Trip Date: July 23, 2006
Thor Peak Day Climb
Hope Lake
Trap Pass
Thunder Mountain Pass
Thor Peak aka Wolverine Peak (6804 ft)
Upper Thunder Mountain Lake
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Upper Icicle Mountains
Area: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: Tunnel Creek Trailhead on Tunnel Creek Road #6095 (Elev. 3200 feet)
Way Points: Tunnel Creek & Hope Lake & Trap Pass & Slippery Slab Meadows & Thunder Mountain Pass & Thor Saddle (trail hike & rock scramble)
Summit: Thor Peak (rock scramble via West Slope)
Sidetrip: Upper Thunder Mountain Lake (trail hike)
Approximate Stats: 15 miles traveled; 4800 feet gained & lost; 5.0 hours up.
Full Trip Report
On a sunny Sunday, I did a climb of Thor Peak in the Thunder Mountain Lakes vicinity with Jon, Eileen, Todd, and Adam.
- Thor Peak and Thunder Massif
We hiked to Trap Pass via Tunnel Creek and Hope Lake, then followed the footpath (about 20% snow-covered) around to the saddle above Thunder Mtn Lakes.
- Thunder Mountain Lake
Due to the midday heat, we almost abandoned our summit in favor of the inviting lake water. Somehow we managed to resist, but it was surely the crux move of the day. We contoured around the north side of Lightning Point, …
- Traversing Around Lightning Point
… scrambled down steep heather and Class 2-3 rock to a 6200-foot saddle, then strolled up alp slopes to Thor Peak’s panoramic summit. The summit register was a glass jar with a roll of steno paper. We were the first group signing in for 2006.
- Group On Thor Peak
There were many familiar names, and a running debate about whether to call this Thor Peak or Wolverine Peak. Seems as though the Viking god of thunder and rain is winning. We hung out for 45 minutes before the attraction of Thunder Mtn Lakes pulled us off the summit.
- Jim On Thor Peak
- Mt Stuart and The Cradle From Thor Peak
We retraced our route around Lightning Point and reached the shore of the upper lake about an hour later.
- Descending To Upper Thunder Mtn Lake
This is a gorgeous lake and one of my personal favorites. One avid alpine-lake-bagger rates it as a 9.5 on a 1-10 scale.
- Magic Water and Rock
We all took turns jumping/diving into the frigid water.
- Todd At Upper Thunder Mtn Lake
On this 90-degree day, the 45-degree water felt really good…for a few seconds, anyway!
Route Map
Photo Gallery
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