April 29, 2005, The Palisades-Photo Added
4/29/05
2018
0
During the past 6 weeks, we have skied and toured some beautiful places but today's trip to the Palisades was without any doubt the most spectacular area. If you plan to ski the Sierras, you have to tour in this area. The area runs from Big Pine to Independence. It has the highest peaks, steepest lines, largest number of glaciers in the Sierras and mouth gaping scenery. Bring a digital camera because you can't carry enough film.
It was a bluebird day and we left our Buttermilk campsite at 8am and headed south on 395. In Big Pine, we headed west on Glacier Lodge road. The roadside was filled with lupine and the occasional Indian paintbrush. There are a few swithbacks but the road is mainly a straight shot UP. We parked at road end at 7800'. We began skinning 50 feet from the camper and headed up the South Fork of Big Pine Creek. The terrain meandered along the creek, then climbed through a waterfall slot then into a basin that offers couloirs and gullies. Above you are numerous rock walls, steep snow faces and adrenalin inducing terrain. Jill and I slowed our pace to capture image after image.The day was warm and still. We continued toward Contact Pass . The views of Mt Gayley,Mt Sill, Mt Jepson,Norman Clyde Peak,Middle Palisades, The Thumb and Kid Mt.were visible with the occassional whispy cloud. This is a peak baggers heaven.This is a ski mountaineers playground. After hours of skiining, Jill and I found a giant flat rock and lounged in a place very close to paradise. After an hour of dozing, we headed down. The south aspects were consolidated and corn. The north exposures were unconsolidated. We darted along the gullies and skied the waterfall area with its gaping holes and running water. We meandered along the flats and arrived at the cabins with smiles. It was a perfect day. Put it on your list. :) Zap
It was a bluebird day and we left our Buttermilk campsite at 8am and headed south on 395. In Big Pine, we headed west on Glacier Lodge road. The roadside was filled with lupine and the occasional Indian paintbrush. There are a few swithbacks but the road is mainly a straight shot UP. We parked at road end at 7800'. We began skinning 50 feet from the camper and headed up the South Fork of Big Pine Creek. The terrain meandered along the creek, then climbed through a waterfall slot then into a basin that offers couloirs and gullies. Above you are numerous rock walls, steep snow faces and adrenalin inducing terrain. Jill and I slowed our pace to capture image after image.The day was warm and still. We continued toward Contact Pass . The views of Mt Gayley,Mt Sill, Mt Jepson,Norman Clyde Peak,Middle Palisades, The Thumb and Kid Mt.were visible with the occassional whispy cloud. This is a peak baggers heaven.This is a ski mountaineers playground. After hours of skiining, Jill and I found a giant flat rock and lounged in a place very close to paradise. After an hour of dozing, we headed down. The south aspects were consolidated and corn. The north exposures were unconsolidated. We darted along the gullies and skied the waterfall area with its gaping holes and running water. We meandered along the flats and arrived at the cabins with smiles. It was a perfect day. Put it on your list. :) Zap
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