Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2024

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Peak 5502 is a hidden peak that is located northwest of Howe in the Howe Hills. It is easily reached on BLM land from the north. USGS Howe

Access

From ID-33 in Howe, drive northwest on [paved] Little Lost River Highway for 2.6 miles to a signed junction with 3720N (Hurst Creek Road on some maps). Turn left/west onto [paved] 3720N and drive 1.1 miles to a signed junction with 1800W (Junction 4926 on the USGS topo map). Continue west on 3720N through a cattle fence and park at the base of an old 2-track road heading left/south. This parking area is at 4,926 feet and 43⁰48’59”N, 113⁰03’14”W. While there is a lot of private ranch land in this area, this climb is entirely on BLM land.

Map Errors

The USGS map shows a side road heading southwest from the 2-track road heading south down the east side of Peak 5502. That side road does not exist.

East Shoulder, Class 2

The Climb

From the road junction, hike south then south-southeast on an old 2-track road for just over ½ mile to approach the toe of the [obvious] east shoulder. Leave the road and bushwhack southwest through gapped sagebrush with some easy open areas and cattle trails to reach the short scrub of the shoulder. Scramble west-southwest up the grass/scrub and minor rocky outcrops on the shoulder to reach the rocky, bare summit. The high point is obvious and had a torn-down summit cairn which I rebuilt. The middle hump of this three-humped peak is the obvious high point.

Northeast Face, Class 2

The Descent

From the summit, briefly descend the east shoulder. Leave the shoulder high up to descend a sub-ridge heading northeast, a more direct line to the road junction. There is more sagebrush-bashing on this descent route but it goes quickly thanks to gaps and thinning by heavy cattle grazing in this area. Finish with less than a half-mile of road hiking north to the road junction and your awaiting vehicle.