Salmon–Challis National Forest is located in east central sections of the U.S. state of Idaho . At 4,235,940 acres (6,618.66 sq mi, or 17,142.24 km) it is one of the largest national forests in the lower 48 states and also has most of the land area of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness , which is the largest wilderness area south of Alaska .
13-829: Borah Peak , the tallest mountain in Idaho, is also found here. The Wild and Scenic designated Salmon River weaves through the rugged terrain of the Sawtooth Mountains and Sawtooth National Recreation Area , while it flows for over 75 miles (121 km) through the forest. The Big Lost River has its headwaters within the national forest. Challis National Forest, the more southerly of its two parts, lies primarily in Custer County , but also has major areas in Lemhi and Butte counties, as well as smaller areas in Clark and Blaine counties. It has
26-509: A col . The edge is then sharpened by freeze-thaw weathering , and the slope on either side of the arête steepened through mass wasting events and the erosion of exposed, unstable rock. The word arête is French for "edge" or "ridge"; similar features in the Alps are often described with the German equivalent term Grat . Where three or more cirques meet, a pyramidal peak is created. A cleaver
39-409: A glissade . Ar%C3%AAte An arête ( / ə ˈ r ɛ t / ə- RET ; French: [aʁɛt] ) is a narrow ridge of rock that separates two valleys . It is typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys . Arêtes can also form when two glacial cirques erode headwards towards one another, although frequently this results in a saddle-shaped pass, called
52-742: A total area of 2,463,471 acres (3,849.17 sq mi, or 9,969.31 km). There are local ranger district offices located in Challis , Clayton , and Mackay . Salmon National Forest, which lies to the north, is primarily located in Lemhi County, with spillover into Valley and Idaho counties. It has a total area of 1,772,469 acres (2,769.48 sq mi, or 7,172.93 km). There are local ranger district offices located in Leadore , North Fork , and Salmon . The combined forest headquarters are located in Salmon, Idaho. There
65-631: Is a mountain in the western United States and the highest summit in Idaho . One of the most prominent peaks in the contiguous United States, it is located in the central section of the Lost River Range , within the Challis National Forest in eastern Custer County . On February 11, 2021, the USGS officially recognized Mt. Borah as Idaho's only active glacier. The mountain was nameless until it
78-437: Is a type of arête that separates a unified flow of glacial ice from its uphill side into two glaciers flanking, and flowing parallel to, the ridge, analogous to an exposed mid-channel bar in a braided river . Cleaver gets its name from the way it resembles a meat cleaver slicing meat into two parts. A common situation has the two flanking glaciers melting to their respective ends before their courses can bring them back together;
91-651: Is a weather station at Middle Fork Lodge , which is on the western edge of Salmon–Challis National Forest. There are two officially designated wilderness areas within Salmon–Challis National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System . Both extend into neighboring National Forests or onto lands of the Bureau of Land Management . Borah Peak Borah Peak , also known as Mount Borah or Beauty Peak ,
104-510: Is one of Idaho's only year-round snow climbs and provides a much greater challenge than the normal route. The face features a number of grade II class 5 routes on mixed terrain. Three climbers are known to have died on Borah Peak. Two climbers, Vaughn Howard and Guy Campbell, ascended the northwest ridge on November 24, 1977, and were killed in an avalanche . The bodies were not recovered for nine months, until August 26, 1978. Ten years later on June 13, 1987, another climber, Dave Probst, died on
117-523: The Republican nomination , and died in office in 1940. The 1983 Borah Peak earthquake occurred on Friday, October 28, at 8:06:09 MDT in the Lost River Range at Borah Peak in central Idaho , United States, measuring 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale . Mount Borah rose about 1 foot (30 cm) and the Lost River Valley in that vicinity dropped about 8 feet (2.4 m). The peak was scarred on
130-427: The exceedingly rare analogy to which is a situation of two branches of a braided river drying up before recombining. The location of a cleaver is often an important factor in the choice of climbing routes. For example, following a cleaver up or down a mountain may avoid travelling on or under an unstable glacial, snow, or rock area. This is usually the case on those summer routes to the summit whose lower portions are on
143-429: The most part until one reaches a Class 4 arête just before the main summit crest. This point is known as Chickenout Ridge as many people will abort the attempt once they see the hazards up close. In the cooler seasons this crossing usually involves a traverse over snow, with steeply slanting slopes on either side. An ice axe , and the ability to use it, is recommended for this section when icy. Borah Peak's north face
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#1732858395743156-405: The western side, and the mark is still visible. Two children in Challis were the only fatalities of the quake, struck by falling masonry while walking to elementary school. The normal route involves ascending 5,262 vertical feet (1,604 m) from the trailhead to the summit in just over 3.5 miles (5.6 km). This route on the southwest ridge, the most popular route, is a strenuous hike for
169-462: Was discovered to be higher than Hyndman Peak , previously regarded as the state's highest point. In February 1934, the U.S. Geological Survey named it for William Borah , the prominent senior U.S. Senator from Idaho , who had served for nearly 27 years at the time and was dean of the Senate. An outspoken isolationist , the "Lion of Idaho" ran for president two years later in 1936 , but did not win
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