MOUNT THIELSEN OBSIDIAN CLIMB

Mt Thielsen Wilderness, Oregon

August 29th, 2010. The Obsidians

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* Brian Hamilton - Leader (Photo credit BH)
* Marci Hampton
* Roy McCormick

* George Jobanek - Assistant leader
* Andy Jobanek

Trip Report: Four of the originally planned six Obsidian members met at South Eugene HS at 1700 Saturday for the carpool to Diamond Lake CG. One had elected not to go and one was working late and would meet us at the campground. Conditions at Diamond Lake were unseasonable cool and showery with new snow visible on Mt Bailey to the west of the lake.

The five of us started hiking from the deserted Thielsen trailhead at 0510 and made good time up to the PCT junction, where we caught glimpses of the peak through the clouds. Conditions improved and by the time we reached "chicken point" the sun was shining and the winds were calm. After prussicking up Brian's fixed line we all enjoyed the beautiful view from a cloudless and bug free 9,184' summit around 0845.

The hike out was uneventful. We passed quite a few hikers, climbers, and Deschutes Mountain Rescue folks headed up the trail (They were training). We arrived back at the now crowded trailhead at 1215.

Mount Thielsen info from Wikipedia

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Here is our GPS track from the climb. (Garmin GPSmap 60CSx):

GPS analysis by Garmin Connect



Sunset over Diamond Lake on Sat night	Mt Bailey	We snagged one of the last unreserved campsites


After 4 miles by headlamp we watched sunrise from the PCT Jct	PCT logo	Sunrise colors looking west


The weather looked uncertain	Diamond Lake dawn	Marci headed up the ridge. Note the rime ice.


Looking up the frosty ridge	Rime ice close-up. Yes, this is August!	Marci, Andy, George and Brian


This shot is NOT rotated 90 degrees	Thielsen is known as "the lightning rod" of the Cascades	Onto the scree


Dike close-up	This shot is from "chicken point" at the base of the summit pinnacle	Brian leading up the pinnacle


Looking down the east side.	Looking north toward Diamond Peak	Brian reaching the top of the pinnacle


Me topping out (Photo credit BH)	Leader Brian	Doing my best lightning rod impression (BH)


We had the small summit to ourselves	PCT is visible just to the left of the shadow	Looking down the south ridge


USGS marker	Back down at the PCT jct, some clouds moving in	Blowdown area

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