Idaho Hikers Complete All 44 County High Points
Ben Nickell and Anne Koski reached the summit of every county high point in Idaho after a ten-year journey.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Hiking
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Pocatello residents Ben Nickell and Anne Koski completed a ten-year quest in September 2026 to hike the highest point in all 44 Idaho counties. The couple utilized GPS tracking and standard backpacking gear to navigate remote peaks lacking established trails.
Why it matters
The achievement highlights the physical challenge of accessing Idaho's diverse geography, ranging from the state's highest point at Mount Borah to the lower peak of Pickles Butte. Pursuing this goal demonstrates the commitment required to navigate the remote mountainous terrain found across the state.
The couple finished their journey by summiting Bare Peak Northwest, a trek that took 22 hours instead of the expected 16. During their decade-long project, they navigated diverse challenges including a section obstructed by 100 downed trees.
The players
Ben Nickell
An Idaho-based hiker who spent a decade completing the 44-county high point challenge.
Anne Koski
An Idaho-based hiker who partnered with Ben Nickell to reach every county high point in the state.
The details
The hikers used peakbagger.com to track their progress across the various summits throughout the state. By the end of their endeavor, they became two of only 15 individuals to reach all 44 high points.
Timeline
The couple started their hiking journey in 2016.
The final hike was completed in September 2026.
Culture Shift
The rise of collaborative digital tracking platforms has transformed obscure mountaineering challenges into measurable societal goals. This achievement follows a pattern set by the peakbagger.com high point tracking community, which provides the framework for logging these regional accomplishments.
Readers looking to replicate this challenge must prepare for intense physical navigation and remote terrain that often lacks established trails. Successfully completing these peaks requires significant investment in GPS technology and high-end backpacking gear to manage unexpected conditions.
The takeaway
Reaching remote summits requires rigorous preparation, especially when facing unplanned obstacles like dense forest debris. For those interested in peak bagging, consistent tracking through digital tools can help break down massive, multi-year goals into manageable milestones.
Further reading
For more on regional trekking opportunities, visit the Hiking section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LocalNews8.
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