Elevation: 6,709 ft
Prominence: 369
This peak is not in the book. Published November 2024
Peak 6709 is the second of two ranked summits along Swenson Valley Road in the Soda Springs Hills. It is a scrub hill that is most easily climbed from Swenson Valley Road to its southwest. This area is a mix of private and public land, so be careful. This climb is entirely on BLM land. USGS Alexander
Peak 6709 (dead center) as viewed from high on the southwest ridge (left of center). This was my ascent route. Livingston Douglas Photo
Access
From US-30 about two miles west of the US-30/ID-34 junction, turn north onto [signed] Ivins Road. Drive north on Ivins Road for about 3.5 miles to a signed junction with Cornelison Road. Cornelison Road is a maintained county road that heads east to the mouth of Swenson Valley/Canyon. Turn right/east onto Cornelison Road and drive 0.4 miles to a signed “T” junction with Swenson Valley Road. Reset your odometer here. At 0.9 miles, reach the BLM boundary.
The county road now becomes BLM-12 and is not as well maintained. At 2.0 miles, reach a signed junction. BLM-12 has mysteriously become BLM-50 somewhere along the way. It continues right/east. BLM-129 (an ATV trail) heads north from this junction. Park at this road junction (5,812 feet and 42⁰42’30”N, 111⁰42’47”W) or, if road conditions permit, drive another 0.2 miles east to a pullout at the base of the southwest ridge of Peak 6709.
The “Serengeti-like” summit of Peak 6709. Livingston Douglas Photo
Southwest Ridge, Class 2
The Climb
From the road junction, hike briefly east on BLM-50 to reach the brushy flat at the base of the southwest ridge. Bash across the thick scrub then scramble steeply northeast up grass/scrub that quickly thins and becomes much easier. The ridge is more of a face initially. Move left-ish into more open grass (with scattered mountain mahogany). Head steeply up mostly easy grass to reach a ridge crest. Continue climbing northeast in easy, open terrain. Descend 30 vertical feet off a ridge hump at 6,480 feet and bushwhack through a short patch of thick scrub. Reach a right/east bend in the open, grassy ridge. The ridge does a final bend left/north to reach the treed summit hump. I rebuilt the modest, torn-down summit cairn and enlarged it.
Southwest Ridge/West Spur, Class 2
The Descent
From the summit, return down to the 6,480-foot ridge hump. From this hump, descend west down a magnificent grassy ridge to sagebrush below. Bash through the sagebrush to reach BLM-129. Hike briefly south on BLM-129 to return to the road junction and your parked vehicle. This descent route is less steep and more open than the brushier ascent route. It would make for a good ascent route on Peak 6709.
Additional Resources
Regions: Blackfoot Mountains->Soda Springs Hills->SOUTHERN IDAHO
Mountain Range: Blackfoot Mountains
Longitude: -111.6990 Latitude: 42.7124