Klamath County High Point Trip Report
Mt Thielsen - a twofer with Douglas County (9,182 ft)
Date: July 5, 2002
Author: Ron Tagliapietra
Leave state route 138 near the south end of Diamond Lake at the sign for the Mt Thielsen trailhead.
Pay for the Forest Pass, and begin hiking.
The first junction is signed for 2 miles, but is probably only 1.5. The next junction is the PCT, at about 3.5
miles and 7350 feet elevation and offering an impressive view of the peak. From here to the last 150 vertical
feet the trail stays close to the ridge line. We never crossed any snow at all. The last 150 feet is much more difficult,
not because of snow, but because it is class 3. Some people ascended with ropes while we were there.
On the other hand, the rock is not crumbly and offers numerous handholds and footholds. We stayed
to the right as we went up this section, and after sliding through the horizontal crack it got noticeably easier.
I summited with Dan Johnson and Drew Fields. There was a register but no pen, so we could not sign.
The summit (and the spot 150 feet below) barely offers views of the far shore of Crater Lake. To the south,
one can also see Mt. Scott, Mt. McLoughlin, and Mt. Shasta; to the west, Mt. Bailey; and to the north Diamond Peak,
the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and Mt. Bachelor. Finally, nearby are Salt Creek Falls off OR 58,
third highest falls in the state, and Watson Falls off OR 138, the fourth highest.
Trip statistics: About 9 miles round trip with 3,800 feet of elevation gain.