The Idaho 12er Home Page


Introduction

There are nine 12ers in Idaho. The peaks are spread out between 3 mountain ranges, with the Lemhi and Pioneer range housing one each and the Lost River range hosting the other 7. With the exception of Hyndman Peak, all of Idaho's 12,000 foot peaks are challenging, class 3 routes. While not as technical, Hyndman still presents a roundtrip of 12 miles with a 5,000 foot elevation gain. Because of the ruggedness of the ranges these peaks are found in, finishing all 9 peaks is a tremendous challenge.

There is information on each peak below and also the names of all known completers of the "12ers". If you want your name added, please shoot me an email.

The Speed Challenge

Colorado and California have highly publicized fourteener marathons, in which hikers try to break the record for the fastest time up all 14ers in those states. The current record in California is 4 days, 11 hours, 19 minutes. That's for 15 peaks! The Colorado record for 54 peaks is right around 9 days.

For those hikers and climbers that don't want to climb the nine Idaho peaks at a leisurely pace, we have our own speed challenge. While other states have much more famous challenges, the craze of speed records has been slowly working its way to Idaho. In 2002 a friend of mine started scouting in the Lost Rivers for a possible traverse between Leatherman and Breitenbach. In 2003 things heated up and attempts to break the old 8 day record started that summer. By 2018 the record was under a day!

For those seeking to break the Idaho speed record, the following rules apply:
  1. The clock starts when you leave from the first trailhead and ends when you return back to the last trailhead. So if you do Diamond Peak first, the clock starts there and continues as you climb that peak, drive to the Lost Rivers, go through them, drive to Hyndman, and ends when you touch your car at the Hyndman trailhead after having climbed that peak.


  2. No motorized means of travel can occur once you leave the given trailhead for each peak. For instance, you cannot drive a motorcycle into Hyndman Basin, then bag the peak. You can't have a helicopter fly you to the top of each peak. You get the idea...


  3. Traverses ARE allowed. For example, you can climb from Leatherman to Donaldson on the ridgeline if you so desire (and have the ability to).


  4. No porter rule! You must carry your own pack. Someone can accompany you on the climb, but they can't lug your stuff around for you.


  5. Drivers. It is acceptable for someone to drive you between peaks, cook you dinner, etc...

Current Idaho 12er Speed Records (Click on the name to read about the trip)
Time
Person
Residence
Date Completed
Notes
20 hours, 23 minutes Cody Lind Challis 7/14/2018 Current Fastest Time
1 day, 4 hours, 18 min. Luke Nelson and Jared Campbell Pocatello/Salt Lake City 8/17/2014  
1 day, 13 hours, 44 min. Cody Lind, Brittany Peterson, Nate Bender Challis/Boise/Missoula, MT 8/21/2016 Fastest time for a female
1 day, 14 hours, 50 min. Dave Bingham and Rob Landis Hailey 7/25/2005 This was the fastest time for 9 years!
2 days, 14 hours, 48 min. Dillon Mo Haws Boise 9/2009  
3 days, 6 hours Kelly Lance Pocatello 09/04/2017 Kelly ran between the peaks. That's right, no motorized transportation!
3 days, 6 hours, 12 min. Dalton Johnson, Jordan Gardner, Ty Hancock Rigby and Menan 08/03/2017 All were age 17 at the time of compeletion.
3 days, 7 hours, 37 min. Sophia Mazzoni Hailey 08/14/2017 Sophia was 16 years old at the time.
3 days, 11 hours, 16 min. Nic Stover Boise 9/1/2003  
5 days, 7 hours, 38 min.
Matt Darrington Shelley 8/24/2003  
6 days, 6 hours, 6 min.
Tess Hollister Hailey July 2015  
8 days Buck and Ron Horton Idaho Falls and Moscow (at that time) 9/3/1995  


