Summer Adrift Episode 10: Thompson Peak
Welcome to episode 10 of A Summer Adrift!
Just a day or two after the hike into the Frank Church Wilderness we were ready to head back out on our next adventure! This time we were heading back into the Sawtooths with our sights set on the highest peak in the range!
Owen getting fancy on our hike up into the Sawtooths
Owen with a hole in his pants, which is hard to see… thankfully
We tossed a few more backpacker meals into our packs and we started the long and steep climb into the mountains. We were thankful that we’d taken the time to do a hike with packs leading up to this trip because this climb was not for the faint of heart, and was a sign for what was yet to come.
Some sections of the trail were some of the steepest we’ve ever climbed, a lot of which was made up of loose granite gravel making it feel like we were walking up a treadmill. The climb, as arduous as it was, was well worth the views that were waiting for us.
Once the trail took us to the lake we all stopped for some lunch and an opportunity to shed the weight of our packs. While we chomped on sandwiches we eyed what looked like our next challenge. From what we could tell the trail took us to the far end of the lake where a large snowfield was waiting making following any sort of trail nearly impossible.
The gang traversing the steep and narrow shoreline of the lake, 35 mm
The only way we were really going to know how to get up and over that snowy pass as going to be getting over to it and route finding while we were taking a closer look.
As soon as we got to the pass we knew that our best course of action was going to be going straight up and over. The climb was once again steep, but the afternoon heat made it easy for us to chip away foot holds into the snow.
Chase, Shruthi and Aimee making the climb over the pass
MAK pointing out the route around the second lake
The Team
MAK hiking through yet another snow field
After we crested two large uphills sections, we finally made it to the top of the pass. In front of us was yet another partially frozen lake that was so blue it hardly looked real.
Owen in the tent before bed, 35mm
Just on the other side of lake number three, we found a lovely little flat spot to call camp for the night, thanks to On X! All tuckered out from the thousands of feet of climbing we had to do to get to camp. After eating an early dinner we all went to bed well before the sun went down. We needed a good nights rest for our early morning wake up call!
Peter enjoying the view the next morning
We woke up and started preparing breakfast at first light, in hopes of getting on trail early. Overnight, it had been cold enough to freeze the lake over. This isn’t uncommon and happened to us many times on the John Muir Trail the year before.
We left camp with empty packs hit the trail towards Thompson peak long before the sunlight made it to our tents.
Thompson Peak, 35mm
From our base camp to the summit we had to navigate through snow over two passes, the saddle, and then onto the peak. Our goal was to be on the summit as early as possible so we could then hike all the way back to the base of the mountains by the end of the day.
It was tricky hiking with the absence of a tail due to the snow. Thankfully, On X once again came in handy to help us look ahead at the terrain and figure out rough distances for each segment of our hike to keep us on the best line.
Sadly, before we reached the top of the first pass, Shruthi decided she needed to turn around and head back to our base camp. She was feeling under the weather and unstable climbing the steep rock. This sort of trekking is dangerous as it is, but adding the feeling of being unstable was just not a risk any of us was willing to take. We agreed to press on and meet her and Peter back at basecamp after we summit.
Aimee on the summit, 35mm
MAK & Owen on the summit, 35mm
The rest of the trek was cold and windy but full of incredible views. When we’re this deep in the backcountry I can’t help but feel pure bliss in-spite of the hardship. We live for this type of hiking. All the none essentials of life fall away and all you’re left with is your mind, your physical ability, your team, and your immediate surroundings. It’s a feeling of freedom that I don’t get from anything else.
MAK , the first to reach the summit
Alas, we made it to our summit out of breath and in pure awe.
View from the top of Thompson
MAK and the summit register in the bottom of the frame
Our time on the summit was full of happy tears and customary celebrating. The view was breathtaking and worth every single step it took to get here.
The whole team back at basecamp
After we had our fill on the summit and signed the register we started our long and steep journey back to basecamp to meet up with Peter & Shruthi.
When we got there, Shruthi was feeling much better with a little more sleep and food in her system. We were sad to not have them with us up there, but we were happy knowing that the right decision was made so she could have the strength to get out on her own accord.
Aimee and Chase
Peter and Shruthi
MAK & Owen
We packed up our base camp, enjoyed some well deserved lunch and then continued our way down the mountain.
What was slow and arduous going up made for a fast and fun descent!
All those snowy passes we had trekked up the day before, we were able to slide down, which is known as glissading in the alpinism world! The rest of the hike went quickly and smoothly as we returned to our patiently waiting kitties!
Once again, thank you all so much for watching, listen, and reading. You all are the best. We can’t wait until next week!
Love,
MAK
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Our work life is powered by Battle Born! They make the best lithium batteries on the market and are a crucial part of our power and solar system that makes working from the road possible! It took an incredible amount of power to create Summer Adrift, and we have Battle Born to thank for making it possible.
We’ve now been living our of our flat-bed Four Wheel Camper for 2 years now. FWC builds comfortable and durable campers that can fit on any truck. We can confidently say that a FWC is the most comfortable and livable rig we’ve had in all of our years on the road!
Maps are your best friend when you’re on the road. On X makes it easy to find open routes and trails near you no matter where we are or the time of year. On X allows us to access saved maps to locate ourselves in the wild. The GPS works perfectly offline, even when service is nonexistent.
MAK’s favorite underwear (or shall I say innerwear) company anywhere! After a long search to find, comfortable, technical and sustainable underwear the search is finally over! Made of ethically sourced Marino Wool, Branwyn underwear are ready for anything you could through at them. Use code BFN15 for 15% off your next order!
Main Line Overland is the shop that built our incredible rig, Roxanne. They are incredibly knowledgable of everything overlanding. We chose to work with them because they build thoughtful, reliable and durable vehicles that can get you to anywhere you ant to be!
Tires can be some of the best insurance when you are out in remote places. We love and trust our Toyo ATIII’s to get us in and get us out safely no matter the terrain. They’re amazing in mud, moon dust, loose rocks, slick rock, you name it!
