Climbed TP with Dave Jenkins. Memorable notes, skiing in Goat Valley, waking up to snow on the ground and a Deer looking in my sleeping bag at me. Back then there were no fancy light weight tents or for the most part gear. It was Familia for breakfast, freezed dried dinners and no people.. Just remember signing the book in the silver steel box and using an old USGS map to find our way. Wondering if the box is still up there?
jafriesen - Jul 26, 2013 5:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2013
Rushed summit up the South Couloir
7.16.13- I left the Williams Peak summit around 3:15pm, and slowly made my way down to the saddle between Williams and Thompson by hugging the rock walls to the north of the scree. After traversing past the main headwall, I waited for about fifteen minutes for my climbing partner to catch up (he was having difficulty with his boots and had pretty sore legs from his first peak ever!).
I waited for him at the saddle to see if he wanted to attempt the climb up Thompson. He decided to stay behind, and I began my way up from the saddle shortly after 4:00. I hiked directly south up the talus and over a small headwall before circling around the peak toward the south couloir. Upon reaching the saddle between Thompson and the peak to the south, I turned directly north and headed up the low class 3 route. With strong legs, a climber should be able to do most of it without using their hands.
I reached the summit shortly after 5:00 with stormclouds approaching. We had spent a good part of the afternoon watching clouds slip to the North and throw lightning at the surrounding forest. After spending a short time signing the register and taking pictures, I boogied out in order to avoid the black clouds that were getting dangerously close. As I hiked down, it became apparent that this storm would follow a similar pattern and slip North just as the others had.
It was a great summit, and definitely taxing after summiting Williams. I'd like to return on a clear day and be able to spend a little more time on the top before heading out to summit the peaks to the south and west.
8.2.15- Reached the summit and headed over to Mickey's Spire. No thunderstorms this time. :)
Rocky Alps - Jul 23, 2013 2:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2013
South Couloir
Was a little nervous that all the smoke from the wildfires around Stanley would thwart our attempt on Thompson Peak, but everything worked out (fire near Redfish Lake trailhead started just an hour after we got back down). The views were among the best I've seen (un-named lake at 9,000 feet is probably the most impressive alpine lake I've been to), and my brother Johnny and I really liked the fun scrambling on the north end of the headwall (went that way to avoid steep snow slope on south end) and near the summit. The Sawtooths definitely get my vote as the next spot that should be made a national park (surprised it's not already one), but maybe it's for the best that it's not one (we were the only ones going for the summit today). See "Overlooked Idaho" trip report for details.
Great day trip from Redfish Lake. Still a little snow on the saddle headwall- glad I brought my 'pons and axe. Pretty quiet up there, though did meet and team up with J from Boise for the climbing portion from the lake. Beautiful area!
MaverickMerk - Jun 12, 2013 8:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Thompson Peak via South Couloir
Spent the night in the hanging meadow with access to a nice little creek. Incredible views of the range from the summit, and some of the best glissading on the way back down. Still the most beautiful climb I have ever been on.
DrGranola - Aug 16, 2012 11:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2012
Long Day From Redfish
Beautiful high lakes on the way up. I should have started earlier to go up the other peaks in the area.
markthejock - Feb 18, 2012 7:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
West Crack?
Unsure if we were on the right line but it felt about right for the grade. Whichever route it was, the rock was surprisingly solid!
mfox79 - Sep 26, 2011 9:54 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
willams lake trail
This was my first scramble in the Sawtooths and it almost shot me down. one of the most scenic places in the state! we started off at 7:15 at a balmey 22 degrees and cut off the trail and followed the ridge. the alpine cirque was amazing and the exposure off the face was incredible. we found the trail on the way back down. all and all a long day but worth every minute of it. I will be back to climb more in this region.
A really enjoyable and mostly straightforward climb. Thompson may be the highest in the Sawtooths, but also seems like it might be one of the easiest from this standard route - great training for harder peaks. And gorgeous views!
ALM4400 - Jul 16, 2011 8:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2010
Got back from tramping in NZ and decided to climb this the week after I got back. Idaho Mountains can't be beat.
reboyles - Sep 5, 2010 11:43 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
SW/S Couloir
Gord, Mike and I climbed the SW and S Couloirs on a perfect September day. It's been over 30 years since the 3 of us have climbed together in the Sawtooths so this trip was special for all of us. We mistaken climbed the SW couloir and tagged the north summit and then descended and went a little further south to the S couloir after not wanting to do the short but exposed traverse to the main summit.