Idaho 12er Completers | Current # of Finishers - 303
Mike Howard
Idaho Falls
Terry Howard
Idaho Falls
Tom Lopez
Boise
Jerry Painter
Idaho Falls
Buck Horton
Idaho Falls
Ron Horton
Puyallup, Wa
Rick Baugher
Idaho Falls
John Platt
Boise
Chuck Ferguson
Idaho Falls
Dana Hanson
Boise
Brad Chilton
Pocatello
Marty T. Cooke
Pocatello
Dan Robbins
Boise
Jim Just
Meridian
Nic Stover
Boise
Matt Darrington
Shelley
Norman Wright
Filer
Allen Ploss
Jerome
Rob Reterson
Nampa
Bob Marcinko
Blackfoot
Margo Lasky
Pocatello
Mike Allen
Boise
Dan Weeks
Pocatello
Grayson Russell
Idaho Falls
Patty Russell
Idaho Falls
Richard Wallace
American Falls
Douglas Jones
Rupert
Stan Siewert
Burley
Earl McAlister
American Falls
Larry McAlister
American Falls
Rob Landis
Hailey
Eric Larsen
Idaho Falls
Dave Bingham
Hailey
Steven (JB) Harris
Ririe
Pat McGrane
Boise
Johnny Roache
Mountain Home
George Reinier
Caldwell
Mike Sharpes
Boise
Gary Chadwick
Boise
Shane Jenné
Boise
Aaron Christensen
Idaho Falls
Curt Davis
Jerome
Michael Summers
Pocatello
Craig Peck
Aberdeen
Charles Trost
Pocatello
Scott Trost
Lewiston
Tammy Ryan Perkins
Boise
Greg Perkins
Boise
Kent Hobbs
Pocatello
Nancy Gaenzle
Twin Falls
Brad Eidam
Boise
David Maguire
Pocatello
Kregg Aytes
Pocatello
Ben Anderson
Chubbock
Sean Duffy
Boise
Rick Surber
Boise
Ted Brasket
Prescott, AZ
Dave Pahlas
Meridian
Zach Vickery
Boise
Michael Pelton
Boise
Matt Durrant
Boise
Brenda Hughes
Kimberly
Dick Huberty
Twin Falls
Quint Pimentel
Pocatello
Steve Carpenter
Idaho Falls
Troy Schneyder
Idaho Falls
Dave Pacioretty
Pocatello
Mike Fox
Idaho Falls
George Lake
Idaho Falls
Jerry Downey
Pocatello
Jerry Manter
Boise
Ryan Cameron
Pocatello
Chris Williams
Pocatello
Jacob Robinson
Parma
Vince Lowe
Boise
Frank Gallant
Boise
Quin Mace
Idaho Falls
Doug LaMott
Boise
Irene Vogel
Boise
Jacob Westrick
Boise
Kevin Kunz
Ammon
Nate Hunsaker
Ammon
Rob Greenig
Ammon
Nate Bender
Hamilton, MT
Clinton Wilson
Idaho Falls
Erik Hallgren
Idaho Falls
Dillon Mo Haws
Boise
Daniel Paulson
Nampa
Deb Rose
Boise
Daniel Page
Idaho Falls
Mike Johnson
Firth
Nick Karl
Denver (CO)
Garrett Hale
Preston
Tony Hale
Preston
Hugh Mossman
Boise
Taylor Mossman-Fletcher
Boise
Jay Friedly
Mountain Home
Reese Jackson
Blackfoot
Kerry Kelley
Boise
Jared Hopkins
Boise
John Olson
Hailey
Steven Sheriff
Missoula
Roger McMurtrey
Idaho Falls
Luke Nelson
Pocatello
Jared Campbell
Salt Lake City
Corey Nielsen
Idaho Falls
Rex Campbell
Grace
Katherine Lee
Montpelier
Alicia Brill
Stanwood, WA
Grant Brill
Palo Alto, CA
Josh Unger
Boise
Mark Polatis
Thomas
Brian Poster
Ketchum
Chad Henke
Twin Falls
Tanner Henke
Twin Falls
Todd Moseley
Rexburg
Tracy Cureton
Rexburg
Tess Hollister
Hailey
Patrick Lang
Pocatello
Rodolfo Jodra
Boise
Alice Schenk
Rupert
Trace Bedke
Burley
Erin Bell
Twin Falls
James Squires
Mountain Home
Kay Johnson
Firth
Michael Darcy
Coeur d'Alene
Jon Botz
Fairfield
Steve Mandella
Pocatello
Larry Prescott
Rexburg
Brent Lulloff
Boise
Oleg Bougri
Boise
Cody Lind
Challis
Brittany Peterson
Boise
Julie Taylor
Twin Falls
Gary Taylor
Twin Falls
Randy Hickman
Blackfoot
Alan Southern
Blackfoot
Kelly Lance
Pocatello
Scrap McInski
Merdian
Rick Ruffridge
Pocatello
Brett Sergenian
Boise
Sophia Mazzoni
Hailey
Thomas Cox
Boise
Robert Fair
Boise
Guy Paul
Merdian
Jon Davey
Boise
Jason Tonn
Boise
Melanie Ahrens
Boise
Nate Kenney
Boise
Dalton Johnson
