Pio Point to Point: Hike

The “Pio Point to Point” was a backcountry yurt trip with a hiking objective designed and executed by Drew Harvey, Jack Gilligan, Payton Dwight, Ethan Sanchez, Ian Barrett, and Dana Harvey.

Date of Completion: 10/29/2023

Mode of Travel: On foot

Distance and Elevation:

Hyndman Creek Trailhead (7,000 ft) to Pioneer Yurt (8,700 ft) = 6 miles (round trip)

Pioneer Yurt (8,700 ft) to The Peanut (9,631 ft) = 2 miles (round trip)

Pioneer Yurt (8,700) to The Saddle (10,700) = 4 miles (round trip)

TIME: 2 days

Levels of Support: Unsupported. All gear was carried in and carried out.

Trip Report: Pioneer Yurt lies in the Pioneer Mountains located in the Sawtooth National Forest of Idaho. At first a fair weather hiking objective, the trip became a shoulder season send with a foot of snow on the ground and temperatures ranging from 6 - 15 degrees. Staging out of Ketchum, Idaho the group dialed in their gear and stocked up on dehydrated food. As it was in between hiking season and ski mountaineering season the crew of 6 was left with a “that should work and good luck” from the good folks at Backwoods Mountain Sports, the go to local backcountry outfitter in Ketchum, ID.

Day One: Stage 1) Drive to trailhead (7,000 ft). Stage 2) Hike in with hut meister to be shown location of the Pioneer Yurt (mandatory). Stage 3) Hut meister leaves and you are on your own. Stage 4) Acclimation hike and scope mission to The Peanut (9,631 ft). Stage 5) Settle in to Yurt (Chop Wood / Carry Water).

Day Two: Hike from Yurt to “The Saddle” (10,700 ft) located between Hyndman Peak and Old Hyndman Peak, the dividing line between the Sawtooth National Forest and the Salmon Challis National Forest. Then descend back to Yurt (5 hours).

Day Three: Descend from Pioneer Yurt back to trailhead start location.

Additional Notes: This trip is a small taste of the potential backcountry point to point objectives on the horizon for Dawgpatch Bandits Inc.