I was still in the Hailey area. After doing Morgan Ridge the day before and having worked nearly a full day, I was looking for something a bit easier to do on this day. I chose to climb West Carbonate Mountain, which is the 7130 foot peak that sits, you guessed it, west of Carbonate Mountain. Both peaks are located just west of the Big Wood River and the town of Hailey. In fact, Carbonate Mountain towers over the center of Hailey.

To get to West Carbonate, I chose to climb Carbonate Mountain, then follow the Carbonate ridge north, then hook west and follow that ridge to the top of West Carbonate.

Carbonate is a popular mountain, with several well established trails starting from an official trailhead. One of the trails follows the ridge line and makes a steep b-line for the top of the mountain. While steep, this trail gets you to the top in a hurry. After 1400' of gain, I was sitting on top. After a snack, some photos, and rest I took off for West Carbonate.

The ridgeline heading north from Carbonate Mountain is very cool. It is narrow in spots, with big drop offs on the east side. All that and you have great views of the Boulder range in front of you the whole time. I hiked about a mile until the ridge coming in from West Carbonate met up with the Carbonate ridge. I now headed west.

I had been on mostly dirt, but there was some snow here and there. The ridge I was on heading to West Carbonate was snow free until the final 200 feet, which had wind packed snow on it. The top of West Carbonate had a cairn and a large metal post. It also had very nice views into the southern Smoky mountains!

My "easy day" was not turning out so easy. I'd already gained about 2200' and I had to gain about 500 more to get out the way I came. I viewed some trails that went down Vorberg Gulch, which sits between the two peaks. However, those trails appeared to require at least a 400 foot climb to get back over to the Carbonate trailhead.

Playing it safe, I retraced my steps, heading back up and over Carbonate. After nearly 4 hours of hiking and a second day of 2500' plus gain, it was off to Hailey to find some grub!

From ID 75, turn west onto Bullion Street (in downtown Hailey). Follow Bullion Street over the Big Wood River. Just after the river, the parking area and trailhead are on your right. Total distance from the highway is 1/2 a mile.

For just Carbonate Mountain, pass through the gates and follow the steep trail along the ridge to the top (the trail mellows out for the last few hundred feet).

To continue to West Carbonate, after climbing Carbonate, continue north on the ridge following a nice trail for about a mile. You will see West Carbonate to your west the entire time. When you reach the point where West Carbonates ridge meets up with the ridge you are on, turn west and head to the top.