Thunder Mt. July 4th 2005

Got an early start at 4:00am drove up to Tunnel Cr. Trail head 3100' about 5 miles before Stevens Pass.  Ascended to the Pacific Crest Trail just as the sun was cresting over the horizon.  Easy switchbacks and gradual gradient brought us to awesome views in our approach to Trap Pass.  At the pass, we broke off the Crest trail and 'weasled' up the ridge crest to a ramp of most excellence.  Breeze, massive views, and fresh delicious melting snow.  ( 7 swallow rule:  no more than seven swallows unless you want to suffer from a mind numbing brainfreeze. )  This ramp along the ridgeline brought us right to a pass next to Nimbus Pk.  overlooking Upper Thunder Lake, along w/ several other distant views of Adams, Stuart, Rainier, (behind us) Glacier Pk, and Baker.  At the pass there was much festivities involving lying down on the heather eating gummy worms, and guzzling Gatorade.  The lake seemed about 30% frozen over still... a vast improvement from about 9 days ago where it was around +60% frozen.  After scampering down along the lake edge, we climbed to the top of Thunder Mt. where we took several Pics, and sent a few rocks the size of small cars down a steep rocky gully.  I got my fill of views, and snarfed the rest of my food stuffs, and headed back.  There were mild bug irritations, ( currently scratching a bite on my wrist)  but all in all, was a most excellent hike.  Arrived back home around 4:30, and able to go to 4th of July festivities.