Soldier Mountains Traverse

Date: August 17, 2019.

Objectives: "North Smoky Dome", Smoky Dome, Peak 9666 aka "3rd Peak".

Stats: 13.8 miles with 4,800 feet of ascent.

Links: Strava.  Idaho: A Climbing Guide.  Summit Post.

A tough day for such short mileage but was actually easier/shorter than expected.  While I did take this on as a run, the terrain was very un-run-able other than the trail used for the approach and escape.  This route was mostly off trail though some thick forest with downfall and underbrush, as well as talus up to class 3 and a good chunk of bushwhacking.  If you're looking for an "easy" three peak day, this is not it.

Eagle Cap

Objective: Eagle Cap 9,572'.

Date: August 5-7, 2019.

Partners: Deez, dozens of other people and thousands of mosquitoes.

Links: Strava.  Summit Post.  Terminal Gravity Brewing in Enterprise, Oregon.


You climb a bunch of mountains and nobody really cares, but you make one wrong turn and you'll never live it down.  We still got the peak and still had a great trip despite my ineptitude adding about 4 miles and 1,000 feet of vert.

The original plan was an out-and-back route that had us staying at Mirror Lake for two nights and summiting Eagle Cap on day 2.  The improvised plan called for a loop with one night at Minam Lake and one night at Mirror Lake.  Minam Lake was awesome but busy and the bugs weren't bad.  Mirror Lake was C-R-A-Z-Y busy, people everywhere and the bugs were awful (kind of expected).  Camp sites were not great and offered little shade.  Terminal Gravity Brewing was awesome for post hike nourishment .