Climbing Thunderbolt Peak

Aug 30th-Sep 1st, 2003
Trailhead: Bishop Pass (South Lake)
Total Distance: ~24mi
Total Elevation Gain: ~5940ft
Distances and Eleveation gain:

South Lake to Bishop Pass (trail): 7.5mi, 2240ft.
Bishop Pass to Palisade Basin (xc): ~2.5mi, ~1000ft
Thunderbolt (xc): ~2mi, ~2700ft

Thunderbolt
(14003ft, Southwest chute from Palisade basin,
class 4s5.8)

Picture by Peter McColgan
Packing at the trailhead

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Bishop Pass and barren view

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Mt. Agassiz

Picture by Arturo Crespo and Peter McColgan
Hike to Thunderbolt Pass

Picture by Arturo Crespo and Peter McColgan
Thunderbolt Pass

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Southwest Chute No. 1

Picture by Peter McColgan
Steep Class 2 in Southwest Chute No. 1

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Chockstones in the Chute and Class 3 traverse to bypass them

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Looking down the chute

Picture by Arturo Crespo and Peter McColgan
Peter (left) and Arturo (right) hiking up to the notch at the top of the chute

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Start of the Class 4 on the Summit block

Picture by Peter McColgan
Arturo near the end of the class 4 towards the Summit Block

Picture by Peter McColgan and Arturo Crespo
Traversing to the Summit Pinnacle

Picture by Peter McColgan
Slings at Summit Pinnacle

Picture by Peter McColgan
Step 1: Lasso the summit

Picture by Peter McColgan
Step 2: tie many figure 8s on a bight

Picture by Peter McColgan and Arturo Crespo
Step 3: set up a belay on one end (or both ends) of the rope

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Step 4: secure yourself to the rope and climb the rope

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Step 5: enjoy the view (Peter at the Summit)

Picture by Peter McColgan
Step 6: Repeat for each climber (Arturo climbing)

Picture by Peter McColgan
Step 7: Don't forget to take a summit pictures (Arturo at the Summit)

Picture by Peter McColgan
Step 8: Lower the climber when is done

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Peter and Arturo with the Summit register

Picture by Robin DeSota
Sill and Palisade Glacier

Picture by Robin DeSota
Robin at the Summit of Thunderbolt

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Starlight peak

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Traversing back to the notch

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Palisade Glacier

Picture by Peter McColgan
Barret Lakes

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Peter and the Alpen Glow

Picture by Arturo Crespo and Peter McColgan
Dinner time!

Picture by Arturo Crespo
The Palisades

Picture by Arturo Crespo
The Sierra Nevada at Sunset

Picture by Arturo Crespo
Alpen Glow on the Palisades