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Never Stop Climbing Mountains

8/10/2013

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Hike to summit of Alpine Peak, 9,861 feet in Sawtooth Wilderness, with close-up views of Mount Regan and beautiful Sawtooth Lake.
This explorumentary was written in 2013
For account of our latest summit climb of Alpine Peak August 2019, check out Alpine Peak, 9,861' - Sawtooth Wilderness - Never Stop Climbing Mountains
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Mt. Regan and Sawtooth Lake, Sawtooth Mountain Wilderness
In one of his commentaries from the TV show 60 Minutes, Andy Rooney advised listeners to “never stop climbing mountains”.  In this segment, Rooney describes how he climbed Pilot Knob Mountain behind his cottage on Lake George in New York 4 or 5 times each summer during his childhood.  One time, he and his friends got bored with the trails that led to the top, so they decided to make their own trail and head straight up the front of the mountain.  The problem with this strategy, he said, was that they were never really sure which way was up because they had to hike up and down ridges and valleys, instead of a steady trail climb.
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Alpine Peak, Elevation 9,861 feet, as viewed from Iron Creek Trail #640
Yesterday, Fred and I took Rooney’s advice for the fifth time this summer, and set out to climb Alpine Peak, a relatively “easy” hike up one of the major Sawtooth Mountain peaks.  At an elevation of 9,861 feet, so much can be seen at the top: the large blue gorgeous Sawtooth Lake, Stanley Basin, and a great close-up view of the vertical cliffs of Mt. Regan.  The approach to the foot of Alpine Peak is a 1,700 foot elevation gain, 5-mile hike to Sawtooth Lake.  After hiking along the lake, you leave the trail and head straight up the granite talus slopes to the top, a gain of 1,400 feet in less than a mile.  The route we took up was very steep, requiring us to grab stable rocks or trees to hoist ourselves and to not fall over backwards.  
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Trail # 478 on east side of Sawtooth Lake with impressive view of Mount Regan
Alpine Peak is located ~ 1 mile northeast of Mount Regan

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Sawtooth Lake
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Matrix-supported conglomerate
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Alpine Peak summit overlooking Stanley Basin
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Register at top of Alpine Peak
Stanley Basin in background

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Fred and Sue on top of Alpine Peak, Sawtooth Mountains, 9,861 feet
The Sawtooth Mountains were carved by glaciers during Pleistocene time, about 14,000 years ago, scraping striations in rock and carrying away huge amounts of glacial debris that formed many moraines (an accumulation of various -sized rocks that form hills) in the area.

There is no easy way down these mountains, only routes that look easier than others.  We decided to hike along the ridge and angle our way down a talus slope.  It was less steep than our ascent, but still tedious as we did some boulder-hopping and talus-sliding.  This is an exercise in patience, not to mention helping to improve our balance!
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Lucky we are to be able to climb these peaks.  A quote I always remember when I am hiking a mountain is an inscription carved in Greek, found on a summit rock in the Alps by a Swiss adventurer in 1558 that says,
"The love of mountains is best."
After a hot hike back to the truck, a chocolate ice cream sandwich, cold beer, and dinner, we slept soundly in our trailer at the campground.
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    About this blog

    Exploration documentaries          –  "explorumentaries"  list trip stats and highlights of each hike or bike ride, often with some interesting history or geology.  Years ago, I wrote these for friends and family to let them know what my husband, Fred and I were up to on weekends, and also to showcase the incredible land of the west.  

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    Sue Birnbaum

    A  trip to Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Monument 38 years ago sparked my passion for hiking, exploring, and learning about desert ecosystems.  For the past 25 years, my husband Fred and I have explored the American West together; we love this land and I hope to inspire you to get out and explore through my photographs and trip descriptions.
    In 1992, Ray Wilson and I conceived the first Cactus to Clouds hike which climbs over 10,000 feet in one day to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto near Palm Springs, California.
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© 2017 - 2023 by Sue Birnbaum.  Photos on this website are the sole property of Sue Birnbaum unless otherwise indicated.  Please receive permission before publishing my trip reports and photos.
I try my best to be accurate with my hike descriptions; please research your adventures, always bring a map and compass and know how to read them, be prepared!  All of these hikes can be dangerous; hike at your own risk.  ALWAYS carry the Ten Essentials with you on hikes. 
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Thank-you for stopping by!


EXPLORUMENTARY.com
  • Home
    • Cactus to Clouds Hike
    • More Quotes
    • Ann Zwinger Quotes
    • Mary Oliver Poems
  • Hikes by State
    • Idaho
    • Southern Utah
    • Arizona
    • California Desert
    • Nevada
    • Wyoming
  • BLOGS
    • Adventure Blog
    • Women and the Land
  • GALLERY
    • DESERT PLANTS >
      • Beavertail cactus
      • Brittlebush
      • Christmas Cactus
      • Arizona Barrel Cactus
      • Parry's penstemon
      • Agave
      • Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog
      • Claret Cup Hedgehog
      • Desert Agave
      • Palmer's Penstemon
      • Silver Cholla
      • Cristate Saguaro
      • Indian Paintbrush
      • Ocotillo
      • Santa Rita Prickly Pear
      • Spiny Cliffbrake
      • California Barrel Cactus
      • Engelmann Prickly Pear
      • Velvet Mesquite
      • Joshua Tree
      • Buckhorn Cholla
      • Hedgehog Cactus
      • Fishhook cactus
      • Thompson's Woolly Locoweed
    • NATURE
    • BOISE
    • EARTH + SKY
    • URBAN
    • WATER
    • PATRIOT
    • ORCHIDS
  • Fit After 50
    • Brian Holgate
    • Fred Birnbaum
    • Dave Brasuell
    • Bus' Little Black Book
    • Mike Carlson
    • Ray Wilson
    • Bryan Krouse
    • Vickie Kearney
    • Maria Keezer
    • DOUG TRAUBEL
    • Boise Cross Fit Masters Ladies
    • Tim Clemens
    • Marcia Bondy
    • Becky Borczon Blake >
      • Becky B Downtown
    • Jennifer Cera and Sue Birnbaum
    • Dave Brasuell
    • Vance Powell
  • About
    • CONTACT