Mount Breitenbach
Elevation
12,140 ft
Climbing Route
South Ridge
Rating
Class 3
Elevation Gain
4,600 ft
Round Trip Distance
7 miles
Round Trip Time
8.5 hours
Water
Water can be found sporadically in the creek for the first two miles
Name
Named after Jake Breitenbach, an Idaho climber that was killed on the 1963 American expedition to Mount Everest by a collapsing ice wall
First Ascent
Unknown. Possibly Wayne Boyer, a notable Idaho climber
Nearest Town
Mackay, ID
Prominence
620 ft
GPX File
Map File
The approach hike through Pete Creek can be frustratingly slow, but generally the route up Breitenbach is one of the easier Twelver hikes. The summit isn’t visible during the hike until almost near the top, which makes it even more rewarding. The route passes by a small waterfall as well as a fossil-infused scramble. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep as you near the top.