Romain - Jun 27, 2019 12:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2019
From Southfork Pass
Good climb from camp at Brainerd Lake, in a very snowy year. Trip report
asmrz - Jun 5, 2016 8:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 1997
North East Ridge
Ellen Holden and I climbed the North to North-East Ridge of the Thumb III, 5.5, in July of 1997. We cramponed up the couloir and soloed almost the whole route. We roped up one pitch at the top of the ridge where it meets the summit ridge line. The line was on good steep rock and the rating felt fair. If one ropes up, there might be 6 or 7 pitches. Later in the season, the approach gully without snow can be a mess.
Deb - Jun 5, 2016 2:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2016
Via Birch Lake Trail
First party to sign register this year - Jim and I had a good day without getting lost on approach in the dark at Birch Lake trailhead to climb the SE slope in pretty good snow conditions. Fine fine views from 13K'!
BobD3 - Jul 13, 2015 7:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2015
From Birch Lake
Fine view from the top on an overcast day.
Bob Burd - Feb 7, 2012 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2011
Birch Creek TH
Day 9 of the Sierra Challenge, along with Ed Lane Peak. Trip Report
seano - Aug 22, 2011 6:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2011
From Birch Creek
Sierra Challenge day 9. A burly approach to Birch Lake, then a bit of a scramble to the saddle, but easy going from there. Nice Palisade view. Trip report
Snow hadn't consolidated as much as we had hoped for, so the ascent was far more taxing than anticipated. However, the turns on the way down were very enjoyable. A great first overnight trip post-op from back surgery!
4x4'd as high as possible, then hiked up the moraine ridge to the south of Birch Ck (bad idea) and eventually made camp around 10,200' in a basin below Birch Lake. Skinned up the chute to get to the upper snowfield with terrible glopping on the skins most of the way. Awesome view from the summit. Skied from the top of the snow - the snow was fantastic on the way down! Stayed near the creek on the way back and were able to ski to within 1/2 mi of the car or so.
bcd - Feb 28, 2008 3:49 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2008
SE slope
Up the SE slope
chudder - Aug 20, 2007 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
up SE slope, down S chutes
Up SE slope from Birch Lake, down one of the south chutes. Bivy on plateau above saddle dividing Birch and Tinemeha drainages, descend on Birch Creek side back to Birch Creek trailhead. It was nice to get above the smoke, though the Birch Creek trail was terrible.
yeah we were successful, kinda...
we, KB and me were gonna throw up a new route up one of those crumbing north ridge/arete of Birch mt., but they're like jinga piles of collapsing rock and we drank too much before drudging up birch creek- what a pain in the ass. they call it birch creek and you can see the birch trees miles away from the trail, but little to no shade or water on hike up with aid and new route gear. good times, good times...
Felsberg - Mar 6, 2007 6:50 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2007
South Slopes
Two day ascent up Birch Creek and the south slopes with Johnny and Dom. Day 1: 6.5 hour slog to Birch Lake included lots of snowshoeing over plants and rocks, and plenty of side-hilling. Never have I started a Sierra hike so far from the mountains! Day 2: up at 5 then 6 hours of knee-deep postholing to the summit of The Thumb. Snow was soft but stable. The ramp accessing the south slopes was steep but short. Great summit views and perfect Sierra weather. The last people to sign the summit register were the Sierra Challenge members below. Hiked down and out to the trailhead by 7pm. This was our 3rd attempt to climb The Thumb, the previous attempts (one per year) were killed due to poor weather.
down near the mouth of birch canyon we saw a heard of 20 or so bighorn sheep. PICS
bechtt - Sep 5, 2006 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
East Southfork Pass
Sierra Challenge 2006 Day 5
Bob Burd - Sep 3, 2006 10:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2006
Traverse from Bolton Brown
Day 6 of the 2006 Challenge. This was a very enjoyable day tagging Split/Prater/Bolton Brown/Thumb in a long day. Trip Report
derbilly - Aug 17, 2006 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
East Southfork Pass
5th day of the Sierra Challenge. Started with 5 at the trailhead for one of the most social climbs of the challenge. Richard, Evan and I took the route through scenic Finger Lake to get to Southfork Pass while the Toms took a direct route from Brainerd Lake. Summitted together with Evan and bechtt. See trip report from bechtt.
