Sawtooths Beta

[Eric Osburn]

I’m not really a climber or hard core mountaineer but I’m planning a trip to the Sawtooths this summer and would love some feedback from those familiar with the area.

I’m planning on going from the Iron Creek trailhead to Goat lake and then up the valley to Thompson Peak. From Thompson I’m hoping to pop over to Sawtooth lake by one of the saddles that separate the two valleys.

I’d love any feedback you may have on making that traverse, if it’s even feasible. On topo maps and on google earth the very top of the ride looks pretty steep all the way across the ridge separating the two valleys but after that looks pretty easy/mellow to traverse over to the trail to Sawtooth.

Thanks guys!

[Josh Thomas]

Hey Eric, I know it’s been a while since you posted, but figured I’d give this a shot anyway … I did a route dubbed “The Roof of the Sawtooths” a few years ago that includes the section from Iron Creek to Goat Lake to Thompson you mentioned. I got the route from a guy named Dan McCoy, who at the time had a website called Trekking the West. He’s still got his YouTube flyover up at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsU5fT7DrdQ. Not sure if he’s still got it, but he used to have gps data, etc. he’d share with folks.

From Iron Creek to Mt. Thompson being pretty straightforward. I was alone, and didn’t find it difficult to navigate at all. However, you do need to pay pretty close attention when getting up to Goat Lake off the trail. There was a slow-going talus section around Goat Lake and a couple small snow patches after that, but nothing trekking poles and some sweat won’t take care of.

I can’t speak to the final part of your trip. I followed Dan’s trip south and went out Petit Lake.

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