Past Activity

Mount Thielsen Graduation Climb

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Start date: 05/30/2026
Start time: 5:00 AM
End date: 05/30/2026
End time: 7:00 PM

Description:

This is a climb up the west ridge of Mt Thielsen. Participants need technical rock climbing skills. This climb is intended for recent graduates of the Obsidians Climb School
NOTE: Members can sign up 30 days before the climb opens; non-member sign up begins 2 weeks beforehand.

We will be ascending Mount Thielsen via the West Ridge. More information on the route can be found here: https://www.summitpost.org/west-ridge/155580. It is close to 4000’ elevation gain and 10 miles round trip. The last 100’ are on fairly good rock. We will have fixed ropes to ascend the summit pitch and then we’ll rappel down at the end.
The climb will start at 5:00 AM so climbers may want to camp at the trailhead the night before. A Northwest Forest Pass is required at the trailhead.

Photo by: Jamie Sullivan

Event Leader: Maryanne Reiter
Event Leader Phone: 5415218472
Event Leader Email: mreiter1959@gmail.com
Assistant Leader: Jamie Sullivan
Event category: Climbs
Area Type: Mountain
Departure Location:
Rating: Difficult
Roundtrip total drive miles: 260
Season:
Permits Required:
- NW Forest Pass
Event Status: Passed
Supplies and Equipment Required: Comfortable hiking boots (not stiff). Light hikers ok Helmet Belay/rappel device Climbing Harness 3 carabiners (locking) 2 prusiks at least 1 personal anchor Backpack (large enough to carry your gear and group gear) Synthetic quick pants, drying t-shirt and long-sleeve shirt Thick fleece/puffy Lightweight Shell jacket and pants Socks-wool or synthetic Lightweight gloves Warm hat- needs to fit under helmet Sun hat Headlamp and extra batteries Sunglasses Water (2 liters minimum) Food Emergency Kit (whistle, space blanket, knife, lighter, map, compass, GPS) Sunscreen Lip balm Toilet paper and baggies for used TP personal first aid- ibuprofen, moleskin, etc Trekking poles for hike in (nice to have)
participant prerequisites: Participants must be in good physical condition and able to climb 5.2 rock on a fixed line as well as know how to rappel.
Conditions:
Total Distance: 10
Member Fees: —
Elevation Gain: 3800
Non-Member Fees: 30
Committee: Climbs
Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Seven strong Obsidians braved alpine conditions to summit Mount Thielsen. The snow, rime ice and sometimes limited visibility did not stop us from climbing. We had to wait for the hard snow to soften and then continued on. The summit block was dry and we easily climbed it and then had an exciting rappel into the mist.

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