Paymaster Peak - 10292'
Stats:
Date: 10/19/2008
Distance: 7.4 miles
Elevation gain: 3100' (cumulative)
Class (difficulty): 3
Time: 6 hours
Range: Pioneer
Partner(s): John, Zach, Art, Mariel, Eric
Report:
Fall weather had been great, so I contacted some friends and made arrangements to ascend a peak near Sun Valley. Fall nights can be chilly and driving to Sun Valley and back in a day is not ideal, so I got us a condo through work, which worked out really nice. At the condo we discussed peak options and decided to climb Peak 10292 (Paymaster Peak). I had a history with Paymaster Peak this year… me and a friend from work attempted it in June, but thought there may be avalanche conditions near the top and backed off. In the June attempt, I thought it might be a possible first ascent. Just this week, I learned it would not have been a first ascent as Rick Baugher climbed it in 2006. Then on top of the peak, I learned that Eric had been on top of the peak in the early 2000’s.
So fresh off a night in a warm bed, we headed out in the morning. John convinced us to stop for coffee and breakfast. Here is where I made a mistake. I am not normally a coffee drinker, but I ordered some kind of mocha or espresso or something like that (more on that later). We found the trailhead and headed up the trail up Paymaster Gulch.
The trail up Paymaster Gulch had great tread, but was somewhat steep in spots. After 30 or 40 minutes of hiking, the coffee mistake kicked in. I was shaky, sick to my stomach, etc… Luckily I could move, just not as fast as I would have liked to. We eventually reached a meadow just south of the peak. Here we left the now faded trail and ascended a ridge between 2 basins. A couple of hundred feet up the ridge, we found a large mine dig. Art, Zach, and I continued on this ridge to the saddle just east of 10292. Eric, Mariel, and John dropped into the basin and met us at the saddle. From the saddle, we turned west and ascended the peak. The final 500 feet are steep and give lots of options… you can climb on decent rock for a class 3 ascent or stick to talus and less steep class 2 terrain. Everyone kind of went their own way.
The summit of Paymaster Peak has great views. To the south is Grays Peak. To the east is an impressive view of Jaqueline Peak. Below our feet to the northeast was Big Basin with Cobb, Old Hyndman, and Hyndman peaks rising behind it. The Boulders could clearly be seen to the north.
The day had been perfect weather-wise to this point, but as we descended, the clouds formed a bit and the wind blew. This actually was nice for me as it kept me cool and dry on the hike out. The day turned out great. We even made it home in time for dinner.
Hiking instructions:
We followed the trail up Paymaster Gulch. Around 8900’ the trail begins to fade in a narrow meadow. At this point, we turned north toward the peak. You can either ascend via a basin or a ridge just east of the peak. Either way, make your way to the saddle just east of the peak.
Getting there:
Turn east onto the East Fork Wood River Road from Highway 75. The turnoff is about 5.5 miles south of the town of Ketchum. You will reach the small village of Triumph at 5.8 miles, just keep heading east on the road. Shortly after Triumph the road becomes dirt. Continue east on the road when you see the turn-off for the Hyndman Creek trailhead at 7.2 miles. Eventually you will pass Sawmill and Federal Gulch campgrounds. After the campgrounds the road becomes rougher, and a high clearance vehicle is probably recommended. A few miles after the Federal Gulch campground, around 7200’, look for the opening to Paymaster Gulch on your left. Parking is on the right-hand side of the road.
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