We return to see what Gallagher Peak is like in the snow.
- December 29, 2018
- Team: SuperDave
- Peak: Gallagher Peak, 6100'
- Lists of John
- 6.1 miles, 2991' gain, 5:30 car-to-car
Note: click images to see a larger version in a new window
Dave sent out the invite, and only yours truly responded. I suggested we find something between McCall and Boise, and told him I had an idea: Gallagher. I did this one last spring, and was eager to see what it was like with snow. In just a few easy minutes we were looking up at the saddle. You could see the trail, and we did not yet need our slowshoes. |
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Scenery. |
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It was cold and blustery at the saddle, and as we climbed above it, the snow was getting deeper. |
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Looking back toward the saddle. At this point we are on snowshoes, which is why Dave is temporarily behind me; I got ready faster. |
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Looking back down Little Gallagher Creek. |
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| I had been here before, the light was really flat, and Dave was making me work while breaking trail. So no photos until we got to the summit. |  |
There is one little technical section on the ridge. Here Dave finishes the tricky descent. Our snowshoe crampons were contacting rock, and a slip might have led to a 30 of 40 foot slide or tumble down the hillside. |
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| When studying this peak, Dave had noticed a much shorter route that used this ridge. So heading down this new way, we had it all: adventure, ridge walk, and loop. |  |
| The ridge had a couple undulations, and there is some trees and brush. But generally, a good path. |  |
| And a good view. This is looking back at our up route. |  |
| One thing about this route: it ends with a crescendo. It gets very steep. Look closely and you can see the truck down there. |  |
| There's about a 1000' to drop. This picture doesn't do a good job of showing how steep it is. |  |
| This is looking back up. |  |
Map of our descent (only). For map of ascent, see the Gallagher Peak TR. |
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