Borah Peak, also known as Mount Borah or Beauty Peak, is a mountain in the

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and the highest summit in

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain states, Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington (state), ...

. One of the most prominent peaks in the

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United States, it is located in the central section of the Lost River Range, within the Challis National Forest in eastern Custer County. On February 11, 2021, the USGS officially recognized Mt. Borah as Idaho's only active glacier.

Description

The mountain was nameless until it was discovered to be higher than

Hyndman Peak Hyndman Peak, at an elevation of above sea level, is the ninth List of mountain peaks of Idaho, highest peak in Idaho and the highest point in the Pioneer Mountains (Idaho), Pioneer Mountains, Sawtooth National Forest, and Blaine County, Idaho, ...

, previously regarded as the state's highest point. In February 1934, the

U.S. Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on March ...

named it for William Borah, the prominent senior

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...

from Idaho, who had served for nearly 27 years at the time and was dean of the Senate. An outspoken isolationist, the "Lion of Idaho" ran for president two years later in

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King Edward VIII, following the death of his father, George V, at Sandringham House. * January 28 – Death and state funer ...

, but did not win the Republican nomination, and died in office in 1940.

Climate

1983 earthquake

The 1983 Borah Peak earthquake occurred on Friday, October 28, at 8:06:09 MDT in the Lost River Range at Borah Peak in central Idaho, United States, measuring 6.9 on the

moment magnitude scale The moment magnitude scale (MMS; denoted explicitly with or Mwg, and generally implied with use of a single M for magnitude) is a measure of an earthquake's magnitude ("size" or strength) based on its seismic moment. was defined in a 1979 paper ...

. Mount Borah rose about and the Lost River Valley in that vicinity dropped about . The peak was scarred on the western side, and the mark is still visible. Two children in Challis were the only fatalities of the quake, struck by falling masonry while walking to school.

Climbing

The normal route involves ascending from the trailhead to the summit in just over . This route on the southwest ridge, the most popular route, is a strenuous hike for the most part until one reaches a Class 4

arête An arête ( ; ) is a narrow ridge of rock that separates two valleys. It is typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. Arêtes can also form when two glacial cirques erode headwards towards one another, although frequ ...

just before the main summit crest. This point is known as ''Chicken-out Ridge'' as many people will abort the attempt once they see the hazards up close. In the cooler seasons, this crossing usually involves a traverse over snow, with steeply slanting slopes on either side. An

ice axe An ice axe is a multi-purpose hiking and climbing tool used by mountaineers in both the ascent and descent of routes that involve snow or ice covered (e.g. ice climbing or mixed climbing) conditions. Its use depends on the terrain: in its si ...

, and the ability to use it, is recommended for this section when icy. Borah Peak's north face is one of Idaho's only year-'round snow climbs and provides a much greater challenge than the normal route. The face features a number of Grade II class 5 routes on mixed terrain. Three climbers are known to have died on Borah Peak: two climbers, Vaughn Howard and Guy Campbell, ascended the northwest ridge on November 24, 1977 and were killed in an

avalanche An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a Grade (slope), slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be triggered spontaneously, by factors such as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, othe ...

. The bodies were not recovered for nine months, until August 26, 1978. On June 13, 1987, another climber, Dave Probst, died on a glissade.

References

External links