Hey Sandstone Goat, You can get up on the west side with some serious bush wacking. I've gone up that way to get to Lizard Head from the parking lot at the intersection of the Vulte Arch forest service road and Dry Creek Rd. I think the north side has a few 5.11to 5.12 routes. Send me an e-mail to markmay@lauberge.com and I'll send you my phone #.
There is NO official (Forest Service) trail. It is basically a bushwack. Climbing is discouraged for a number of reasons including safety/liability, getting lost, a rescue also puts rescuers at risk, erosion, etc. I learned and found the “trail head,” which is indeed and should be difficult to find.
Use some judgment, respect, and outdoors ethics, and pursue an alternative. I did (Bear Mtn.; already did Bell Rock, Humphrey Peak, & others). Not everything everywhere needs to be done – even if you are one the people who can climb this one.
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Sorry for the lateness of my response, and I understand you completely. There is NO official trail leading to the summit of Thunder Mountain; and even though I have massive respect for
most climbers, I really do get it.
I'm especially disappointed in people who stack up rocks along
an established trail. Whenever I see them, I kick the rocks back
into the drainage.
If you "obsessive-bound" younger folks are researching specific routes, SP is a good place to start, but you really should look at
some of the sites made exclusively for climbing.
Once again, I have a great respect for climbers, but sometimes
you have to evaluate your personal limits and survival rates.
sandstone,Goat - Nov 21, 2002 11:54 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentLooks Great Mark, We should try to find another route to the summit?????
markmay - Nov 24, 2002 12:07 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentHey Sandstone Goat, You can get up on the west side with some serious bush wacking. I've gone up that way to get to Lizard Head from the parking lot at the intersection of the Vulte Arch forest service road and Dry Creek Rd. I think the north side has a few 5.11to 5.12 routes. Send me an e-mail to markmay@lauberge.com and I'll send you my phone #.
Jb Fletch - Aug 2, 2018 10:41 am - Hasn't voted
- -There is NO official (Forest Service) trail. It is basically a bushwack. Climbing is discouraged for a number of reasons including safety/liability, getting lost, a rescue also puts rescuers at risk, erosion, etc. I learned and found the “trail head,” which is indeed and should be difficult to find.
Use some judgment, respect, and outdoors ethics, and pursue an alternative. I did (Bear Mtn.; already did Bell Rock, Humphrey Peak, & others). Not everything everywhere needs to be done – even if you are one the people who can climb this one.
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lcarreau - Dec 8, 2018 11:06 am - Hasn't voted
Thanks Jb !Sorry for the lateness of my response, and I understand you completely. There is NO official trail leading to the summit of Thunder Mountain; and even though I have massive respect for
most climbers, I really do get it.
I'm especially disappointed in people who stack up rocks along
an established trail. Whenever I see them, I kick the rocks back
into the drainage.
If you "obsessive-bound" younger folks are researching specific routes, SP is a good place to start, but you really should look at
some of the sites made exclusively for climbing.
Once again, I have a great respect for climbers, but sometimes
you have to evaluate your personal limits and survival rates.
lcarreau - Dec 15, 2018 12:51 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Thanks Jb !Another climber rescued ...
the other night on Thunder Mountain.
He didn't have a rope or harness, and got off-route.
Be careful up there, folks, and be sure to get an early start.