Thor Peak
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 10:34 am
Cecelia had a couple days off work, so we drove up to the Eastern Sierras for a little scramble to Thor Peak, which rises to 12,300 feet amid the Lone Pine Creek drainage system, a bit east of Mt. Whitney. We found a good parking spot next to the trailhead at Whitney Portal and began hiking around 8:30am.
There is a scale at the starting point which some people use to weigh their packs. I had never bothered with it before, but this time I bothered. I put my pack on the hook. The gauge read 20 pounds.
Cecelia had been on the Whitney Trail once before, but only when it was dark. So this time she enjoyed being able to see everything.
(Thor Peak in the background.)
(Crossing the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek.)
(Entering the John Muir Wilderness area.)
We saw lots of small animals on this trip. During a snack break, a friendly Steller's jay came begging for food.
I had read about some class 2 approaches to Thor from the east side. So we followed the trail as it switchbacked up toward the main fork of Lone Pine Creek. Then, looking up at the options, I noticed a steep gully with a gigantic boulder choking off part of the route.
Naturally, that seemed like the perfect amount of challenge, so up we went, leaving the trail about a half-mile before the creek crossing.
Some of the climbing rated class 3. Bypassing the big boulder tested Cecelia's ability to control fear, but she eventually passed the exam.
(Chockstone bypass on the left.)
After this obstacle the steepness mellowed a little. We followed an animal track to some ledges.
The ledges helped us bypass sections very thick with vegetation. But then the rocks became too difficult to manage, and we decided to push through some of the heavier growth around a damp spring area.
Above the spring the vegetation thinned out again. We reached an overlook point and could see Lone Pine Lake below.
I noticed a good-sized bird casually foraging on the ground nearby. I think it's called a sooty grouse.
Eventually we came out of the gully and found ourselves on the broad, northeast slope/ridge of Thor Peak.
Several points can be seen from a distance, but the true summit remains hidden in the back until the very final approach.
(False point before the true one.)
(Thor Peak summit in foreground with Irvine and McAdie in background.)
Thor Peak reminded me of the view from Telegraph, because you are surrounded by other impressive, high peaks. In addition to Irvine and McAdie to the south, to the north are Russell and Carillon.
And to the west, of course, stands mighty Mt. Whitney.
It was such a beautiful and clear day. The threat of high winds never materialized, and we stayed in shorts and t-shirts during the whole ascent.
For the return route, we negotiated the scree slopes down to Lower Boy Scout Lake.
A family of marmots greeted us in the north fork, but they were too far away in the shadows to get a good picture.
We tried to keep a good pace down the Mountaineer's Route, so that we could get past the Ebersbacher Ledges before dark.
The mosquitoes felt like protesting our presence along the creek. I donned the head net while Cecelia wrapped the bandana around her face.
We made it past the lower north fork creek crossings before sunlight completely faded. The river was high, requiring us to get our socks and shoes soaked.
Then, by headlamp, we continued the rest of the way to the car. At the Portal I weighed my pack again. It was now ten pounds lighter than when we started.
There is a scale at the starting point which some people use to weigh their packs. I had never bothered with it before, but this time I bothered. I put my pack on the hook. The gauge read 20 pounds.
Cecelia had been on the Whitney Trail once before, but only when it was dark. So this time she enjoyed being able to see everything.
(Thor Peak in the background.)
(Crossing the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek.)
(Entering the John Muir Wilderness area.)
We saw lots of small animals on this trip. During a snack break, a friendly Steller's jay came begging for food.
I had read about some class 2 approaches to Thor from the east side. So we followed the trail as it switchbacked up toward the main fork of Lone Pine Creek. Then, looking up at the options, I noticed a steep gully with a gigantic boulder choking off part of the route.
Naturally, that seemed like the perfect amount of challenge, so up we went, leaving the trail about a half-mile before the creek crossing.
Some of the climbing rated class 3. Bypassing the big boulder tested Cecelia's ability to control fear, but she eventually passed the exam.
(Chockstone bypass on the left.)
After this obstacle the steepness mellowed a little. We followed an animal track to some ledges.
The ledges helped us bypass sections very thick with vegetation. But then the rocks became too difficult to manage, and we decided to push through some of the heavier growth around a damp spring area.
Above the spring the vegetation thinned out again. We reached an overlook point and could see Lone Pine Lake below.
I noticed a good-sized bird casually foraging on the ground nearby. I think it's called a sooty grouse.
Eventually we came out of the gully and found ourselves on the broad, northeast slope/ridge of Thor Peak.
Several points can be seen from a distance, but the true summit remains hidden in the back until the very final approach.
(False point before the true one.)
(Thor Peak summit in foreground with Irvine and McAdie in background.)
Thor Peak reminded me of the view from Telegraph, because you are surrounded by other impressive, high peaks. In addition to Irvine and McAdie to the south, to the north are Russell and Carillon.
And to the west, of course, stands mighty Mt. Whitney.
It was such a beautiful and clear day. The threat of high winds never materialized, and we stayed in shorts and t-shirts during the whole ascent.
For the return route, we negotiated the scree slopes down to Lower Boy Scout Lake.
A family of marmots greeted us in the north fork, but they were too far away in the shadows to get a good picture.
We tried to keep a good pace down the Mountaineer's Route, so that we could get past the Ebersbacher Ledges before dark.
The mosquitoes felt like protesting our presence along the creek. I donned the head net while Cecelia wrapped the bandana around her face.
We made it past the lower north fork creek crossings before sunlight completely faded. The river was high, requiring us to get our socks and shoes soaked.
Then, by headlamp, we continued the rest of the way to the car. At the Portal I weighed my pack again. It was now ten pounds lighter than when we started.
