Mt. Borah - Idaho Gets a New Highest Mountain

(1929)

For years it was believed from early geological studies within the state of Idaho that Hyndman Peak of the Pioneer mountain range at the head of Wildhorse creek was Idaho's tallest mountain at 12,0798 feet.

But according to an article in the Mackay Miner in August of 1929, a survey party of the U.S. Geological Service doing work the Bayhorse quadrangle of Custer County discovered, quite by accident, two unnamed peaks within the Pahsimeroi Mountains of the Lost River Range that were significantly taller. In fact the two were almost side by side, and the tallest was estimated at nearly 12,600 feet and its nearby neighbor at slightly less.

By November of the same year, Senator William H. Borah was asked to accept the honor of having this new highest peak named for him. He accepted and the newly named peak, Mt Borah (12,662 ft.) was sent to the U.S. Geological commission for enrollment in the permanent files and for inscription on official maps.

The origins of the name of its sister peak as Leatherman Peak (12,228 ft.) remains a mystery to most to this date.

Almost immediately there was interest in making the climb to the new highest peak's summit and, from then until the present, hundreds have made the app. 3 mile hike that ascends nearly 5100 feet to the mountain top. In October of 1983, the mountain became even more famous as the epicenter for one of the U.S.'s strongest earthquakes.

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Contributed by Earl A. Lockie, President of the South Custer County Historical Society

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