Opportunity Knox
Photo by Rick Baugher
Portage Peak, photo by Rick Baugher.
West Knows Twin, photo by Rick Baugher.
Deep Creek Peak, photo by Rick Baugher.
For Idaho peak baggers November is the bonus month. When weather and conditions are right for hiking, put down those pseudo obligations and go for it! Here are the three highest peaks between Deep Creek Peak and Bannock Peak in the Deep Creek Mountains. These can be hiked from Left Fork Knox Canyon on the east side of the range. Its graded road is now spotty with mud, snow, and ice, but still passable to cars. It's less than 40 miles SW of Pocatello.
The second destination, Portage Peak el 7680'+ (prom 340') was an out and back from this here. From Knox Crest the view is west across Rockland Valley to Sublett Range. Mt Harrison in Albion Mtns visible in distance.
While Knox Crest and Portage had cowboy cairns on top, this third summit of the day showed no signs of previous visitors (discounting any stray cows and sheep). From my cairn on 7814' West Knox Twin the view is E to range high point Deep Creek Peak el 8748', among the first batch of Idaho mountains to be measured (Wheeler Survey 1870's). On the left across Arbon Valley we can see Scout Mountain and Old Tom Mountain in the Bannock Range.