[TR] Thornton Peak - SE scramble 08/05/2018

JasonG · September 9, 2018

Trip: Thornton Peak - SE scramble

Trip Date: 08/05/2018

Trip Report:

Triumph is a well-known peak, and for good reason. With one of the more classic ridge routes around (the NE), it gets a lot of traffic. But immediately next door lies a fantastic scramble (Cl. 3) to the top of Thornton Peak. Due to a variety of factors, our planned ascent of Triumph morphed into a scramble of Thornton which, it turns out, makes a great destination in its own right. Or, as we saw with another team of ladies we met on the summit, Thornton can serve as great backup to Triumph in case of weather/time constraints. And, since it is so close to Triumph and the Pickets, the views aren't half-bad either. Just make sure you bring a tent with the proper poles and fly if it may rain. @cfire enjoyed a bit of a refreshing evening the night before we scrambled Thornton. Like the tough SOB he is though, it didn't seem to dampen his enthusiasm the next day.

Ah......... the yin and yang of the North Cascades!

Thornton Lakes on the approach. Thornton peak lies just to the left of Triumph:

Chris, working his way around middle Thornton Lake (above). Lower and Middle Thornton Lakes (above).

The wedder approaches:

Kim and Chris - "Do you think it is going to rain Jason?"

Triumph:

Ptarmigan:

Upper Thornton Lake:

Triumph:

Me, the Lovely Kim, and Chris on the summit of Thornton:

Chris heads for home while Kim and I stay to enjoy another night up high:

The Lovely Kim descending back to camp:

I'll take it:

I had bats flying around me eating moths while I took this shot of Triumph and the Big Dipper about midnight:

I want the story of whomever was up at midnight at their camp below the Ottohorn-Himmelhorn col?

Smoke, smoke, and more smoke. The story of 2018:

Looking from camp across the Skagit trench at the North end of Teebone Ridge:

The Lovely Kim surveys the way down to the upper Thornton Lake. She said, "Why can't we take trails like normal people do?"

A parting look at Triumph:

It's sort of a trail, isn't it? "No".

Gear Notes:
Footwear of some kind. We were able to stay off snow for the most part and the rock isn't too bad where you feel like you need a helmet.

Approach Notes:
Use the approach to Triumph col and take a left. Descent camps a bit above the pass without much water late season