CreekRyno - Mar 12, 2010 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2009
From Goat Lake
Climbed standard route from Goat Lake with 2 others. Ive seen all kinds of views but some are unparallelled - this is one of them. More spiritual than what I expected. Judging from the entries in the peak-log, I think others felt the same. Climb on.
Climbed from Redfish trailhead with dad; fantasic views of Stanley and into the interior of Sawtooths.
SawtoothExplorer - Dec 29, 2008 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2008
Awesome Views
The views are awesome. I didn't see anyone once I broke off of the trail to head up to the Thompson cirque. Blue skies and big smiles all day long. Well until I had to hike all the way back to the truck.
zoink - Sep 29, 2008 5:01 am Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2008
South Couloir
Took three tries to find the class 3 up. Beautiful weather, nice little hill.
boisedoc - Sep 11, 2006 4:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2006
Good hike
Nice hike although there was a storm on the way down. A little hazy from the forest fires. Surprised to see persistant snowfields this late in the year. The final 5 feet to the true summit is a bit airy.
IdaClimber - Aug 18, 2006 6:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2005
Standard Route
Done, a long day with strong wind but well worth it.
Route Climbed: Southwest Couloir: Climbed September 5, 2005
Great Scramble! My buddy and I made our way up the west slope into the couloir, and made a few moves to reach the top. Weather was superb and the views of course were awesome. Thompson is a great peak.
SawtoothSean - Mar 10, 2006 10:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 1997
Good scramble
The first time was via the standard route up the west side after the scramble up from Redfish Lake. Following the climbers trail that runs between Williams and Thompson, the hike is pretty straight-forward. The second time was part of a Williams-Thompson-Mickeys-Carter-Limbert speed circuit day with descent down the trailess valley south of Thompson.
lazytsha - Feb 16, 2014 9:37 pm
Long time agoClimbed TP with Dave Jenkins. Memorable notes, skiing in Goat Valley, waking up to snow on the ground and a Deer looking in my sleeping bag at me. Back then there were no fancy light weight tents or for the most part gear. It was Familia for breakfast, freezed dried dinners and no people.. Just remember signing the book in the silver steel box and using an old USGS map to find our way. Wondering if the box is still up there?
jafriesen - Jul 26, 2013 5:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2013
Rushed summit up the South Couloir7.16.13- I left the Williams Peak summit around 3:15pm, and slowly made my way down to the saddle between Williams and Thompson by hugging the rock walls to the north of the scree. After traversing past the main headwall, I waited for about fifteen minutes for my climbing partner to catch up (he was having difficulty with his boots and had pretty sore legs from his first peak ever!).
I waited for him at the saddle to see if he wanted to attempt the climb up Thompson. He decided to stay behind, and I began my way up from the saddle shortly after 4:00. I hiked directly south up the talus and over a small headwall before circling around the peak toward the south couloir. Upon reaching the saddle between Thompson and the peak to the south, I turned directly north and headed up the low class 3 route. With strong legs, a climber should be able to do most of it without using their hands.
I reached the summit shortly after 5:00 with stormclouds approaching. We had spent a good part of the afternoon watching clouds slip to the North and throw lightning at the surrounding forest. After spending a short time signing the register and taking pictures, I boogied out in order to avoid the black clouds that were getting dangerously close. As I hiked down, it became apparent that this storm would follow a similar pattern and slip North just as the others had.
It was a great summit, and definitely taxing after summiting Williams. I'd like to return on a clear day and be able to spend a little more time on the top before heading out to summit the peaks to the south and west.
8.2.15- Reached the summit and headed over to Mickey's Spire. No thunderstorms this time. :)
Rocky Alps - Jul 23, 2013 2:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2013
South CouloirWas a little nervous that all the smoke from the wildfires around Stanley would thwart our attempt on Thompson Peak, but everything worked out (fire near Redfish Lake trailhead started just an hour after we got back down). The views were among the best I've seen (un-named lake at 9,000 feet is probably the most impressive alpine lake I've been to), and my brother Johnny and I really liked the fun scrambling on the north end of the headwall (went that way to avoid steep snow slope on south end) and near the summit. The Sawtooths definitely get my vote as the next spot that should be made a national park (surprised it's not already one), but maybe it's for the best that it's not one (we were the only ones going for the summit today). See "Overlooked Idaho" trip report for details.
cdog - Jul 5, 2013 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2013
nice hike & scrambleGreat day trip from Redfish Lake. Still a little snow on the saddle headwall- glad I brought my 'pons and axe. Pretty quiet up there, though did meet and team up with J from Boise for the climbing portion from the lake. Beautiful area!
