Borah Peak

Highest mountain in Idaho, United States

Borah Peak is located in Idaho
Borah Peak
Borah Peak
Idaho, U.S.
LocationCuster County, Idaho, U.S.Parent rangeLost River RangeTopo mapUSGS Borah PeakClimbingFirst ascent1912 by T.M. Bannon[3]Easiest routeClass 3 Scramble

Borah Peak, also known as Mount Borah or Beauty Peak, is the highest mountain in the U.S. state of Idaho[4] and one of the most prominent peaks in the contiguous United States.[5] 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.[6]

Description

Looking east from Borah Peak

The mountain was nameless until it was discovered to be higher than Hyndman Peak, previously regarded as the state's highest point. In February 1934, the U.S. Geological Survey named it for William Borah,[7] the prominent senior U.S. Senator 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, but did not win the Republican nomination, and died in office in 1940.[8]

Climate

Climate data for Borah Peak 44.1341 N, 113.7832 W, Elevation: 11,745 ft (3,580 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 18.8
(−7.3)
18.1
(−7.7)
22.1
(−5.5)
26.9
(−2.8)
36.5
(2.5)
46.3
(7.9)
58.0
(14.4)
57.6
(14.2)
48.8
(9.3)
35.8
(2.1)
23.6
(−4.7)
17.9
(−7.8)
34.2
(1.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 10.9
(−11.7)
9.1
(−12.7)
12.3
(−10.9)
16.3
(−8.7)
25.0
(−3.9)
33.8
(1.0)
44.3
(6.8)
43.8
(6.6)
35.5
(1.9)
24.8
(−4.0)
15.5
(−9.2)
10.2
(−12.1)
23.5
(−4.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 3.0
(−16.1)
0.1
(−17.7)
2.4
(−16.4)
5.6
(−14.7)
13.5
(−10.3)
21.3
(−5.9)
30.6
(−0.8)
29.9
(−1.2)
22.1
(−5.5)
13.8
(−10.1)
7.5
(−13.6)
2.5
(−16.4)
12.7
(−10.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.37
(111)
4.13
(105)
5.03
(128)
5.11
(130)
5.20
(132)
3.92
(100)
1.67
(42)
1.60
(41)
2.44
(62)
3.64
(92)
4.12
(105)
4.99
(127)
46.22
(1,175)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[9]

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. Mount Borah rose about 1 foot (30 cm) and the Lost River Valley in that vicinity dropped about 8 feet (2.4 m).[10] 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 elementary school.[11][12]

Climbing

View from the summit of Borah Peak, August 2011

The normal route involves ascending 5,262 vertical feet (1,604 m) from the trailhead to the summit in just over 3.5 miles (5.6 km). 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 just before the main summit crest. This point is known as Chickenout 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, 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. The bodies were not recovered for 9 months, until August 26, 1978.[13][14] Ten years later on June 13, 1987, another climber, Dave Probst, died on a glissade.[3][15][16]

