High Sierra Topix

I'm having trouble sizing down the photos (but thanks for the help Lumbergh21). This is the loose talus fan. It's sketchy enough at the top that I wasn't taking photos... Still, only shitty c3.

I did Thunder Pass over 30 years ago. Don't remember a serious pucker factor. But maybe I was too dumb to realize it. I do remember the tedious talus after dropping down over Longly Pass (which wasn't bad due to little snow). It was slow going as I traveled just from South Guard Lake to the Lake just to the s. of Thunder Pass that day.

Thanks for the pics. Pics aren't always the most honest representation of what it looks like standing there, but it sure looks like miserable Class 2 but not OMG , I might die Class 3.

Only at the top, where, in final frustration from more sliding backwards you move on to the almost equally shattered, loose "base" rock, is it risky. IMO

So those who have done the pass, would you prefer to go UP the pass or DOWN?

Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 18, 2019 9:09 am So those who have done the pass, would you prefer to go UP the pass or DOWN?

I would think going up from the south and down north would be easiest and safest if you don't mind skiing down loose talus.

Would the north side of Thunder Pass be similar to the south side of Pants Pass, Snow Tongue Pass or Harrison Pass? Or worse? I detoured the north side "direct" on Pants Pass so have no experience for that. From the photos (and Google Earth) it looks like the very top of Thunder Pass/Col would involve steep scrambling.

Progress over the last couple of hundred feet reminded me of Harrison Pass because the footing was so poor and slippery. Photos of the two don't look anything alike, though. The route I took over Pants Pass was clearly Class 3, the steep chute south of the usual route, and it was not really comparable to Thunder Pass.

Thought it was slightly uglier than Pants Pass, but similar. Probably only think that cuz I did it more recently tho.

Could be wrong, but I thought I saw that Thunder Pass/Col is NOT in our Cross Country Passes database. Maybe if that is the case, one of you who have actually done it and have photos should write it up and the comments here should be placed there?