In trying to prepare for a big trip at the end of June, I've been wanting to get out more often. Since weekends have been tied up with activities, this has meant resorting to weekdays. So this week, I decided on 3 peaks in the Pioneer mountains on a gorgeous Wednesday.

The peaks I chose were Argosy Peak (10337), Err Peak (10744), and Pion Peak (10700). This is a very scenic area that I had visited before (Anatares and Pincer peaks last July).

Some people have trouble driving in the Muldoon area, but it is pretty straight forward. So after a 2.5 hour drive from Boise, I was at the ranch at the head of Muldoon Creek. I had looked on Google Earth and noticed a road about .3 miles north of the turnoff for the ranch. I could see it and it looked drivable. Just to double check, I looked at Tom's book to see his directions. To my horror, the book informed me that Argosy Creek was private property. I headed up there anyway. Sure enough it was all posted. However, the postings and red painted rocks were gone about 1/3 of a mile from the head of Argosy Creek. So I parked and decided to cross the sagebrush flat and enter Argosy Canyon further up, hoping there were no private property signs.

After 15 minutes of walking, I dropped into Argosy Canyon and onto an old road (now a faint trail). No private property signs or red markings were seen, so I headed up.

My goal was to get to about 7800' in the drainage and then gain the saddle between Point 8978 and Argosy Peak. I was in shock as I found a trail on this slope. I thought it was a game trail, until I found cut stumps and several blazes higher up. This unexpected surprise got me to the saddle in comfort. After a short hike north from the saddle, I was at the base of Argosy Peak.

I basically headed up the path of least resistance. Just below one false summit, I had to climb up and over a steep, but short snow slope. The snow was perfect for kicking steps and the steepness didn't matter. Soon after I was on the summit.

Now I am no stranger to lady bugs on top of a peak, but HOLY smokes there were a ton on Argosy Peak (see the photos, which still don't do it justice)! There had to be over a million of them up there. The ladybugs were spectacular, as were the views on this clear day. I checked in with the wife and then turned my attention to Err Peak. The ridge leading to Argosy to the saddle between Argosy and Err looked a little tricky, with a narrow snow bridge in the saddle.

As I descended, the ridge wasn't too bad. Then I got to the snow saddle and decided crampons weren't necessary. Hanging just below the saddle put me on good solid snow and soon I was across the saddle and looking up the steep, open slopes up to Err Peak. 700 feet of gain later, I was atop of my second peak of the day. Pretty cool seeing Borah, Bell, Diamond and hundreds of other peaks from this single spot!

The final peak of the day was Pion Peak. This required a 450 foot drop, then a 400 foot gain to the top. I was feeling good and this went quick. I checked in with the wife one last time (via cellphone) and then dropped into the Argosy Creek drainage.

The drainage was gorgeous, with snow, melt water fed creeks, and grass emerging from winter. I made quick time descending the basin and back to the old trail (which I found much higher on the way down). After a miserable crossing back over the sagebrush flat and Muldoon Creek, I was back at my car after a perfect day and 3 very scenic and fun peaks behind me!

Make your way to the site "Muldoon" on the Muldoon, ID topo map (you can Mapquest this location and get driving directions to it). Drive .3 miles further and turn right onto the road leading east. Follow this road for 1 mile and it meets up with the private road coming in from the ranch. After another 1.1 miles, you reach Argosy Creek. I drove another .3 miles and parked on a turnout.

From the turnout, cross Muldoon Creek. Climb up onto the sagebrush flat dividing Muldoon and Argosy Creeks. Head due east across the flat and drop into Argosy Creek. From the drainage, there are countless options... take on the south ridge like I did, follow one of the gully's like Splattski did, take the west ridge, etc...