See also

  • flagIdaho portal
  • iconGeography portal
  • iconMountains portal

References

  1. ^ "Borah Peak, Idaho". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  2. ^ "Beauty Reset". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Borah Peak". IdahoSummits.com. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
  4. ^ "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. April 29, 2005. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  5. ^ "USA Lower 48 Top 100 Peaks by Prominence". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  6. ^ "Idaho's only glacier formally recognized by USGS". February 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "Named for solon: Idaho's highest mountain be called "Borah Peak"". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Associated Press. February 12, 1934. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Idaho's highest peak eternal memorial to Borah". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. January 26, 1940. p. 1.
  9. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved September 28, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.
  10. ^ "Geologic Activity - Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Sher, Jeff (October 29, 1983). "Killer quake rocks Northwest". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1.
  12. ^ "Quake jolts 8 states, kills 2 children". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). October 29, 1983. p. 1A.
  13. ^ "Final search effort set". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello. Associated Press. December 1, 1977. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  14. ^ "Climbers' bodies recovered from peak". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 27, 1978. p. 2A.
  15. ^ "Searchers still can't find climber". Idahonian. (Moscow). Associated Press. June 15, 1987. p. 5.
  16. ^ "AAC Publications - Fall on Snow, Loss of Control—Voluntary Glissade, Avalanche, Inadequate Equipment, Weather, Idaho, Mount Borah". publications.americanalpineclub.org.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Borah Peak
  • Borah Peak Detailed Guide & Trip Report from Mountainouswords.com
  • Mount Borah Climbing Guide - photos of the normal route
  • Borah Peak Trip Report
  • Faulting information
  • v
  • t
  • e
Albion Mountains
  • Cache Peak
  • Graham Peak
  • Mount Harrison
  • Mount Independence
  • Smoky Mountain
  • Thunder Mountain
Bitterroot Range
Centennial Mountains
  • Mount Jefferson
Clearwater Mountains
Black Pine MountainsBoise Mountains
Boulder Mountains
Columbia Mountains
Selkirk Mountains
  • Mica Peak
Lemhi Range
Lost River RangePioneer MountainsSawtooth Range
Smoky MountainsSoldier Mountains
Sublett RangeWest Mountains
  • Snowbank Mountain
White Cloud Mountains
Others
  • v
  • t
  • e
  1. Denali
  2. Gunnbjørn Fjeld
  3. Pico de Orizaba
  4. Mount Whitney
  5. Mount Mitchell
  6. Mount Washington
  7. Mount Rainier
  8. Mount Elbert
  9. Pico Duarte
  10. Chirripó Grande
  11. Shishaldin Volcano
  12. Barbeau Peak
  13. Mount Caubvick
  14. Volcán Tajumulco
  15. Melville Island HP
  16. La Grande Soufrière
  17. Tanaga Volcano
  18. Avannaarsua HP
  19. Mount Isto
  20. Cerro San Rafael
  21. Mathiassen Mountain
  22. Mount Logan
  23. Angilaaq Mountain
  24. Signal Hill
  25. Mount Odin
  26. Cerro el Potosí
  27. Mount Waddington
  28. Melville Hills HP
  29. Keele Peak
  30. Mount Shasta
  31. Perserajoq
  32. Mealy Mountains HP
  33. Peary Land HP
  34. The Cabox
  35. Volcán Everman
  36. Greenland Ice Sheet HP
  37. Gannett Peak
  38. Mont Yapeitso
  39. Mount Robson
  40. Mount Osborn
  41. Mount Igikpak
  42. Ulysses Mountain
  43. Cerro de Punta
  44. Cerro Gordo
  45. Pico San Juan
  46. Mont Jacques-Cartier
  47. Nevado de Colima
  48. Sukkertoppen
  49. Humphreys Peak
  50. Haffner Bjerg
  51. Victoria Island HP
  52. Wheeler Peak
  53. Revaltoppe
  54. Kisimngiuqtuq Peak
