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Hidden Peak (5105')
by Greg Higgins, Scree 11/82
HISTORY CORNER: Ranked ninth among the Skyline Peaks is Hidden Peak at 5,105 feet. It takes its name from the fact that it is well concealed from most viewpoints by the O'Malley Massif. A small lake to its Southwest is appropriately named Hidden Lake.
By most criteria Hidden Peak should be Hidden Point since it is only separated from O'Malley by a ridge drop of about 300 feet, and a distance of less than one mile. However, it has been conventionally afforded separate peak status since the 1960's. Besides connecting to O'Malley, a ridge to the southeast links it to the Ramp. This latter ridge is not as easily traveled as that to O'Malley.
Early climbs on Hidden Peak are not well known. Vin Hoeman's records list Bill Hauser and Dub & Harry Bludworth as the 1st recorded ascenders in the mid 1960's. Grace Hoeman and Dave Meyers climbed the West Ridge on Jan. 11, 1970 for what they thought was the 1st Winter ascent (SCREE: 13:4:2), but Bill Hauser had noted one month prior that he an Scott Foster had made what was probably the 1st Winter ascent on March 6, 1966 (SCREE: 13:3:5).
As late as 1973, there was a good register on the top of Hidden Peak that clarified some of the early history of climbs. Denny Camp, Loretta & I found it after an exhaustive search, but unfortunately did not record the data. We had difficulty deciding which was the true high point, and because we were short on time, did not construct an elaborate cairn. To my knowledge this register has not been located since.
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