Just did the east summit from Thomas Lakes, where we had a beautiful campsite. Had to pack up and get back to town same day so didn't do both summits.
rbuswold - Jun 12, 2021 4:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2021
Beautiful Weather On Sopris
Great day, very little snow on route.
ToTheHeights - Feb 13, 2018 10:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2016
Such a cool mountain
7/16/16 w/Cory Martin on a perfect July morning
Sarah Simon - Aug 7, 2017 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2017
Standard Thomas Lakes Route
Spent the night in Carbondale and headed up this hill with Logan. What a beautiful mountain! Great day, only rained on the last 3 miles of my decent. I wore running gear and just hit the gas back to the Jeep. Sorry for late starters getting thundered on! Great mountain!
seano - May 31, 2017 1:34 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2017
East bowl
Quick morning jaunt. It looked like nice skiing, though the bowl softens up early.
chicagotransplant - Apr 25, 2016 11:10 am Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2016
Thomas Lakes Ski
4/23/16: With Craig, Colin, Stan and Jeff. Skinned up Thomas Lakes Bowl and skied back down from the summit. Windy on the summit ridge, but nice in the bowl with good snow conditions. Lost the trail on the way out and ended up below the TH near Dinkle Lake, luckily it was only a short walk back.
4/15/17: With Rachael, Craig, Stan, Ben, Eliot and Brian. Skinned and skied Thomas Lakes Bowl in good condition. Much drier down low than last year, a lot of dry in the first 2 miles and a lot of ski carrying through that stretch as a result.
Mike D' - Apr 3, 2016 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
Great Success
Started hiking ~10am, straightforward on the trail then up the ridge of basketball sized rocks...awesome views toward Capitol Peak...afternoon thunderheads forming kept me from running over to the northern peak, good call.
SarahThompson - May 25, 2015 11:26 pm Date Climbed: May 23, 2015
Std Route from Thomas Lakes
Boatloads of new snow up high! Very enjoyable hike.
A fun route - the approach trail was still covered with snow, frozen in am, and I just carried my skis and boots on my backpacks and ran up to the lakes in my running shoes. Skinned up from the lakes, there were several skiers on the route. Windy on the summit, nice views and amazing descent - 4000 feet of skiing, the snow warmed up and I skied almost to the parking lot.
Incliner - Aug 3, 2014 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2014
perfect july summit
east. combo next time.
Kessler - Jul 14, 2014 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
Sopris
6-29-2014
Scott - Jun 30, 2014 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
Sopris
June 28-29 2014
June 28
After rafting Roaring Fork, Kessler and I set off for Mount Sopris. We started early evening and hiked up to Thomas Lakes. It was a popular place! It was a rough night as well. Kessler threw up a few times (probably the results of Chinese food in Basalt) and I didn't sleep at all due to allergies. It was an unusually warm and windy night as well and the temperature never dropped below 49F (which is unusual for this altitude).
June 29
Because of the rough night, we rose rather late and were dragging a bit on our ascent. We still made steady progress to the East Summit of Mount Sopris. There were only a few snowfields to cross.
Once on the East Summit of Sopris, we ate lunch before traversing over to the West Summit. Once on the West Summit we returned to near the saddle between the two peaks and glissaded off the north face. It was a good glissade down to the basin below.
We then followed the drainage downwards and to another glissade. It was much steeper than I expected so we did the glissade in a permanent self arrest position. We could still stop by kicking in.
Once at the bottom of the next basin, we had to make our way back towards Thomas Lakes. We climbed partially on snow up to the saddle near Point 11425. The section without snow was really tedious.
We then crossed the rock glacier to the ridge above Thomas Lakes. The rock glacier was extremely slow going and we wished the route had been covered in snow. We then followed the ridge above Thomas Lakes until we could descend very steeply in the trees and down to another rock glacier, which was also a pain to cross in order to get to the lakes.
This descent route was really steep, strenuous, and tedious, even though the difficulty never exceeded class 3. It is not recommended unless covered in snow. On the plus side we got a really good view of the seldom-viewed-up-close north face of East Sopris, which is really spectacular.
After reaching the lakes, the final task was to follow the nice trail to the trailhead, but after our strenuous route, it seemed long even though it wasn't.
It was still a good climb, but next time we'll do it earlier season. The weather was perfect as well with no threat whatsoever of thunderstorms.