Rigby
Jordan Gardner
Rigby
Ty Hancock
Menan
Stacy Human
Kimberly
Clinton Barg
Boise
Haylee Stocking
Hailey
Grayson Truden
Boise
Bill Manny
Boise
Taylor Amato
Ketchum
Craig Clouatre
Livingston, MT
Jonathan Giles
Eagle
Justin Stevenson
Hailey
Nate Scales
Hailey
Ryan Byers
Pocatello
Ed Cameron
Bellevue
Kema Barrie
Declo
Jeff Knisley
Boise
Kam Knisley
Boise
Sasha Socolov
Moldova (Europe)
Brendon Melander
Cheyenne, WY
Alex Feldman
Boise
Steve Grantham
Boise
Sydney Human
Kimberly
Todd Slusser
Rupert
Amy Kelly
Ketchum
Scott Kelly
Ketchum
Matthew Henderson
Boise
April Watts
Boise
Michelle Sward Lance
Pocatello
Ray Hannah
Idaho Falls
James Petzke
Boise
David Lloyd
Ketchum
Rachel Wolfe
Ketchum
Thijs Lloyd
Ketchum
Cody Lloyd *
Ketchum
Michael Boge
Sandpoint
Nick Blatz
Ketchum
Sawyer Casey
Boise
Wes Collins **
Moore
Stephanie Helm
Challis
John R Cauhorn
Eden
Tate Morell
Hailey
Matt Morell
Hailey
Dan Noakes
McCall
Mark Jones
Boise
Tory Jones
Boise
Chris Delonas
Pocatello
Eddie Delonas
Pocatello
Ashley Delonas
Pocatello
Blake Bundy
Pocatello
Jeff Leibman
Twin Falls
Spring Bean
Eagle
Alan Bean
Eagle
Terri Rowe
Meridian
Alaina Robson
Idaho Falls
Larry Woodbury
Worley
Sara Ajeti
Boise
Kevin Watt
Boise
Paul Kreiner
Star
Rebecca Musser
Fruitland
Derek Hysell
Boise
Gayle Matsumuro
Boise
Kelly Luff
Kimberly
Walt Packer
Idaho Falls
Jet Johnstone
Idaho Falls
Henry Whitney
Kimberly
Lincoln Whitney
Kimberly
James Ryan Roberts
Idaho Falls
Lyman Dye
Idaho Falls
Wayne Boyer
Idaho Falls
Randy Spurgeon
New Plymouth
Todd Carlson
Boise
Jay Krajic
Boise
Terry Lee
Boise
Jason Floyd
Emmett
Otto Ian Lang
Salt Lake City
Kendra Maclean
Boise
Paul Hansen
Blackfoot
Kirk Nuttall
Idaho Falls
Michael Thieme
Idaho Falls
Eric Schulz
Boise
Geoff Nielson
Idaho Falls
Jason Lee Nipper
Rigby
Forest Dean
Missoula, MT
Gioni Pasquinelli
Eagle
Dan Hiatt
Hailey
Summer Virnig
Twin Falls
Tex Virnig
Twin Falls
Thomas Salaiz
Aberdeen
Christopher Jensen
Idaho Falls
John Cotner
Boise
Matt Schwehr
Boise
Trent Reynolds
Boise
Amanda Breen
Ketchum
David Patrie
Ketchum
Camden Patrie
Ketchum
Dan Gunnerson
Eagle
Daniel Bertram
Salmon
Hudson Bertram
Salmon
Tyler Wallace
Declo
Phillip Vincent
Boise
Alex Hon
Boise
Lina Mustafa
Boise
Emily Slike
Idaho Falls
Katie Terhune
Boise
Doug Packer
Moreland
Marilee Packer
Moreland
Troy D. Williams
Firth
Lee Collins
Boise
Zundel Molifua
Boise
Dan Cotner
Boise
Ken Burgess
Boise
Don Otis
Sandpoint
Landon Otis
Sandpoint
Jeff Beeman
Cocolalla
Cian Barg
Boise
Tucker Barg
Boise
Kevin Renner
Harrison
JD Leckenby
Buhl
Danielle Leckenby
Nampa
Dawn Moore
Orofino
Angie Martin
Rigby
Brittany Roper
Boise
Jeff Zingre
Idaho Falls
Ty Snarr
Rexburg
Aaron Ajeti
Boise
Maranda Cantrell
Boise
Annie Langston
Boise
Jill Edmundson
Sandpoint
Heidi Holland
Boise
Mary Fiedler
Sandpoint
Sedona Cannon
Salmon
Joel Cannon
Salmon
Paul Laggis
American Falls
Zoie Laggis
American Falls
Brent Howard
Idaho Falls
Tim Thieme
Idaho Falls
Matthew Undzius
Boise
Derek Percoski
Hailey
Justin Johnson
Pocatello
Bart Thomas
Chubbuck
Cory Gentry
Pocatello
Andrew Bodily
Idaho Falls
Colin Chambers
Donnelly
McKinsey Bruning
Pocatello
Jordan Bruning
Pocatello
Misty McClanahan
Pocatello
Tim McClanahan
Pocatello
Amanda Vereecken
Pocatello
Emily Victor
Pocatello
Petya Stoyanova Johnson
Nampa
Dylan Wooding
Boise
Jaime Lee
Twin Falls
Carl Passino
Idaho Falls
 
