Sawtooths in Early August

ramblinman

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Joined
Aug 26, 2014
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114
Hi all,

I'm planning a trip out to Idaho for this summer. We are planning to go to the Sawtooths for about 6 nights. We aren't yet set on a route, but we have a vague idea of what we'd like to do.

One idea is a loop in the North starting from Grandjean or Iron Creek TH. We would go from Thomson Peak into the Stephens Lakes area, then to the Warbonnet area and back north via Baron Creek or Goat Creek. Plan to summit a few peaks along the way.

Another possibility is to do a North South traverse using a shuttle system. We would start in the north and travel down to Petit Lake. I've read many of Ben's reviews on here and he speaks very fondly of the Southern lake systems. Also, I would be using Bob's report as a guide to the beginning of this trip: http://backcountrypost.com/threads/sawtooth-wilderness-idaho-north-to-south-traverse.1933/

Thoughts on these two routes? Are they realistic for 6 days?

I have a couple questions for those familiar with the area:
Has anyone used a shuttle in this area?
How hard is the section between Thomson peak and Stephens Lakes?
There is a basin South of Mt. Reagan/Sawtooth Lake. Is it possible to get up Thomson from this basin? Maybe from one of those lakes in the basin?

Here is a map of the area. Disregard the route lines, they are just to get rough estimates on some distances.
http://caltopo.com/m/6L71
 
Last edited:
Shuttle is there, reasonable. Check on the redfish Lake Lodge or Stanley, Id web page. We used the shuttle from Alturas to Iron Creek.
Climb up to the Thompson Pass Itself is Steep, just a scramble. If the snowfield is all across its slow going...We did it with no crampons. Pic three is going up that pass. Pic 5 is coming down the Stephens Lake side. Haven't been up from Mt Reagan area. A alternate roué for us was there... We looked down from the point between 9854 and 10385.....looked doable but steep and loose rock. My GPS track should be posted in the Resources section of BCP
 
Thank you Bob, I will take a look at a map and think about this. You seem to be the master of this area :twothumbs:
 
Just long thru trips.. Ben may have some insight
 
Be prepared to take a lot of amazing photos...the scenery is unreal!
 
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