MaverickMerk - Jun 12, 2013 8:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Thompson Peak via South CouloirSpent the night in the hanging meadow with access to a nice little creek. Incredible views of the range from the summit, and some of the best glissading on the way back down. Still the most beautiful climb I have ever been on.
DrGranola - Aug 16, 2012 11:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2012
Long Day From RedfishBeautiful high lakes on the way up. I should have started earlier to go up the other peaks in the area.
markthejock - Feb 18, 2012 7:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2010
West Crack?Unsure if we were on the right line but it felt about right for the grade. Whichever route it was, the rock was surprisingly solid!
mfox79 - Sep 26, 2011 9:54 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
willams lake trailThis was my first scramble in the Sawtooths and it almost shot me down. one of the most scenic places in the state! we started off at 7:15 at a balmey 22 degrees and cut off the trail and followed the ridge. the alpine cirque was amazing and the exposure off the face was incredible. we found the trail on the way back down. all and all a long day but worth every minute of it. I will be back to climb more in this region.
idpeakgirl - Jul 20, 2011 9:30 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2009
From Fishhook CreekA really enjoyable and mostly straightforward climb. Thompson may be the highest in the Sawtooths, but also seems like it might be one of the easiest from this standard route - great training for harder peaks. And gorgeous views!
ALM4400 - Jul 16, 2011 8:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2010
Sawtooth TrifectaGood time in the hills
mansfieo - Dec 19, 2010 5:01 am
Great welcome back presentGot back from tramping in NZ and decided to climb this the week after I got back. Idaho Mountains can't be beat.
reboyles - Sep 5, 2010 11:43 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
SW/S CouloirGord, Mike and I climbed the SW and S Couloirs on a perfect September day. It's been over 30 years since the 3 of us have climbed together in the Sawtooths so this trip was special for all of us. We mistaken climbed the SW couloir and tagged the north summit and then descended and went a little further south to the S couloir after not wanting to do the short but exposed traverse to the main summit.
CreekRyno - Mar 12, 2010 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2009
From Goat LakeClimbed standard route from Goat Lake with 2 others. Ive seen all kinds of views but some are unparallelled - this is one of them. More spiritual than what I expected. Judging from the entries in the peak-log, I think others felt the same. Climb on.
Schlekeway - Jan 1, 2010 7:27 pm
Great DayClimbed from Redfish trailhead with dad; fantasic views of Stanley and into the interior of Sawtooths.
SawtoothExplorer - Dec 29, 2008 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2008
Awesome ViewsThe views are awesome. I didn't see anyone once I broke off of the trail to head up to the Thompson cirque. Blue skies and big smiles all day long. Well until I had to hike all the way back to the truck.
zoink - Sep 29, 2008 5:01 am Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2008
South CouloirTook three tries to find the class 3 up. Beautiful weather, nice little hill.
boisedoc - Sep 11, 2006 4:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2006
Good hikeNice hike although there was a storm on the way down. A little hazy from the forest fires. Surprised to see persistant snowfields this late in the year. The final 5 feet to the true summit is a bit airy.
IdaClimber - Aug 18, 2006 6:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2005
Standard RouteDone, a long day with strong wind but well worth it.
summitlovinaddict - Jun 19, 2006 2:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2005
Route Climbed: Southwest Couloir: Climbed September 5, 2005Great Scramble! My buddy and I made our way up the west slope into the couloir, and made a few moves to reach the top. Weather was superb and the views of course were awesome. Thompson is a great peak.
SawtoothSean - Mar 10, 2006 10:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 1997
Good scrambleThe first time was via the standard route up the west side after the scramble up from Redfish Lake. Following the climbers trail that runs between Williams and Thompson, the hike is pretty straight-forward. The second time was part of a Williams-Thompson-Mickeys-Carter-Limbert speed circuit day with descent down the trailess valley south of Thompson.