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| | | Palisade Glacier/Big Pine Lakes, CA | | | |
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Palisade Glacier/Big Pine Lakes, CA
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| Hiking | 21.56 Miles |
6,602 AEG |
| | Hiking | 21.56 Miles | 12 Hrs 41 Mns | | 2.06 mph |
| 6,602 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 12 Mns Break | | | |
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| Partners |
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| partners | | our second trip to the eastern sierras
this year instead of a backpacking trip, we camped and did two dayhikes that denny picked out
Saturday's hike went up the north fork of big pine creek
steady elevation gain along the creek and through pine trees
our first stop was at lon chaney's cabin, now used by the forest service
nice view of the creek from the front porch 
the trail continued above turquoise colored lakes one, two and three
arrived at the junction with the palisade glacier trail, and headed for sam mack meadow
checked that out, then began a steeper ascent toward the glacier overlook
good trail for much of it, then off trail for the last few hundred yards
thrown off by a stray cairn, we first took a line through loose talus and scree to the base of a smaller glacier
knew that wasn't the big one, but I started down, knowing how difficult it is for me to descend that kind of terrain
john traversed a ridgeline to the west, and found the palisade overlook
he graciously insisted that I come back up with him on the correct route, which was much easier
wonderful views of the glacier, the palisade cirque, and a large pool at the bottom of the drainage surrounded by a wall of ice
well worth it, and john's extra effort for me to see it was much appreciated
great views of several lakes and the surrounding mountains and meadows
descended, picked up denny and dropped down to sam mack meadow, then returned to the north fork trail
we were not sure how many of the lakes we would have daylight for
passed by lake four and took the side trip to lake five
hank's favorite and I can see why - but all of them were beautiful
hit summit lake, and then went on the six and seven after some discussion, concluding that we might never come back that way again and should take in as much as possible
between six and seven is easy off trail
peaks surrounded all of the upper lakes
some light rain as we left lake seven, and smoke from the rough fire started rolling in
returned via black lake trail, passing black lake, for our ninth of the day
still more than four miles to go, and we finished at dusk
a nice long hike with plenty of elevation gain, and we took every possible side trip
such beautiful country and a good contrast in terrain between the glacier and the lakes
denny, great choice! loved it
twelve hours later we would set out on our second hike |
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