Mt. Borah, Idaho Chicken Out Ridge
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- This is the infamous "Chicken Out Ridge" on the way to the summit of Mt. Borah, Idaho. This was mine and my friends first time, so we took our time finding the route we liked best. The elevation is around 11,500 ft at the start of the video, and after a summer with less hikes than I'd like I was definitely feeling the thin air. Sorry for the shaky camera, I was more focused on the task at hand than I was at filming. This was filmed with a Yi 4k on a head strap.
Summited for the first time last week! A number of groups turned around at Chickenout. We waiting for a group that had prior experience and followed them. Go slow, take your time. The North exposure is a vertical cliff: instant death. Keep to the South side. Find good foot and hand holds and make to the right. Rock cairns marked a good path. After getting off the "yellow" section, then it was either swing to left and lose about 100 feet of altitude, or keep to ridge line and scramble over the rocks leading to the snow bridge. We tried both routes, for the climb and descent. hard to say which was easier in the long run. There was no snow at the snow bridge (drought year), so you have to drop off the last section about 6 or 7 feet. Be careful, go slow. You'll make it.
Chicken-out Ridge looks a lot longer than I was figuring it to be. I'm going out there next week and I cannot wait.
Distance wise it's not very long. It definitely takes a bit of time for the amount of ground you're actually covering though. Have fun!
Is there a place I can get a, "Chicken Out Ridge" T-shirt so I can proudly wear it? 🐔🐔🐔🐔
No way I would climb that. Even though I climb every weekend...
Here on CZcams.
I've climbed Adams, Helens and countless peaks through the Selkirk range. I'm finding 50/50 feed back on Borah. Some saying it's too intense, others saying they take their 12 yr olds on it. In your opinion, did you feel safe scrambling with out being roped in?
You're absolutely exposed several times to the point that - if you fall you're facing critical injury or death. That said, there's plenty of hand and foot holds. None of the scramble is loose to speak of. Anyone with even a little bit of scrambling experience could do it no problem from a technicality standpoint. So it's more of a, "how comfortable am I or will they be with that kind of exposure?" It's almost all class 3 with a tiny bit of class 4 at the very end.
Awesome, thank you! Clearest response I've received so far
How is it coming down?
No worse than going up. If anything, it's easier because it's downhill.
Do you have to go down the way you came up? Rock climbing down is sketchy.
there is a trail around the snow bridge and crux but there is no way around the most sketchy portion of chicken. The best bet is to go on a weekend when its busy and follow someone who has hiked that section before and just follow his hand/foot placements.
I didn't finish this mountain. My hiking buddy punked out.
sounds like u did too
Do you have one of descending on it
I don't. It wasn't any more difficult in any way than ascending though.
Good lord folks. It's an easy class 3 scramble, with solid rocks, and you don't have to worry much about route finding either. Don't let this video scare you. I think the reason why some turn around at this point is because of the long hike to get there. Being tired makes ppl less brave.
What time of the year was this? Looks like plenty of snow up there.
Neal Zumbro this was September I believe? It was basically the last day that year that it could be done without crampons and ice ax minimum. It snowed a lot in the higher elevations over the rest of that weekend and I don't think it melted off after that until the next season.
zZiglaf What do you think of the conditions will be like next month? I'm coming in June 19th and would like to summit.
Neal Zumbro We've had a very mild spring and there still a ton of snow at higher elevations. What happens between now and then is anyone's guess, we could have a big thaw that melts most of it. That said, even if we don't, chicken out ridge should be melted enough to go over it with no snow (or very little). I'd bring crampons and maybe an ax as well because you'll definitely be going through at least SOME snow. Worst case you won't need them best case you'll be glad you had them.
that was a bit exposed
It earns it's name