Finger of Fate (Idaho)

Finger of Fate is a 9,780-foot-elevation (2,981 m) pillar in Custer County, Idaho, United States.

Finger of Fate
East aspect, from Hell Roaring Lake
Highest point
Elevation	9,780 ft (2,981 m)[1][2]
Prominence	200 ft (61 m)[1][2]
Parent peak	Sevy Peak (10,480 ft)[2]
Isolation	0.57 mi (0.92 km)[2]
Coordinates	44°01′35″N 114°57′43″W[3]
Geography
Finger of Fate Location in Idaho Show map of Idaho Finger of Fate Finger of Fate (the United States) Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Idaho
County	Custer
Protected area	Sawtooth Wilderness
Parent range	Sawtooth Range Rocky Mountains
Topo map	USGS Mount Cramer
Geology
Rock age	Eocene[4]
Rock type(s)	Granodiorite, Granite[4]
Climbing
First ascent	1958
Easiest route	class 4[2]

Description

Finger of Fate is a distinctive landmark and rock-climbing destination in the Sawtooth Range which is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains.^[1][5] It is situated 13 miles (21 km) south of Stanley, Idaho, in the Sawtooth Wilderness on land managed by Sawtooth National Forest.^[5] The spire can be seen from Highway 75 at Galena Summit as travelers approach Sawtooth Valley.^[6] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to Hell Roaring Lake, thence the Salmon River via Hell Roaring Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises nearly 2,400 feet (732 meters) above the lake in one mile (1.6 km). The first ascent of the summit was made in 1958 by Louis Stur and Jerry Fuller via The Open Book (class 5.8).^[1] A 6.5 magnitude earthquake in 2020 dislodged the summit boulder from the top of the pillar.^[1] This landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[3]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Finger of Fate is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.^[7] Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. Climbers can expect afternoon rain and lightning from summer thunderstorms.

Climbing chronology

History of early first ascents:^[1]

Route	Rating	Year	Climbers
The Open Book	5.8	1958	Louis Stur, Jerry Fuller
East Face	5.11	1967	J. Beaupre, G. Vendor, E. Vendor
First Winter ascent		1973	J. Hecht, H. Bowron, G. Williams, J. Fox
East Face (left)		1978	Reid Dowdle, D. Hough
Drizzlepuss	5.7		B. Gorton and S. Collins

See also

• List of mountain peaks of Idaho
• Geology of the Rocky Mountains

Gallery

• 
  Hell Roaring Lake with Finger of Fate to the right
• 
  Hell Roaring Lake with Finger of Fate to the right
• 
  Hell Roaring Lake with Finger of Fate centered on skyline
• 
  Hell Roaring Lake with Finger of Fate to right