 
 
 
 
 

* At just 6 years old, Cody becomes the youngest 12er finisher!
** Has climbed all 9 in the winter and summer.

Information About Each Peak
Borah from the west.

#1 - Borah Peak

Details: Borah Peak is the highest peak in Idaho. It is named after Idaho senator, William Borah. It is climbed quite often, as it is the state highpoint. Borah's most famous feature is "chicken-out ridge", which is a knife-edged at about 11,200 feet with 2,000 feet drop-offs on either side. Just after the ridge is a down climb and a snow-bridge crossing... added features that instill fear in some.

Main Route: Southwest Ridge
Roundtrip mileage: 7 miles
Elevation gain: 5,550 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,662 Custer Lost River 3 T.M. Bannon - 1914


Leatherman from the east.

#2 - Leatherman Peak

Details: Leatherman Peak is a giant peak when viewed from west from ID 93. It is named after Henry Leatherman, who was a early-day hunter, trapper, teamster, and freight carrier in the Lost River Valley.

Main Route: North Gully/East Ridge from the West Fork of the Pahsimeroi River.
Roundtrip mileage: 8 miles
Elevation gain: 4,100 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,228 Custer Lost River 3 T.M. Bannon - 1914


Mount Church from Donaldson Peak.

#3 - Mount Church

Details: Mount Church, which still has not been officially measured or named, is the third highest peak in Idaho. It is unofficially named after the late Frank Church, an US Senator from Idaho, who was monumental in the development of wilderness areas in Idaho during the 1970's. The peak is usually climbed in conjunction with Donaldson Peak (#8).

Main Route: South ridge from saddle between it and Donaldson Peak.
Roundtrip mileage: 9 miles
Elevation gain: 5,200 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,200+ Custer Lost River 3 Unknown


#4 - Diamond Peak

Details: Diamond Peak is a monster peak found in the Lemhi range of Idaho. It is the highest Lemhi Range peak and highest in Butte County. Climbing it via the east ridge is short, but very steep in places. I rate it a hard class 3.

Main Route: East Ridge
Roundtrip mileage: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 4,200 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,197 Butte Lemhi 3 T.M. Bannon - 1912


#5 - Mount Breitenbach

Details: Mount Breitenbach is a beautiful peak, named after Jake Breitenbach, an Idahoan who died on Mount Everest during the 1963 American expedition. Some views of the peak make it look like it belongs in the Himalaya.

Main Route: Up the Pete Creek drainage to the south ridge.
Roundtrip mileage: 7 miles
Elevation gain: 4,500 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,140 Custer Lost River 3 Unknown


Lost River's from the west.

#6 - Lost River Mountain

Details: Lost River Mountain is probably the least known of the 9 12,000 footers. It is located south of Mount Breitenbach.

Main Route: Southwest "super" gully, then follow the south ridge. This gully is nasty, consider a spring/early summer snow climb.
Roundtrip mileage: 6 miles
Elevation gain: 4,500 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,078 Custer Lost River 3 Unknown


Photo courtesy of Dave Pahlas.

#7 - Mount Idaho

Details: Mount Idaho provides the gorgeous backdrop for Merriam Lake. Getting to Merriam Lake is easy... getting to the trailhead is a long and dusty task.

Main Route: West ridge/face. Hike up Elkhorn Creek to a saddle at the base of the west ridge.
Roundtrip mileage: 8 miles
Elevation gain: 5,000 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,065 Custer Lost River 3 Unknown



Donaldson Peak

#8 - Donaldson Peak

Details: Donaldson Peak is named after Idaho Supreme Court Justice Charles Donaldson. It is most often climbed from the saddle between it and Mount Church via its north ridge. Do this in conjunction with an ascent of Church.

Main Route: North ridge from saddle between it and Mount Church.
Roundtrip mileage: .5 miles (if climbed in conjunction with Mount Church)
Elevation gain: 300 feet (if climbed in conjunction with Mount Church)
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,023 Custer Lost River 3 Unknown


Hyndman from Big Basin Peak.

#9 - Hyndman Peak

Details: Hyndman Peak is a very popular destination, as it is close to the resort area of Sun Valley. The route is also the easiest of all 9 peaks. Excellent views and terrain on this climb! Named after Major William Hyndman, a Civil War veteran and early prominent pioneer/mine operator in the region.

Main Route: East ridge from saddle between Hyndman Peak and Old Hyndman Peak.
Roundtrip mileage: 12 miles
Elevation gain: 5,009 feet
Height
County
Range
Class
First Ascent
12,009 Blaine Pioneer 2 W.T. Griswold and E.T. Perkins - 1889