Idaho’s 12ers

The Idaho 12ers Speed Challenge

Colorado and California have highly publicized fourteener marathons, in which hikers try to break the record for the fastest time up all 14ers in those states. The current record in California is 4 days, 11 hours, 19 minutes. That's for 15 peaks! The Colorado record for 54 peaks is right around 9 days.

For those hikers and climbers that don't want to climb the nine Idaho peaks at a leisurely pace, we have our own speed challenge. While other states have much more famous challenges, the craze of speed records has been slowly working its way to Idaho. In 2002 a friend of mine started scouting in the Lost Rivers for a possible traverse between Leatherman and Breitenbach. In 2003 things heated up and attempts to break the old 8 day record started that summer. By 2018 the record was under a day!

For those seeking to break the Idaho speed record, the following rules apply:

1. The clock starts when you leave from the first trailhead and ends when you return back to the last trailhead. So if you do Diamond Peak first, the clock starts there and continues as you climb that peak, drive to the Lost Rivers, go through them, drive to Hyndman, and ends when you touch your car at the Hyndman trailhead after having climbed that peak.



2. No motorized means of travel can occur once you leave the given trailhead for each peak. For instance, you cannot drive a motorcycle into Hyndman Basin, then bag the peak. You can't have a helicopter fly you to the top of each peak. You get the idea...



3. Traverses ARE allowed. For example, you can climb from Leatherman to Donaldson on the ridgeline if you so desire (and have the ability to).



4. No porter rule! You must carry your own pack. Someone can accompany you on the climb, but they can't lug your stuff around for you.



5. Drivers. It is acceptable for someone to drive you between peaks, cook you dinner, etc...

Current Idaho 12er Speed Records (Click on the name to read about the trip)

Time	Person	Residence	Date Completed	Notes
20 hours, 23 minutes	Cody Lind	Challis	7/14/2018	Current Fastest Time
1 day, 4 hours, 18 min.	Luke Nelson and Jared Campbell	Pocatello/Salt Lake City	8/17/2014
1 day, 13 hours, 44 min.	Cody Lind, Brittany Peterson, Nate Bender	Challis/Boise/Missoula, MT	8/21/2016	Fastest time for a female
1 day, 14 hours, 50 min.	Dave Bingham and Rob Landis	Hailey	7/25/2005	This was the fastest time for 9 years!
2 days, 14 hours, 48 min.	Dillon Mo Haws	Boise	9/2009
3 days, 6 hours	Kelly Lance	Pocatello	09/04/2017	Kelly ran between the peaks. That's right, no motorized transportation!
3 days, 6 hours, 12 min.	Dalton Johnson, Jordan Gardner, Ty Hancock	Rigby and Menan	08/03/2017	All were age 17 at the time of compeletion.
3 days, 7 hours, 37 min.	Sophia Mazzoni	Hailey	08/14/2017	Sophia was 16 years old at the time.
3 days, 11 hours, 16 min.	Nic Stover	Boise	9/1/2003
5 days, 7 hours, 38 min.	Matt Darrington	Shelley	8/24/2003
6 days, 6 hours, 6 min.	Tess Hollister	Hailey	July 2015
6 days, 13 hours	Ryan Harrigle	Akron	July 2026
8 days	Buck and Ron Horton	Idaho Falls and Moscow (at that time)	9/3/1995

Idaho’s Nine 12,000-Foot Peaks

Ranked by elevation, with the basic route information and statistics for each summit.

• Borah Peak – 12,662'
• Leatherman Peak – 12,228'
• Mount Church – 12,200+'
• Diamond Peak – 12,197'
• Mount Breitenbach – 12,140'
• Lost River Mountain – 12,078'
• Mount Idaho – 12,065'
• Donaldson Peak – 12,023'
• Hyndman Peak – 12,009'

#1

Borah from the west.

Borah Peak

Borah Peak is the highest peak in Idaho. It is named after Idaho senator, William Borah. It is climbed quite often, as it is the state highpoint. Borah's most famous feature is "chicken-out ridge", which is a knife-edged at about 11,200 feet with 2,000 feet drop-offs on either side. Just after the ridge is a down climb and a snow-bridge crossing... added features that instill fear in some.

