Devils Thumb

Devils Thumb is a mountain summit in Southeast Alaska rising above 9,000 feet, defined by its dramatic vertical northwest face. This rock wall drops approximately 6,700 feet from the peak down to the Witches Cauldron base.

The first successful ascent took place in 1946 when Fred Beckey, Clifford Schmidtke, and Bob Craig climbed the East Ridge route. This climb became a landmark achievement in the mountaineering history of the region.

The Tlingit people call this peak Taalkhunaxhkʼu Shaa, meaning 'the mountain that never flooded,' referring to its role in their creation stories. The name reflects how deeply the local landscape is woven into indigenous traditions.

Reaching the summit requires extensive mountaineering skill and specialized climbing equipment due to harsh weather and technical terrain. Proper preparation and careful planning are essential for anyone attempting the climb.

The northwest face is one of North America's largest vertical rock walls, maintaining an average slope of 67 degrees throughout. This extreme steepness makes the wall legendary among climbers and defines its appearance more than any other feature.