Thunder Mountain

Thunder Mountain – October 6, 2007

Mountain height:           2367 m
Elevation gain:               972 m
Ascent time:                  3:45
Descent time:                2:10

Scrambling with Raff and Ferenc.

Fighting a cold and with Mark out of town I was planning to stay at home. However, I felt well enough on Saturday morning to try something short and easy. A quick perusal of various websites revealed Thunder Mountain to be a good candidate. Bob Spirko’s north ridge route looked to be an interesting and stress-free trip and I thought the week’s new snow might add to the scenery. Also Sonny, Linda, and Antri had completed the trip a week earlier and enjoyed the ascent.

I was going to go alone, but decided to give Raff a call just in case he was available. He and Ferenc were on their way to attempt Banded Peak. They agreed that if there was too much snow on the approach trail, we would meet in Longview and attempt Thunder Mountain together. There was and we did.

We stepped out of Ferenc’s van into a vicious west wind and had to concede that the ascent would be completed in very windy conditions. The first part of the trip was very easy and the wind was not an issue at all. As expected, when the snow appeared the scenery improved dramatically, especially with a clear sky above – the yearly reminder of the dramatic beauty of winter that is upon us.

We stayed on the ridge throughout the ascent, to enjoy the snow and the new scenery it created. Ferenc led the ascent and did so with remarkable agility and ease. He would practically run across sections that I was tempted to crawl across!

Soon, the wind did become an issue - surprisingly not in an altogether bad way. Though it was an extremely strong wind, it was not a bone-chilling one. It made travel a far greater challenge, but more importantly created some amazing scenes as blowing snow ravaged the mountainside, the ridge, and those upon it. I fell behind at this point to watch Raff lead the way across the ridge, while being brutalized by the wind and blowing snow. It was quite thrilling. Raff and Ferenc then made their way up the summit in equally vicious conditions. Normally, these types of conditions would make for miserably cold travel, however, the ascent was more refreshing and exhilarating than cold and we all arrived at the summit in good spirits (actually, I was elated!).

Clouds covered most everything on the Continental Divide, but we continued to enjoy clear skies over the Front Ranges. The descent was fast, but we were facing more into the wind and the blowing snow was absolutely biting against any exposed skin. Again, it was a treat to watch Ferenc bounding across the ridge and down the slopes with the grace of a mountain goat.

A thoroughly enjoyable day with several terrific surprises and the company of two great guys and amazing scramblers.