Old Hyndman Peak sits at 11,775 feet. The East Ridge/East Face route is a class 3 while the Northeast face is a class 5.

Topo of the route

East Ridge/East Face

Photos by Tad Schafer

The East Ridge route is 6 miles from the Hyndman Creek trailhead and gains nearly 5,000 feet in elevation. The route is an enjoyable cross-crounty trek, accessible from Hyndman Creek Rd. Turn East onto the East Fork Wood River road from Highway 75 out of Hailey. Drive past Triumph and take a left onto Forest Service road 203 at the fork. Follow 203 until it meets up with the confluence of the North Fork Hyndman Creek and Hyndman Creek and the trailhead. Park here. Cross Hyndman Creek on a foot bridge and follow the old jeep road through aspens and meadows along Hyndman Creek.

In less than 3 miles, as you approach Cobb, another old mining road leaves the old jeep road to your right. The road crosses Hyndman Creek and then ascends through thick forest. This is the access into Big Basin. If you miss the turnoff, you will reach the base of Cobb where the old jeep road meets Hyndman Creek and becomes a trail climbing the sagebrush hill.

The mining road, after crossing the creek, climbs through the forest, passes old mine shafts, enters a small clearing and camp site, and then disappears. A trail emerges and leads through trees and brush into the wide open Big Basin. From here Cobb towers on your left (to the north) while Old Hyndman, just beyond Cobb, is not yet visible. Big Basin Peak is at the far reaches of Big Basin. The trail disappears and the route is all cross-country from here as you ascend several large soccer field-size plateaus. Find a good location to cross the creek that drains Big Basin on your left and climb the forested hills toward Lake 10241, also known as one of the Cobb Lakes.

Now Old Hyndman should be visible on the left in the upper reaches of the drainage you are ascending. Big Basin Peak will be on the far right. Watch for goats in the talus. Ascend the drainage toward the saddle between Old Hyndman and point 11,442. Once at the saddle peer down into Wildhorse Canyon.

The East Face of Old Hyndman appears to be a technical-climbing problem of the last 300 feet. Start up the east ridge to the base of the summit block. From here you have two choices: ascending the black-rock dike or a direct assault on the face. Spot the eroded, black-rock dike that splits the face from southwest to northeast. Once in the eroded path of the dike, the route is like a staircase that leads to a point just below and south of the summit. Climb the dike one at a time to avoid knocking rocks loose. Scrambling the face is more rewarding and poses few technical problems.

Once on top, look south toward Cobb and northwest toward Hyndman. Belly over and peer down Old Hyndman's north face, a formidable class 5 climb.