Mountaineers Route (III 5.9) Elephant's Perch, Sawtooth Range, Idaho

Five more classics at the Elephant's Perch By Majka Burhardt / www.majkaburhardt.com

Direct Becky/Original Beckey (5.11+)
Another example of Fred’s ability to pick the greats. This plumb line shoots straight up the perch through thin cracks, stemming corners, wide pods and huecos. The two options for the start are equally good — do the direct and save the original for when you do the Fine Line. Standard rack, small gear helps, and take it to the top. 

Fine Line (5.11a)
An appropriately named endeavor up the obvious right leaning diagonal slashing the face east of the Beckey Direct. Lots of 5.10 and good 5.9 give you the full Perch experience. Some bolts, some pins, and a standard rack. 

Myopia (5.11a)
Yet another example of the grade at which the Perch excels. A bit harder to follow than the Beckey’s and the Fine Line, Myopia is the next step up on a slightly different aspect so you can even our your tan. Like most routes up here, a standard rack works here, but extra brass nuts and small cams would serve you well. 

Astro Elephant (5.10-)
A good warm up to the Perch with an optional exit at the halfway point. Take a big cam (3.5”) to keep you happy and opt for morning sun or afternoon shade on this east facing route with 2, 5.10’s and enless 5.9. 

Sunrise Book (5.12-) This was the coveted hard route at the Perch… until people started freeing the aid lines. There are only so many times you can climb to the top of the Perch and pass this on the way down before you have to go and do it. Jam and go and take extra hand and thin hand sizes for this 4-pitch route, one of the shorter at the Perch.

Beta for the Elephant's Perch

Guidebook: Idaho: A Climbing Guide, by Tom Lopez (The Mountaineers Books, 2000; mountaineersbooks.org). Topos and route descriptions available at mountainproject.com.

Guide Service: Sawtooth Mountain Guides — (208) 774-3324, sawtoothguides.com

Equipment Shop (Ketchum): The Elephant’s Perch, 280 East Avenue — (866) daperch, elephantsperch.com

Season: July through September

Rack: Set of nuts, cams to 3 inches (optional No. 3.5 Camalot), 60-meter rope

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