[ragman and rodman]

Located in the North Cascades National Park, both of these summits offer outstanding views in all directions... all three Thornton Lakes, Thornton Peak, Mount Triumph, Mount Despair, the Southern Pickets and many, many, many more peaks and mountains with which I am unfamiliar. From Hwy 20, drive FS-3745 for 4.3 miles to the end of the road (~2500') and start hiking on the Thornton Lakes Trail. At 1.2 miles (~2700') cross Thornton Creek. At 3.8 miles (~4350') enter North Cascades National Park. At 4.5 miles (~5000') come to the junction for Thornton Lakes and Trappers Peak. At 5.0 miles (~5960') you are standing on the summit of Trappers Peak. At 5.8 miles (~5960') you are standing on the summit of X Mountain. Note that while the summits of Trappers Peak and X Mountain are more or less the same elevation, you do have to give up 350 feet of elevation and then gain it back as you travel from Trappers over to X... and of course you get to regain the 350 feet while tracing your steps back to the Trappers summit. There is some easy Class 2 terrain (all on an obvious path) from the Thornton Lakes/Trappers Peak junction up to the Trappers summit... and if you choose to include X Mountain, the crux of the trip is giving up 350 feet of elevation on the steep Class 2/3 heather slope on the NW side of Trappers. The ridge connecting Trappers and X can appear very intimidating when looking down on it from the summit of Trappers... however, that is only an illusion... and if you don't see bits and pieces of path on the Class 2/3 heather slope on the NW side of Trappers, you are most likely off route. IMO, the views from X are better than those from Trappers... you are closer to the summits of Thornton Peak and Mount Triumph... with an added bonus of being able to look back at the impressive granite wall that makes up the north face of Trappers. For those wondering how X Mountain got its name, BarbE has solved the mystery... there are two six foot quartz veins on the summit block that form an "X". 11.7 miles roundtrip, gaining 4382 feet of elevation. Photos, trailhead directions and downloadable GPS track of our trip to Trappers Peak and X Mountain. ..

[ira]

looks like a great hike. i'll have to get up there some day.

[RichP]

Makes me wish I had gone out to X when I was up there. A good excuse to return though.

[awilsondc]

Gorgeous photos! This trip has been on my list for a couple years. I've considered combining this trip with Thornton too. Does anywhere between Trappers and X-mountain look feasible for descending down towards the lakes? Maybe due south from X, aiming for the middle lake outlet? The lines look pretty close together on the topo (looks cliffy) so I'm not holding out too much hope.

[Mikey]

Many thanks for your outstanding hike/climb reports. Your photos with identified landmarks and route lines are great.

[BarbE]

My first time on Trappers & X Mountain and not my last. Stellar day and scenery!

Upper Thornton Lakes

The mighty Pickets

Aptly named X Mountain

Ridge walk

As close as I can get to Triumph

Ragman gone to heaven

[raising3hikers]

sure looks good up there, nice pics BarbE

[olderthanIusedtobe]

[puzzlr]

That traverse between Trapper and X looks like a lot of fun. I'm sorry I was busy and couldn't join you.

[ragman and rodman]

[Porkrind]

Good report and pics, thanks for the route description. We were there on 8/15/17 but weren't aware of the X Mountain option, maybe next time. I'd also love to explore all around the three lakes (and fish).

[Tom_Sjolseth]

Not that it matters too much, but I actually climbed Thornton without going through Thornton Lakes, I took the cross-country route from the parking lot that gains the ridge directly.

[awilsondc]

Thanks for the reply! Looks like I'm headed up there soon, but just for Trappers and X. I'll scope out the route though, because now I'm curious. I like Tom's cross country route idea, possibly next spring, although upper Thornton Lake does look like a pretty nice place to spend a night in the backcountry. Can't wait to see these views in person!

[zephyr]

Wonderful report R&R. Very inspiring. Love the "X" in X Mountain.

[1k]