Box 1 has some interesting restrictions because of some low numbers: A 6-thermo can only be 1-5:[234] or 2-4:[13], so cells are [12]:[54]:[1234] However, a 1 in column 3 would start a thermo downwards, as would a 2, as that can only be prevented by a 1 below it, but 1's taken. So the cells are [12]:[54]:[34] An 11-thermo staring [12] can only be continue [2349], but again 2 can be excluded due to there being no row two thermo. A 10-thermo starting [45] can only be 4-6-low. 4,6,2,3,1,5, and 9 all place themselves in box 1, leaving a [78] pair. Box 3 also has some restrictions based on low numbers: An 8-thermo and can begin [123], but 2 and 3 are excluded, so r1c9 is 1. The 9-thermo cannot be 1-2-6 or 1-3-5, so is 1-8. The 8-thermo cannot be 1-2-5 for several reasons, so is 1-3-4:[2] or 1-7:[llow] Given that an 8 in row 2 would form a thermo from any number other than 9 in row 1 of box 2, we know that there is a 9 there, and that it shadows the 8. This places the 9 in box 3 in row 3. The 11-thermo in box 3 cannot be 1 cell, or 3, or stop after 2 if the 2nd one isn't a 9, therefore it's 2-9:[low]. This excludes 1-3-4 as the 8-thermo, so 7 goes in 2rc9 Column 9 now has some restrictions based on high digits: The 9 will have no thermo, and the 8 could only form a thermo with a 9 behind it in column 8, but that's excluded. Therefore two [89] pairs can be placed in column 9. Box 3 is now starting to be constrained more heavily: The 15-thermo upwards immediately stops at the [89], and can't have a 7 on it, so is 6-9, resolving the 8 too. The 23-thermo in column 8 is very restricted - it can't include the 9 in row 3 as its endpoint, and therefore it is 5 cells long. The top 4 cells 8-[345]-9-[?] must sum to 22 by magic, so [345]+[?]=5. 5 is excluded, and ? is now [12]. The thermo must therefore contain 7, 6, and 5 at its top, and a sum to 5 at its bottom. The 10-thermo in box 6 can now only be 4-6:[low] 3 and 5 now complete column 9, which resolves other cells in column 8 and nearby The 21-thermo in row 5 must end with a 9. The 23-thermo in row 7 still needs 15 more, and can't end -6-9, so must be -7-8. Row 9 now has some restrictions based on availability of low numbers. A 7-thermo that can't start with a 1, or have a 4 in the second cell is a 2-5:[134] The 9 must be in one of the columns without a thermo, column 4 or 6. The 7 can only be extended into a 15, 16, or 24, but those thermos don't exist, so the non-thermo edge cells in box 8 are a [79] pair. We're now well equipt to tackle box 7: Sudoku places the 3 in r9c2, and leaves a [45] pair in row 9. The 11-thermo in column 1 may only be 4-7, or 5-6. The 12-thermo in column 3 similarly is 4-8, or 5-7. The 21-thermo in row 8 must contain at least 3, and at most 3, cells between 6 and 8, so is 6-7-8. This puts a [13] pair in box 8, and lets the 4 and 6 be placed uniquely. The 19-thermo still needs 9, and sudoku places the 1 and 2. Box now has lots of openings: The 11-thermo can only be 3-8. The 4 and 7 place in column 1. The 1 and 2 place in column 2. The 5, 6, and 9 place in column 3, remembering that the 11-thermo in row 6 must not be extended, so the 9 can't go there. Now it's mostly sudoku: Column 5 has a naked 8, 7, then 6. The non-existence of thermos in box 2 means that an edge 9 must obsure the 8. r6c5 is a naked 7. Finally, the explicitly marked 2-cell thermo kicks in, it needs to go from [29] up to [13], and therefore is 2-3. Everything else just drops out after that.