of snow. Very fun day hike.