Continue with onX Maps
Sign in with Facebook
Thunderbolt Peak Rock Climbing
Routes in Thunderbolt Peak
|
Austrian Arete T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 |
|
|
North Couloir T 4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Mod. Snow |
|
|
Southwest Buttress T 5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b |
|
|
Southwest Chute 1 T Easy 5th 1+ 3 I 5 M 1c |
|
|
Thunderbolt to Sill Traverse T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Easy Snow |
|
|
Underhill Couloir T 4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b |
Order Wrong?
Sort Routes
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
| Elevation: | 14,003 ft | 4,268 m |
| GPS: |
37.098, -118.5176 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
|
| Page Views: | 49,532 total · 226/month | |
| Shared By: | karl wilcox on Feb 1, 2007 | |
| Admins: | Chris Owen, Lurk Er, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Description
The last fourteener in the Sierra to be climbed, Thunderbolt Peak is the next peak northwest of North Palisade, it too is on the main Sierra crest. It's summit monolith if often the crux of the climb - a 5.9 move over and onto a slab. It's safer if the monolith is draped with a rope first. As such it's one of the hardest summits in the Sierra to get to.
The name "Thunderbolt Peak" commemorates an incident during the first descent, when a nearby lightning strike gave Jules Eichorn cause for concern.
The name "Thunderbolt Peak" commemorates an incident during the first descent, when a nearby lightning strike gave Jules Eichorn cause for concern.
Getting There
The eastern approach:
From Big Pine on 395 drive up the road to Glacier Lodge; trailhead is signed on the right.
Hike up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek past Cienega Mirth, Lon Chaney's old cabin, and First, Second, and Third (spectacular views of Temple Crag) Lakes, then instead of continuing on to Fourth Lake turn south and up into Sam Mack Meadow. This is where I usually camp (6 miles, 3,400 ft of elevation gain). People staying more than a couple of days may want to cross the creek and head up the glacier trail to primitive sites either below the Palisade Glacier Moraine, or on the Moraine (1.25 miles, 1,100 more feet of gain).
From Big Pine on 395 drive up the road to Glacier Lodge; trailhead is signed on the right.
Hike up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek past Cienega Mirth, Lon Chaney's old cabin, and First, Second, and Third (spectacular views of Temple Crag) Lakes, then instead of continuing on to Fourth Lake turn south and up into Sam Mack Meadow. This is where I usually camp (6 miles, 3,400 ft of elevation gain). People staying more than a couple of days may want to cross the creek and head up the glacier trail to primitive sites either below the Palisade Glacier Moraine, or on the Moraine (1.25 miles, 1,100 more feet of gain).
Classic Climbing Routes at Thunderbolt Peak
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Sun Angles Details:
Weather Averages
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Precip
|
Days w Precip
|
Prime Climbing Season
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Photos
All Photos Within Thunderbolt Peak
Most Popular · Newest · RandomMore About Thunderbolt Peak
Printer-FriendlyWhat's New
Guidebooks (19)
5 Comments