Date: October 6, 2017.
Objective: Observation Peak.
Stats: Strava track. 13 miles with 3.700 feet of gain round trip.
Partners: N/A.
Gear notes: Standard kit for mountain running.
Links: Idaho: A Climbing Guide. Summitpost.
Mountain running in October? Count me in! Iffy conditions? Suck it up!
I wanted to stick my nose into the Sawtooth's to see if I could get up Observation Peak. I figured it made more sense to plan for a run and end up hiking, than it did to plan for a hike and try to run. There was a fair amount of downfall around the junction with the trail to Trail Creek Lakes and the trail to heading to Observation Peak was difficult to follow in places. I hit some kind of deep and funky snow and lost the trail up high. Had I been in hiking gear the summit would have still been a bit tough, but do-able. Snow shoes might have helped with the last few hundred feet. I want to run this peak and maybe a couple more as part of a potential loop around Sawtooth Lake. Guess it will have to wait until next year!
Running advantages: Light kit and faster pace over long mileage. Disadvantages: No pants, boots, gaiters or poles to manage the snow up high.
Hiking advantages: Having all the extra stuff to deal with the snow. Better food. Disadvantages: Heaver kit and more difficult to move as fast as running.
GoPro footage
Stills
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| Looking down the valley of Trail Creek. |
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| Observation Peak from down low in the trail. |
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| A fair amount of early snow on the north facing aspects. |
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| Bogged down in 8 inches of sugary softness with no trail in sight. |
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| Trail near the junction to Observation Peak. |
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| Perfect running conditions in autumn down low. |
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