  55. Mount Vsevidof
  56. Mont Forel
  57. Beitstad Peak
  58. Hahn Land HP
  59. Pico La Laguna
  60. Volcán Las Tres Vírgenes
  61. Isla Guadalupe HP
  62. Mount Veniaminof
  63. Picacho del Diablo
  64. Cerro el Nacimiento
  65. Mount Ratz
  66. Hall Island HP
  67. Dillingham HP
  68. Mount Paatusoq
  69. Petermann Bjerg
  70. Spruce Knob
  71. Blue Mountain Peak
  72. Kings Peak
  73. Outlook Peak
  74. Sierra Blanca Peak
  75. Devon Ice Cap HP
  76. Point 1740
  77. San Gorgonio Mountain
  78. Manuel Peak
  79. Katahdin
  80. Peak 4030
  81. Howson Peak
  82. Mount Baldy
  83. Borah Peak
  84. Sierra Fría
  85. Cloud Peak
  86. Cerro Mohinora
  87. Fox Mountain
  88. Cap Mountain
  89. Sierra la Madera
  90. Black Elk Peak
  91. Mount Frank Rae
  92. Mount Nirvana
  93. Slide Mountain
  94. Durham Heights
  95. Mount Griggs
  96. Charleston Peak
  97. Pico Turquino
  98. Pic Macaya
  99. Junipero Serra Peak
  100. Mount Baker
  101. Mount Marcy
  102. Mount Raoul Blanchard
  103. Mount Marcus Baker
  104. Mount Hayes
  105. Sacajawea Peak
  106. Steens Mountain
  107. Mount Fairweather
  • v
  • t
  • e
  1. Denali
  2. Mauna Kea
  3. Mount Rainier
  4. Mount Fairweather
  5. Mount Blackburn
  6. Mount Hayes
  7. Mount Saint Elias
  8. Mount Marcus Baker
  9. Mount Whitney
  10. Haleakalā
  11. Mount Shasta
  12. Shishaldin Volcano
  13. Redoubt Volcano
  14. Mount Elbert
  15. Mount Baker
  16. Mount Torbert
  17. San Jacinto Peak
  18. San Gorgonio Mountain
  19. Charleston Peak
  20. Pavlof Volcano
  21. Mount Veniaminof
  22. Mount Adams
  23. Mount Hubbard
  24. Mount Isto
  25. Iliamna Volcano
  26. Mount Olympus
  27. Mount Cook
  28. Mount Hood
  29. Mount Sanford
  30. Mount Tom White
  31. Wheeler Peak
  32. Glacier Peak
  33. Mount Kimball
  34. Mount Griggs
  35. Mount Foraker
  36. White Mountain Peak
  37. Mount Crillon
  38. Mauna Loa
  39. Cloud Peak
  40. Gannett Peak
  41. Mount Vsevidof
  42. Mount Hesperus
  43. Mount Bona
  44. Mount Drum
  45. Mount Chiginagak
  46. Grand Teton
  47. Sacajawea Peak
  48. Mount Neacola
  49. Kings Peak
  50. Mount Graham
  51. Mount Douglas
  52. Mount San Antonio
  53. Kichatna Spire
  54. De Long Peak
  55. Telescope Peak
  56. Mount Peale
  57. Pogromni Volcano
  58. Dewey Peak
  59. Mount Washington
  60. Mount Igikpak
  61. Snow Tower
  62. Mount Mitchell
  63. Truuli Peak
  64. Humphreys Peak
  65. Borah Peak
  66. Mount Natazhat
  67. Hanagita Peak
  68. Tanaga Volcano
  69. Makushin Volcano
  70. Sovereign Mountain
  71. Mount Jefferson (Nevada)
  72. Mount Ellen
  73. Isanotski Peaks
  74. Deseret Peak
  75. Mount Jefferson (Oregon)
  76. Isthmus Peak
  77. Frosty Peak
  78. Pilot Peak
  79. Crazy Peak
  80. Great Sitkin Volcano
  81. Puʻu Kukui
  82. Mount Cleveland (Alaska)
  83. McDonald Peak
  84. Mount Wrangell
  85. South Sister
  86. Devils Paw
  87. Mount Seattle
  88. Sierra Blanca Peak
  89. Pikes Peak
  90. Mount Russell
  91. Mount Nebo
  92. Snowshoe Peak
  93. North Schell Peak
  94. Hayford Peak
  95. Mount Foresta
  96. Star Peak
  97. Veniaminof Peak
  98. Flat Top Mountain
  99. Bearhole Peak
  100. Mount Steller
  101. Mount Stuart
  102. Blanca Peak
  103. Mount Miller
  104. Carlisle Volcano
  105. Mount Timpanogos
  106. Bashful Peak
  107. Ibapah Peak
  108. Mount Cleveland (Montana)
  109. Kawaikini
  110. Tetlin Peak
  111. Arc Dome
  112. Lassen Peak
  113. Mount Deborah
  114. Necons Peak
  115. Abercrombie Mountain
  116. Mount Lemmon
  117. Mount Gareloi
  118. Chiricahua Peak
  119. Stony Peak
  120. Mount Eddy
  121. Mount Augusta
  122. Copper Peak
  123. Mount Bear
  124. Korovin Volcano
  125. Miller Peak
  126. Kamakou
  • v
  • t
  • e
States

District
Territories
  • v
  • t
  • e
State of Idaho
Boise (capital)
Topics
Society
Regions
Larger
cities
Smaller
cities
Counties
flag Idaho portal
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • VIAF
National
  • Israel
  • United States