Incidentally, our camera died and we didn't get any photographs. This was a real shame since we could have gotten some really great photos.
December 2002
I was working on a highway project near Carbondale that got shut down a day for bad weather. Despite the late start, I decided to attempt Sopris, or at least to attempt to get as close as possible.
The weather was pretty windy and cold, and with blowing snow, but it wasn't too hard to get up to Thompson Lakes. The route and conditions got tougher after this and in the fading daylight and poor visibility, I turned around at Point 12,453, 500 feet below the summit. It was dark before I descended to timberline.
GrumpyJohn - Apr 21, 2014 12:17 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2014
Climbed it with Marco. We camped in the parking lot among the mooing cows. I had pitched my tent nearby, but a herd of cattle came into the parking lot around sunset, so I decided to take down my tent and sleep under the stars next to the car. They were mooing as loud as they could, you could hear it echoing off the mountains. ~5AM start, and we were planning on just being satisfied with East Sopris only, but we made good time getting there, and the weather looked good, so we quickly tagged West Sopris, then took a short break back on East Sopris before heading down. It was a tough day, but it was worth it, and good prep for bigger climbs next weekend.
myrone - Nov 3, 2012 8:58 am Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2012
From Thomas Lakes TH
Started up at 6:44am reached Sopris East at 11:26 then over to Sopris West at 12:01pm back to the TH at 4:30. Windy but beautiful on this fine autumn day on this long admired mountain...... Sweet!
ajberry - Oct 27, 2012 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2007
A fine mountain...
With Katie and Megan, both 10. Day trip via Thomas Lakes.
Climbed both summits via the trail from Thomas Lakes. Have admired this peak for years, it was nice to finally stand upon its summit and admire the view!
BradBartick - Oct 29, 2024 4:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2024
Nice hike to all 3 bumpsFrom standard TH via Thomas Lakes.
edmdais1 - Oct 16, 2021 5:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2021
Thomas Lakes approachDid it as day hike. Long day but one of the most amazing hike I have done.
rockymountaindiva - Sep 6, 2021 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2021
Gorgeous dayJust did the east summit from Thomas Lakes, where we had a beautiful campsite. Had to pack up and get back to town same day so didn't do both summits.
rbuswold - Jun 12, 2021 4:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2021
Beautiful Weather On SoprisGreat day, very little snow on route.
ToTheHeights - Feb 13, 2018 10:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2016
Such a cool mountain7/16/16 w/Cory Martin on a perfect July morning
Sarah Simon - Aug 7, 2017 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2017
Standard Thomas Lakes RouteSpent the night in Carbondale and headed up this hill with Logan. What a beautiful mountain! Great day, only rained on the last 3 miles of my decent. I wore running gear and just hit the gas back to the Jeep. Sorry for late starters getting thundered on! Great mountain!
seano - May 31, 2017 1:34 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2017
East bowlQuick morning jaunt. It looked like nice skiing, though the bowl softens up early.
chicagotransplant - Apr 25, 2016 11:10 am Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2016
Thomas Lakes Ski4/23/16: With Craig, Colin, Stan and Jeff. Skinned up Thomas Lakes Bowl and skied back down from the summit. Windy on the summit ridge, but nice in the bowl with good snow conditions. Lost the trail on the way out and ended up below the TH near Dinkle Lake, luckily it was only a short walk back.
4/15/17: With Rachael, Craig, Stan, Ben, Eliot and Brian. Skinned and skied Thomas Lakes Bowl in good condition. Much drier down low than last year, a lot of dry in the first 2 miles and a lot of ski carrying through that stretch as a result.
Mike D' - Apr 3, 2016 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
Great SuccessStarted hiking ~10am, straightforward on the trail then up the ridge of basketball sized rocks...awesome views toward Capitol Peak...afternoon thunderheads forming kept me from running over to the northern peak, good call.
SarahThompson - May 25, 2015 11:26 pm Date Climbed: May 23, 2015
Std Route from Thomas LakesBoatloads of new snow up high! Very enjoyable hike.
Liba Kopeckova - Apr 14, 2015 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2015
Ski Thomas Lakes BowlA fun route - the approach trail was still covered with snow, frozen in am, and I just carried my skis and boots on my backpacks and ran up to the lakes in my running shoes. Skinned up from the lakes, there were several skiers on the route. Windy on the summit, nice views and amazing descent - 4000 feet of skiing, the snow warmed up and I skied almost to the parking lot.
