Johnstone Peak is a great early season hike in the Pioneer Mountains. It's prominence yields big views that will not disappoint.
Objective: Johnstone Peak 9,949ft.
Partners: N/A.
Stats: Approx 9 mile round trip and 3,200ft gain to summit elevation 9,949.
Route: South Ridge, class 2.
Links: Johnstone Peak on Summitpost.org.
Gear notes: Snowshoes.
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| Johnstone from the road. |
Johonstone Peak in the Pioneer Mountains makes for a great snowshoe trip and could be accessible when many other peaks are not. I left Boise at 04:30 and was able to drive to within about a half mile of where I intended to park on Hyndman Creek Road and started up the hillside to the south ridge.
The route is straight forward but not without steep slopes.
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| Johnstone Peak. |
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| Johnstone Peak. |
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| Cobb Peak. |
The view of Cobb Peak was a real treat. It immediately jumped up to near the top of my list.
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| South Ridge. |
The route is mostly visible to the summit, which is also neat.
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| Pioneer Trio. |
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| False summit. |
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| Wet slide. |
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| Hyndman, Old Hyndman and Cobb. |
About half way to the top, the Pioneer Trio comes into view.
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| More false summits. |
There are a few false summits on the ridge.
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| Highpoint. |
The snow had not froze down low, so post-holes were tiresome. Higher up, the snow was firm and in some places bullet proof. The final slope to the summit came into view and went without much trouble.
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| DBW and DBE. |
Clouds rolled in and out, but didn't produce any precipitation.
The clouds broke to the north long enough to make out Devil's Bedstead West and DBE.
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| Summit. |
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| Cornice failure. |
After just enough time to get some pictures and eat, I got focused on the descent.
There was plenty of evidence to remind me that nature was in control. I decided to bypass the rest of the cornices on the way down.
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| Cobb. |
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| On descent. |
Skirting around most of my tracks from the way up added a little more distance, but I was okay with that.
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| Grays Peak. |
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| Descent into Bear Gultch. |
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| Pio's from the road. |
Lower on the ridge the sun was out and the day was warm. Then I got to experience a real treat; post-holing up to my thighs with snowshoes on. I dropped off the ridge and into Bear Gulch and eventually I made it back to the car. I was a little soggy from the deep wet snow and running water in the creek, but I was in one piece for the drive home with sore legs and a big smile.
