We don't need to get into how awful the spring weather has been or where this trip was supposed to be. The 2011 Idahosummits spring outing was on Peak 10941 in the Boulder mountains. I chose this peak because it was high and challenging, yet near the highway and mostly avalanche safe.

I offered up a condo in Hailey for everyone to stay at. I estimated 8-10 people could cram into it. We got 9! It was nice to hang out and get to know a few new faces (Steve and Nathan) and get to know some old faces better. Everyone showed up between 5:30 and 7pm on Friday evening. So all 9 of us headed for dinner at a Thai restaurant. Might I say this was a bit unusual for a outing... Thai and a condo! Beats the heck out of 20 degree tent camping and a cold PB&J.

In the morning we got going and arrived at the trailhead just after 8am. It took the group a bit to get going, but we finally did at 8:30. It was the motley crue for sure... we had snowshoers, telemarkers, AT skiers, and even Jacob in his boots.

We made it up the snow-covered road about a mile then headed up toward the west ridge of Peak 10941. The ridge was great, not too steep, good snow, open, etc... At around 9000' as the ridge opened up and the views improved, several people starting telling me what a great job choosing this peak... the excitement was building. The day that was a bit gray at the trailhead was now sunny and beautiful. I was hiking in just a t-shirt and thin long sleeve. The wind was spotty, but not a factor for the most part.

We took our first real break just above the treeline at 9800'. We had just 1000' to go, but it was on a more challenging ridge now. I left my snowshoes on, others elected for boots, others for crampons, and others left skis on.

I was comfortable with the snow until about 10850'. I decided to switch to crampons for a couple of steps I wasn't comfortable with (plus I knew I would want them on the way down). I waited for Margo here and she was nervous too, so Steve and I got her switched as well. We then finished the summit. Jacob and Dave and his son Alex were on the summit. Nathan had tagged the summit and was heading for Cerro Ciento at lightning pace. Shortly after we got on top, Dylan and John arrived, with skis on their back.

We lounged on top for quite a while. Jacob went over to tag Cerro Ciento, then the skiers (Steve, Dylan, and John) headed down to ski the bowl between 10941 and Cerro Ciento. Dave, Alex, Margo, and I headed down the ridge the way we had came. It was nice leaving the crampons on. While not steep and icy, they gave great traction. Margo and I left them on all of the way to the treeline.

We arrived at the trailhead 7 hours and 30 minutes after we started. The skiers had been there about 30 minutes (including Nathan, who had bagged 3 peaks). Jacob arrived just minutes after us, fresh from a summit of Cerro Ciento.

Everybody was all smiles at the trailhead. We all had a blast on this scenic mountain with great weather and good friends. Thanks to everyone for a great trip. I owe you a couple of beers John. Thanks for the salsa Dave! Looking forward to fall for the next outing.

Drive 20.5 miles north of Ketchum on Idaho 75. Park at the plowed out turnoff on the west side of the highway.

Start in Spring Creek. Gain the ridge at the clearing shown on the map (where the road hits 7360') and just follow the southwest/west ridge to the summit.