Chimney Rock (Idaho)
Description
Chimney Rock is a distinctive landmark and popular rock-climbing destination in the southern Selkirk Mountains. The mountain is situated six miles (9.7 km) east of Priest Lake on land managed by Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's western slope drains to Priest Lake, whereas the east slope drains to the Pack River, and both are part of the Pend Oreille River drainage basin. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 3,700 feet (1,128 meters) above the Pack River in three miles (4.8 km). This mountain's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. The granitic tower has earned the nickname "Lightning rod of North Idaho." The first ascent of the summit was made on September 8, 1934, by John Carey, Mart Chamberlain, Fred Thieme, and Byron Ward via the West Face.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Chimney Rock is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. Climbers can expect afternoon rain and lightning from summer thunderstorms.
Climbing chronology
History of early first ascents made by 1972:
Route | Rating | Year | Climbers |
---|---|---|---|
West Face | 5.3 | 1934 | J. Carey, M. Chamberlain, F. Thieme, B. Ward |
West Face (free solo) | 5.3 | 1935 | John Ferris Boothe |
Northeast Face | 5.8 | 1959 | Don Bergman, Ed Cooper |
East Face | 5.9 | 1961 | Ed Cooper, Dave Hiser |
South Nose | 5.7 | 1966 | Fred Beckey, Jerry Fuller |
West Face Direct | 5.8 | 1968 | Chris Kopczynski, John Roskelley |
Broken Thumb | 5.7 | 1968 | Chris Kopczynski, Cary Kopczynski |
Yellowjacket | 5.7 | 1970 | John Roskelley, Jim Spearman |
Sanchos | 5.9 | 1971 | Chris Kopczynski, John and Joyce Roskelley |
Boogie Jive | 5.6 | 1972 | Will Parks, Jim Spearman |
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Chimney_Rock%2C_Idaho.jpg/500px-Chimney_Rock%2C_Idaho.jpg)
References
- ^ "Idaho: A Climbing Guide, Chimney Rock". Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Chimney Rock - 7,124' ID". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Chimney Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Geologic Map of Idaho, Reed S. Lewis, Idaho Geological Survey, 2012.
- ^ "Chimney Rock, Idaho". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Paul M. Lewis, Beautiful North Idaho, Beautiful America Publishing Company, 1979, ISBN 9780915796953, p. 17.
- ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
- ^ Chimney Rock, Off-Belay Magazine, 1972, Idahoaclimbingguide.com
External links
- Account of first ascent: Idahoaclimbingguide.com
- Chimney Rock: weather forecast
- Chimney Rock climbing: Mountainproject.com
- Chimney Rock (photo): Flickr