Middle Palisade 14,040
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:49 pm
Bob, Bill and I decided to do this as an overnight adventure.
Saturday we hiked into Finger Lake - but then decided to push on to the tarn lake above where we made camp for the night
the next morning we were treated to some spectacular alpenglow on Norman Clyde Peak and Middle Palisade. taking just summit pack for the day we headed up to cross a glacier and summit our peak. I had preprinted Rick G's photo with routes hand drawn in and we all agreed that helped tremendously in locating our route with minimal complications. we did the glacier stepoff and angled up between the gendarne and the small pyramid to the left - it worked out well.
the way up is mostly class II making your way up shelves and rocks as you angle for the summit. just below the summit you have to make a class III crux move to hop up on the summit blocks - from there less than 20feet to the summit. all three of us successfully sat on top. I must say the views are incredible and like none I have ever seen before. I think my appetite has just been wetted. it feels like a whole new world opened up - some I may never get to taste.
the trip down was uneventful - we made our way down carefully and safetly. we were treated to some great glisading to get back to camp. after breaking camp we hiked out and were glad to have our cold beer still waiting in the bear box.
a few "oh by the ways"
1) although this can be done as a day hike - I would leave that to the fast hikers. take the time to do overnight and enjoy the area - especially if it is your first time. I estimate that at my slow pace I would need about 15 hours to call a comfortable margin for a dayhike - that minimizes your margin of error.
1) some discussion on going east or west around Finger Lake - although we returned again to the west - the east route looks good if you are following the drainage down the lake. we think we will try it the next time in the area.
1) bring the "deet" - the mosquitos are killer right now. if you value your blood and sanity - heed the advise.
1) this area is truly one of the most beautiful (IMO) of the Sierras - I will be back. I think it is time to resurrect the thead "now that you've done Whitney"
pictures available for viewing:
http://tomcat-rc.smugmug.com/gallery/30 ... #164353255
Saturday we hiked into Finger Lake - but then decided to push on to the tarn lake above where we made camp for the night
the next morning we were treated to some spectacular alpenglow on Norman Clyde Peak and Middle Palisade. taking just summit pack for the day we headed up to cross a glacier and summit our peak. I had preprinted Rick G's photo with routes hand drawn in and we all agreed that helped tremendously in locating our route with minimal complications. we did the glacier stepoff and angled up between the gendarne and the small pyramid to the left - it worked out well.
the way up is mostly class II making your way up shelves and rocks as you angle for the summit. just below the summit you have to make a class III crux move to hop up on the summit blocks - from there less than 20feet to the summit. all three of us successfully sat on top. I must say the views are incredible and like none I have ever seen before. I think my appetite has just been wetted. it feels like a whole new world opened up - some I may never get to taste.
the trip down was uneventful - we made our way down carefully and safetly. we were treated to some great glisading to get back to camp. after breaking camp we hiked out and were glad to have our cold beer still waiting in the bear box.
a few "oh by the ways"
1) although this can be done as a day hike - I would leave that to the fast hikers. take the time to do overnight and enjoy the area - especially if it is your first time. I estimate that at my slow pace I would need about 15 hours to call a comfortable margin for a dayhike - that minimizes your margin of error.
1) some discussion on going east or west around Finger Lake - although we returned again to the west - the east route looks good if you are following the drainage down the lake. we think we will try it the next time in the area.
1) bring the "deet" - the mosquitos are killer right now. if you value your blood and sanity - heed the advise.
1) this area is truly one of the most beautiful (IMO) of the Sierras - I will be back. I think it is time to resurrect the thead "now that you've done Whitney"
pictures available for viewing:
http://tomcat-rc.smugmug.com/gallery/30 ... #164353255