I think John was a little tired of my ribbing him about fishing and no peaks so he challenged me to climb Blacktip Peak. After a leisurely mid morning start, John, Ruby and I headed up Warren Wagon Road for our day hike. See John’s trip report here: http://www.splattski.com/2020/blacktip/index.html
Blacktip Peak is a real gem which hardly anyone knows about since it is tucked way up in the mountains and out of view for most. After about an hour of hiking, we get our first view. John and I had climbed Blacktip Mountain a few years ago (not to be confused with Blacktip Peak). Check out my trip report from then, it has a great view of Blacktip Peak from the top of nearby Blacktip Mountain: https://davefaitlemonde.com/2018/08/14/blacktip-mountain-bruin-mountain-payette-national-forest/
It is a bit of a trek into Cougar Basin to reach the base of the mountain.
I love it when the moon, stars, and planets all align…. or in this case, the moon, Blacktip Peak and us. Click on these images to enlarge.
Getting closer, you can see that this is no gimme walk up.
Looking back down Cougar Basin which we had just hiked up.
John making the last few rock moves to reach the summit.
Views from the top.
John stopping to do a little navigating on the decent. Words and photos can’t describe how step it is…..We were headed for that saddle below John’s hat…..it was a couple hundred feet below…. also notice Ruby below him.
The meadow below the peak is quite scenic and is in full fall colors.
A look back up from right below Blacktip Peak (Blacktip Mountain is on the right), we went up the right shoulder and came down the left shoulder.
Colors!
Here is a look back at our decent route, we came down the draw mid-image. Blacktip Peak is actually out of sight behind the ridge and standing deadfall.
Looking back to the east on our final pitch down. Off in the distance, Lost Art Peak which we camped below last weekend. We have a storm moving in this weekend, notice that we had no clouds early in the day and now the first signs of moisture are starting to move in above us.
davefaitlemonde.com 