Main Route: Southwest Ridge

Elevation

12,662

County

Custer

Range

Lost River

Class

3

Roundtrip

7 miles

Gain

5,550 feet

First Ascent

T.M. Bannon - 1914

#2

Leatherman from the east.

Leatherman Peak

Leatherman Peak is a giant peak when viewed from west from ID 93. It is named after Henry Leatherman, who was a early-day hunter, trapper, teamster, and freight carrier in the Lost River Valley.

Main Route: North Gully/East Ridge from the West Fork of the Pahsimeroi River.

Elevation

12,228

County

Custer

Range

Lost River

Class

3

Roundtrip

8 miles

Gain

4,100 feet

First Ascent

T.M. Bannon - 1914

#3

Mount Church from Donaldson Peak.

Mount Church

Mount Church, which still has not been officially measured or named, is the third highest peak in Idaho. It is unofficially named after the late Frank Church, an US Senator from Idaho, who was monumental in the development of wilderness areas in Idaho during the 1970's. The peak is usually climbed in conjunction with Donaldson Peak (#8).

Main Route: South ridge from saddle between it and Donaldson Peak.

Elevation

12,200+

County

Custer

Range

Lost River

Class

3

Roundtrip

9 miles

Gain

5,200 feet

First Ascent

Unknown

#4

Diamond Peak

Diamond Peak is a monster peak found in the Lemhi range of Idaho. It is the highest Lemhi Range peak and highest in Butte County. Climbing it via the east ridge is short, but very steep in places. I rate it a hard class 3.

Main Route: East Ridge

Elevation

12,197

County

Butte

Range

Lemhi

Class

3

Roundtrip

5 miles

Gain

4,200 feet

First Ascent

T.M. Bannon - 1912

#5

Mount Breitenbach

Mount Breitenbach is a beautiful peak, named after Jake Breitenbach, an Idahoan who died on Mount Everest during the 1963 American expedition. Some views of the peak make it look like it belongs in the Himalaya.

Main Route: Up the Pete Creek drainage to the south ridge.

Elevation

12,140

County

Custer

Range

Lost River

Class

3

Roundtrip

7 miles

Gain

4,500 feet

First Ascent

Unknown

#6

Lost River's from the west.

Lost River Mountain

Lost River Mountain is probably the least known of the 9 12,000 footers. It is located south of Mount Breitenbach.

Main Route: Southwest "super" gully, then follow the south ridge. This gully is nasty, consider a spring/early summer snow climb.

Elevation

12,078

County

Custer

Range

Lost River

Class

3

Roundtrip

6 miles

Gain

4,500 feet

First Ascent

Unknown

#7

Photo courtesy of Dave Pahlas.

Mount Idaho

Mount Idaho provides the gorgeous backdrop for Merriam Lake. Getting to Merriam Lake is easy... getting to the trailhead is a long and dusty task.

Main Route: West ridge/face. Hike up Elkhorn Creek to a saddle at the base of the west ridge.

Elevation

12,065

County

Custer

Range

Lost River

Class

3

Roundtrip

8 miles

Gain

5,000 feet

First Ascent

Unknown

#8

Donaldson Peak

Donaldson Peak is named after Idaho Supreme Court Justice Charles Donaldson. It is most often climbed from the saddle between it and Mount Church via its north ridge. Do this in conjunction with an ascent of Church.

Main Route: North ridge from saddle between it and Mount Church.

Elevation

12,023

County

Custer

Range

Lost River

Class

3

Roundtrip

.5 miles (if climbed in conjunction with Mount Church)

Gain

300 feet (if climbed in conjunction with Mount Church)

First Ascent

Unknown

#9

Hyndman from Big Basin Peak.

Hyndman Peak

Hyndman Peak is a very popular destination, as it is close to the resort area of Sun Valley. The route is also the easiest of all 9 peaks. Excellent views and terrain on this climb! Named after Major William Hyndman, a Civil War veteran and early prominent pioneer/mine operator in the region.

Main Route: East ridge from saddle between Hyndman Peak and Old Hyndman Peak.

Elevation

12,009

County

Blaine

Range

Pioneer

Class

2

Roundtrip

12 miles

Gain

5,009 feet

First Ascent

W.T. Griswold and E.T. Perkins - 1889