BETA PHOTO: North Palisade from Mount Gayley - U-Notch Couloir...
Description
Simply stated, the finest alpine peak in California. The summit of this peak should be on everyone's tick list.
Getting There
The eastern approach:
From Big Pine on 395 drive up the road to Glacier Lodge; trailhead is signed on the right.
Hike up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek past Cienega Mirth, Lon Chaney's old cabin, and First, Second, and Third (spectacular views of Temple Crag) Lakes, then instead of continuing on to Fourth Lake turn south and up into Sam Mack Meadow. This is where I usually camp (6 miles, 3,400 ft of elevation gain). People staying more than a couple of days may want to cross the creek and head up the glacier trail to primitive sites either below the Palisade Glacier Moraine, or on the Moraine (1.25 miles, 1,100 more feet of gain).
This is a ridge traverse from Thunderbolt Peak to Mt. Sill that encompasses five fourteeners, North Palisade being the highest. This is an incredible way to bag all of these summits in a long day of moderate climbing and scrambling. Most people will want to have a separate day for the approach and another for the exit.Thunderbolt peak, Starlight Peak, North Palisade, Polemonium Peak, and Mt. Sill.Thunderbolt can be approached from the East via th...[more]Browse More Classics in CA
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