Travissmith2251 - Aug 23, 2019 9:59 pm
SummitGreat winter climb
Romain - Jun 27, 2019 12:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2019
From Southfork PassGood climb from camp at Brainerd Lake, in a very snowy year. Trip report
asmrz - Jun 5, 2016 8:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 1997
North East RidgeEllen Holden and I climbed the North to North-East Ridge of the Thumb III, 5.5, in July of 1997. We cramponed up the couloir and soloed almost the whole route. We roped up one pitch at the top of the ridge where it meets the summit ridge line. The line was on good steep rock and the rating felt fair. If one ropes up, there might be 6 or 7 pitches. Later in the season, the approach gully without snow can be a mess.
Deb - Jun 5, 2016 2:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2016
Via Birch Lake TrailFirst party to sign register this year - Jim and I had a good day without getting lost on approach in the dark at Birch Lake trailhead to climb the SE slope in pretty good snow conditions. Fine fine views from 13K'!
BobD3 - Jul 13, 2015 7:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2015
From Birch LakeFine view from the top on an overcast day.
Bob Burd - Feb 7, 2012 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2011
Birch Creek THDay 9 of the Sierra Challenge, along with Ed Lane Peak. Trip Report
seano - Aug 22, 2011 6:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2011
From Birch CreekSierra Challenge day 9. A burly approach to Birch Lake, then a bit of a scramble to the saddle, but easy going from there. Nice Palisade view. Trip report
96avs01 - Apr 19, 2011 1:34 pm Date Climbed: Apr 16, 2011
Slow climbing but good turnsSnow hadn't consolidated as much as we had hoped for, so the ascent was far more taxing than anticipated. However, the turns on the way down were very enjoyable. A great first overnight trip post-op from back surgery!
bc44caesar - Apr 26, 2010 10:16 pm Date Climbed: Apr 25, 2010
Southeast Slopes4x4'd as high as possible, then hiked up the moraine ridge to the south of Birch Ck (bad idea) and eventually made camp around 10,200' in a basin below Birch Lake. Skinned up the chute to get to the upper snowfield with terrible glopping on the skins most of the way. Awesome view from the summit. Skied from the top of the snow - the snow was fantastic on the way down! Stayed near the creek on the way back and were able to ski to within 1/2 mi of the car or so.
bcd - Feb 28, 2008 3:49 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2008
SE slopeUp the SE slope
chudder - Aug 20, 2007 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
up SE slope, down S chutesUp SE slope from Birch Lake, down one of the south chutes. Bivy on plateau above saddle dividing Birch and Tinemeha drainages, descend on Birch Creek side back to Birch Creek trailhead. It was nice to get above the smoke, though the Birch Creek trail was terrible.
yaknjorgl - May 2, 2007 2:55 am
south slopeyeah we were successful, kinda...
we, KB and me were gonna throw up a new route up one of those crumbing north ridge/arete of Birch mt., but they're like jinga piles of collapsing rock and we drank too much before drudging up birch creek- what a pain in the ass. they call it birch creek and you can see the birch trees miles away from the trail, but little to no shade or water on hike up with aid and new route gear. good times, good times...
Felsberg - Mar 6, 2007 6:50 pm Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2007
South SlopesTwo day ascent up Birch Creek and the south slopes with Johnny and Dom. Day 1: 6.5 hour slog to Birch Lake included lots of snowshoeing over plants and rocks, and plenty of side-hilling. Never have I started a Sierra hike so far from the mountains! Day 2: up at 5 then 6 hours of knee-deep postholing to the summit of The Thumb. Snow was soft but stable. The ramp accessing the south slopes was steep but short. Great summit views and perfect Sierra weather. The last people to sign the summit register were the Sierra Challenge members below. Hiked down and out to the trailhead by 7pm. This was our 3rd attempt to climb The Thumb, the previous attempts (one per year) were killed due to poor weather.
down near the mouth of birch canyon we saw a heard of 20 or so bighorn sheep.
PICS
bechtt - Sep 5, 2006 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
East Southfork PassSierra Challenge 2006 Day 5
Bob Burd - Sep 3, 2006 10:20 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2006
Traverse from Bolton BrownDay 6 of the 2006 Challenge. This was a very enjoyable day tagging Split/Prater/Bolton Brown/Thumb in a long day. Trip Report
derbilly - Aug 17, 2006 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
East Southfork Pass5th day of the Sierra Challenge. Started with 5 at the trailhead for one of the most social climbs of the challenge. Richard, Evan and I took the route through scenic Finger Lake to get to Southfork Pass while the Toms took a direct route from Brainerd Lake. Summitted together with Evan and bechtt. See trip report from bechtt.