Trip Report
I wasn't going to push for a second day of hiking after such a fun day with the family yesterday. However, as we sat around in the morning and plans were made, people were going shooting, fishing, on a drive, but nobody had plans for me. So instead of sitting around the camp bored, I decided to climb Peak 10166 (Mount Kelmer) and Peak 10041 in the southern White Cloud range. I picked the peaks because they were close to camp and in an area I hadn't been in. I had no knowledge about the peaks, except that Tom said in Idaho: A Climbing Guide that a traverse of the 10041 from Mount Kelmer was possible. So I studied the maps and found an approach from the east that would work.
I followed Pole Creek Road 7.25 miles from the highway, which placed me between two small creeks that drained the cirque on the east side of Mount Kelmer. I parked and followed steep, wooded slopes hoping to get into the basin above. I knew that staying between the 2 drainages shown on the map would guide me into the basin. After 650 feet of climbing, the terrain leveled and opened up. The basin was incredible. It was green and Mount Kelmer's rock walls provided a gorgeous backdrop. There were even a few lakes not shown on the topo.
My goal now was the saddle between Mount Kelmer and Peak 10041. At around 8700', hard snow filled the bottom of the cirque. I stayed on the snow until it ran out at 9300'. The snow was perfect, hard enough to support my weight, but with a few inches of give to kick steps into. Despite no ice axe or crampons, I was comfortable on what was probably 35 degree snow (at least for the last 300 feet).
The 300 feet from the end of the snow to the saddle was annoying, as it was steep and loose. Once at the saddle, the terrain was great. It was a simple ridge walk to the base of Mount Kelmer. The last 200 feet on Kelmer is on steep, loose scree. I ascended it easily, but getting down it was tricky.
On top of Kelmer, I found a nicely constructed flag. This is where I got the name Mount Kelmer. The day was sunny without a hint of haze and the surrounding peaks looked incredible. It was one of the best views I have had from a peak.
My work was not yet done, so I descended back to the saddle between Kelmer and Peak 10041 and then started heading up 10041. This was a ridge walk. The look back at Kelmer Peak was impressive from the summit of 10041. Only a small rock cairn marked the summit of Peak 10041.
I chose to descend the southeast ridge of 10041 to get down to the basin. Once I got to 9000', I left the ridge and got back on the snow in the bottom of the basin. The ridge was a steep descent, but easily doable. It would actually make for a good ascent route.
I highly recommend these peaks. It certainly is not a great challenge from a technical or physical aspect, but the basin is gorgeous and is probably only seen by a few people each year. The views of the surrounding peaks from the summits are impressive, especially Castle Peak!
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