Cloudy all morning. Luckily all burnt off in the early afternoon. Thornton Lakes and Trappers Peak. First 2.3 miles are flat (long abandoned logging road, lots of unedible mushrooms). A couple of easy creek crossing. Then another ~2.2 miles in the woods, but with steady up slope (up ~2000 ft) till a huckleberry filled saddle. ~5000 ft. Muddy at times. Finally (after 2:15 hrs) in the open.
Junction to Thornton Lakes (in 0.6 miles, -500 ft) and reportedly not-so-good camp sites at the lower lake. Continue straight, now very steep, hands are better than the poles. More huckleberries (brilliantly lit under the afternoon sun) and certainly progressively better views. ~960 ft and 0.8 miles later, reached the 5964 ft top. A few people rested on one of the many rocky crops along the way. Fine view: all 3 lakes to the SW, Teebone ridge, the town of Newhalem past the highway, Neve glacier, Pyramid and Colonial peaks to the east, Pickets Range to the north. But it's worthwhile to go to the top. More of the Pickets, the NE face of Mt Triumph. Even saw a patch of blooming lupines this late in the season. Can spend hours wondering around or just sit and rest in the many little crisscross trails among the inch high huckleberry bushes (no berries this high) and heathers. Small biting flies. Direction: Hwy 20, 11 miles east of Marblemount (or 3 miles west of Newhalem. Turn northwest on Thornton Creek road. 5.1 miles of rough gravel to the end. A small (< 10 spots) parking area with a privy.
