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Mount Thor - Daily climb (mountaineering)?

Original Post
Anita Hammond · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2023 · Points: 0

Hello! I've been researching Mount Thor (and the Auyuittuq Park) for my novel, but I've got a question I haven't been able to answer:

Is Mount Thor possible to ascend as a day trek (so, *not* the West face) i.e. to hike it from the base to the top and go all the way back down in one day? 

For context, the character in my novel doesn't have specific hiking/trekking experience but has a background in bouldering and is accompanied by two guides who have plenty of trekking experience. I'm wondering if I can have her and the guides go to the top and back down in one day, or if I need to spread the action over two days (and have the three of them sleep somewhere on the mountain). My own experience in hiking is limited to warmer climates and chiller treks (no ice and heavy bags, for one thing) so I have literally no idea how long it could take to trek 1675 meters roundtrip.

More context: the hike would take place in August.

I'm also looking for suggestions as to what the timeline would look like (for example: starting the trek from the base of Mount Thor at X o'clock, reaching the top at Y o'clock, and back down to the base at Z o'clock.)

Ross Goldberg · · El Segundo · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 293

This write up from Beyer has some description of the descent which I assume is a probable way to "hike" up. Note, he is known to use hyperbole.

Based on photos it seems possible to go up in a day from basecamp yes. Probably less hike and more sketchy 3rd classing and still needs a background of climbing knowledge.

https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200213400/

From Summitpost:

"... there exists a route up the backside of the mountain up the steep weathered eastern side, but it is a serious scramble with more than a few large technical sections
that would require extensive experience on rock. Bottom line there is no simple walk up to the top. It is a technically challenging mountain no matter which route one picks.

The area is also known to have regular rockfalls. It is not uncommon to see car sized boulders roaring down the slopes of Thor, Asgard, Breidablik, Odin and Freya to name but a few... so its wise to always keep an eye out."

Ignatius Pi · · Europe · Joined Jun 2020 · Points: 14

From Synnott's guidebook:

"East Face/North Ridge. Lots of scrambling and three pitches of 5.7 make this the 'standard' route on Thor. A good one-day ascent for a fit party looking for a long, moderate ascent to a spectacular summit."

Described elsewhere in the text as the easiest route to the summit.

Edit. The main trail up Weasel Valley runs along the west side of the river where it passes under Thor; accessing the peak from there would obviously involve a river crossing which can be difficult in some circumstances and which has in the past led to at least one drowning. An alternative approach would be to stay on the east side at the point where the main trail crosses the river a short distance back down the valley, then follow the east side up to what the guidebook describes as "some good camping spots amongst the boulders on the east side of the river below Thor".

wisam · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 60

When u say in a day you could streach that a bit. The sun doesn’t set for a couple of months in the summer. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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