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Mackay, Top of Idaho

Mackay, Top of Idaho

If you're from Mackay you know that Mount Borah is the highest peak in Idaho at 12,662 feet.  But did you know that Idaho has 9 peaks that are over 12,000 feet (12ers); and that 7 of them are between Mount Borah and the Mackay Dam?  The City of Mackay is truly located in the top of Idaho.  The question now is, can you name them?  Can you locate them when driving up and down the valley?


Mount Borah

Let me help.  Coming down the valley from Mount Borah is Mount Idaho at 12,200 feet (number 7).  Mount Idaho is easy to locate.  It's the highest peak to the right of Borah.  When coming up Trail Creek Road to highway 93, stop at the stop sign and look straight up the canyon across the highway.  The highest peak at the end of the canyon is Mount Idaho.



Mount Borah on Left - Mount Idaho on Right

 Mount Idaho is just peaking from the left side of the highest peak on the right
It appears smaller due to the distance behind the closer peak

 Leatherman Peak which is Idaho's second highest peak at 12,228 feet comes next.  A sign on highway 93 before you get to the Lone Cedar Creek Road, points out Leatherman Peak. Leatherman Peak is the first peak in a string of peaks connected in a straight line when viewed from the highway past the upper end of the Mackay Reservoir.


Leatherman Peak 
Sorry about the power lines

Next is Mount Church (not officially named after Senator Frank Church).  Mount Church, at 12,200 feet is number 3.  This mountain peak is easily identified  by its rounded dome and sea shell looking face.  It is the third peak in the string of connected peaks; separated from Leatherman Peak by Bad Rock Peak.



Mount Church

Donaldson Peak which is number 8 at 12,023 feet is not in a straight line with the other three peaks; but sits at an angle behind Donaldson Peak.  This makes Donaldson appear to be shorter than the others; but, it is only 177 feet shorter than Mount Church.


Donaldson Peak

The following picture may add some prospective as how Leatherman  Bad Rock, Church and Donaldson are located with respect to each other.  Too bad Bad Rock is not one of the 12er, but it is only 11,954.  Missed it by 46 feet.


  Leatherman, Bad Rock, Church;  Donaldson would be out of the picture to the right


Same Peaks Different View

Mount Breitenbach comes next.  This peak sits a little to the right and back further from highway 93 than Mount Church.  Mt Breitenbach is 5th highest at 12,140 feet.  It is visible from the highway at the Mackay Dam..


Mount Breitenbach

And last but not least is number 6, Lost River Peak at 12,078 feet.  This peak is the highest peak on the left side of the Upper Cedar Creek canyon and the last 12er before Mount McCaleb.


Lost River Peak

Idaho has 121 peaks over 11,000.  Forty-seven (47) of those peaks are in the Lost River Range. So now you know.  For list of peaks over 11,000 go to https://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=21330

But what about Mount McCaleb?  I am sorry to say that our beloved peak and one of the most prominent and distinct one visible, is 11,682 (only 980 feet shorter than Borah) and ranks number 33 in the list of Idaho's highest peaks.


Mount McCaleb as seen from Mackay

Mount McCaleb from Mackay Dam



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