Incliner - Aug 3, 2014 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2014
perfect july summiteast. combo next time.
Kessler - Jul 14, 2014 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
Sopris6-29-2014
Scott - Jun 30, 2014 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
SoprisJune 28-29 2014
June 28
After rafting Roaring Fork, Kessler and I set off for Mount Sopris. We started early evening and hiked up to Thomas Lakes. It was a popular place! It was a rough night as well. Kessler threw up a few times (probably the results of Chinese food in Basalt) and I didn't sleep at all due to allergies. It was an unusually warm and windy night as well and the temperature never dropped below 49F (which is unusual for this altitude).
June 29
Because of the rough night, we rose rather late and were dragging a bit on our ascent. We still made steady progress to the East Summit of Mount Sopris. There were only a few snowfields to cross.
Once on the East Summit of Sopris, we ate lunch before traversing over to the West Summit. Once on the West Summit we returned to near the saddle between the two peaks and glissaded off the north face. It was a good glissade down to the basin below.
We then followed the drainage downwards and to another glissade. It was much steeper than I expected so we did the glissade in a permanent self arrest position. We could still stop by kicking in.
Once at the bottom of the next basin, we had to make our way back towards Thomas Lakes. We climbed partially on snow up to the saddle near Point 11425. The section without snow was really tedious.
We then crossed the rock glacier to the ridge above Thomas Lakes. The rock glacier was extremely slow going and we wished the route had been covered in snow. We then followed the ridge above Thomas Lakes until we could descend very steeply in the trees and down to another rock glacier, which was also a pain to cross in order to get to the lakes.
This descent route was really steep, strenuous, and tedious, even though the difficulty never exceeded class 3. It is not recommended unless covered in snow. On the plus side we got a really good view of the seldom-viewed-up-close north face of East Sopris, which is really spectacular.
After reaching the lakes, the final task was to follow the nice trail to the trailhead, but after our strenuous route, it seemed long even though it wasn't.
It was still a good climb, but next time we'll do it earlier season. The weather was perfect as well with no threat whatsoever of thunderstorms.
Incidentally, our camera died and we didn't get any photographs. This was a real shame since we could have gotten some really great photos.
December 2002
I was working on a highway project near Carbondale that got shut down a day for bad weather. Despite the late start, I decided to attempt Sopris, or at least to attempt to get as close as possible.
The weather was pretty windy and cold, and with blowing snow, but it wasn't too hard to get up to Thompson Lakes. The route and conditions got tougher after this and in the fading daylight and poor visibility, I turned around at Point 12,453, 500 feet below the summit. It was dark before I descended to timberline.
GrumpyJohn - Apr 21, 2014 12:17 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2014
Nice skiingSkied the East bowl. Good times.
EndlessPat - Sep 17, 2013 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2013
One DayI moved to Glenwood Springs and it's impossible to ignore this peak, I'm glad I got it done.
belexes - Sep 9, 2013 4:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2013
Thomas LakesClimbed it with Marco. We camped in the parking lot among the mooing cows. I had pitched my tent nearby, but a herd of cattle came into the parking lot around sunset, so I decided to take down my tent and sleep under the stars next to the car. They were mooing as loud as they could, you could hear it echoing off the mountains. ~5AM start, and we were planning on just being satisfied with East Sopris only, but we made good time getting there, and the weather looked good, so we quickly tagged West Sopris, then took a short break back on East Sopris before heading down. It was a tough day, but it was worth it, and good prep for bigger climbs next weekend.
myrone - Nov 3, 2012 8:58 am Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2012
From Thomas Lakes THStarted up at 6:44am reached Sopris East at 11:26 then over to Sopris West at 12:01pm back to the TH at 4:30. Windy but beautiful on this fine autumn day on this long admired mountain...... Sweet!
ajberry - Oct 27, 2012 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2007
A fine mountain...With Katie and Megan, both 10. Day trip via Thomas Lakes.
chicagotransplant - Oct 16, 2011 5:09 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2011
Thomas LakesClimbed both summits via the trail from Thomas Lakes. Have admired this peak for years, it was nice to finally stand upon its summit and admire the view!