Backdrop Peak - 8.14.2023
We drove north 15.2 miles from Ketchum, Idaho on Hwy 75 and turned left on the Baker Creek Road #162... then drove 9.4 miles to the end of the road and parked at the Baker Lake Trailhead.
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After a mile or so we can see the prominent rock outcropping on Backdrop Peak in the distance... Baker Lake sits directly below the peak.
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After hiking 1.7 miles and gaining 845 feet of elevation we have arrived at Baker Lake... Denali Girl is going to wait at the lake while I use the ridge on the left to go up and see what sits directly behind the huge rock formation in the top of the photo.
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Gaining elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak... the south side of Baker Lake... Point 9745 is out there in the distance.
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Gaining elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak... the terrain is very rocky.
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Continuing to gain elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak as the terrain steepens considerably.
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Continuing to gain elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak as the terrain steepens considerably... looking down on Baker Lake... and looking at Point 9745 on the other side of the lake.
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Continuing to gain elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak as the terrain steepens considerably... and I'm beginning to see what I think is the Backdrop Peak summit to the left of the huge rock formation on the far right.
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Still gaining elevation on the very steep east ridge of Backdrop Peak.
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Some Class 3 work is ahead in order to get up to Backdrop Peak.
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Continuing to gain elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak as the terrain steepens considerably.
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Continuing to gain elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak as the terrain steepens considerably... the higher I get, the more mountains come into view on the horizon.
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Still gaining elevation on the east ridge of Backdrop Peak... but the terrain is getting a bit easier... and I am beginning to see what I think is the true summit to the left of the huge rock formation on the right.
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Almost up to what I think is the true summit of Backdrop Peak.
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A short scramble should put me on what I think is the true summit of Backdrop Peak.
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I read several articles that said the true summit of Backdrop Peak is located directly behind the huge rock formation that stands out while looking up from Baker Lake... and after hiking a total of 2.6 miles that is exactly where I am standing... here looking at the back side of the huge rock formation.
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A pano shot from the false summit of Backdrop Peak... with a fairly easy section of the peak's east ridge in the right foreground of the photo... and part of Baker Lake more than a 1000 feet below.
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Looking down on Baker Lake as I more or less trace my steps back down to the lake.
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Continuing down the east ridge of Backdrop Peak.
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Continuing down the east ridge of Backdrop Peak.
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Continuing down the east ridge of Backdrop Peak.
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Continuing down the east ridge of Backdrop Peak.
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Almost back down to Baker Lake... here looking back up the east ridge of Backdrop Peak.
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Almost back down to Baker Lake... here looking back up the east ridge of Backdrop Peak.
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Back on the Baker Lake Trail... getting ready to lose the view of Backdrop Peak... the hike/scramble was a total of 5.2 miles, gaining 1979 feet of elevation.
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