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Neal's Photo Gallery

1. East Face... ... 20. Death Valley 21. El Capitan 22. San Quintin 23. North Palisade 24. The Leaning... 25. Thailand 26. Flowers ... 43. Mt. Whitney
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Neal's Photo Gallery
North Palisade
Solo ascent of the U-notch Couloir to the summit of 14,242 ft. North Palisade.
Date: 06/25/2007
Size: 26 items
Views: 234
Temple Crag and Second Lake
Item Actions Temple Crag and Second Lake
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 14
On the approach to the Palisade Glacier First, Second, and Third lakes are passed, as well as the massive "Temple Crag". 06/23/2007
Third Lake
Item Actions Third Lake
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 10
The glacial teal-blue of the lakes reminds me of Switzerland- not many lakes in the Sierras look like this. 06/23/2007
Sam Mack Meadow
Item Actions Sam Mack Meadow
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 7
A small alcove just below the start of the morraine houses this stunning little meadow with a wide stream running through it. 06/23/2007
Shooting Stars in Sam Mack Meadow
Item Actions Shooting Stars in Sam Mack Meadow
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 9
. 06/23/2007
Back down the North Fork
Item Actions Back down the North Fork
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 14
First, Second, and Third Lakes are visible down the valley of the North Fork of Big Pine Creek, as you climb up to the morraine. 06/23/2007
Mount Sill and the Swiss Arete
Item Actions Mount Sill and the Swiss Arete
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 11
Last summer I climbed the Swiss Arete- A beautifully aesthetic line up to the summit of Mt. Sill. 06/23/2007
Home for the night
Item Actions Home for the night
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 19
I found a great bivy spot just below the morraine, well protected from the wind, and complete with a little stream running by it. 06/23/2007
Sunrise
Item Actions Sunrise
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 12
I got up at 4am to start climbing. The sun didn't get up until about 5am. 06/23/2007
The morraine
Item Actions The morraine
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 8
The first major obstacle is the glacial morraine, a good mile of large boulders left behind by the glacier. 06/23/2007
First rays of sun hit North Palisade
Item Actions First rays of sun hit North Palisade
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 12
The massive Palisade Glacier lies below the Palisade Crest. The U-notch couloir is just right of center in this photo. 06/23/2007
Ice axe, Crampons
Item Actions Ice axe, Crampons
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 8
Crampons on, ice axe ready, time to cross the glacier. 06/23/2007
Looking down the Palisade Glacier
Item Actions Looking down the Palisade Glacier
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 13
The glacier was heavily sun-cupped, creating an interesting textured look across the expanse of ice. 06/23/2007
Crevasse
Item Actions Crevasse
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 17
Several years ago I was crossing this glacier under the impression that there weren't any crevasses to worry about. I fell into one of these that was hidden by a thin layer of snow, catching myself at the elbows! Yes, there are crevasses here! 06/23/2007
U-notch Couloir below North Palisade
Item Actions U-notch Couloir below North Palisade
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 11
. 06/23/2007
Bergschrund
Item Actions Bergschrund
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 12
The glacier is an actively flowing body of ice that slowly pulls away from the cliffs each summer, to be filled in with new ice each winter. Where the ice breaks away from a couloir a deep crevasse forms, called a "bergschrund". Negotiating the steep wall of the bergschrund is often the crux of the route when climbing couloirs. 06/23/2007
Looking across the glacier from the bergschrund of the U-notch Couloir
Item Actions Looking across the glacier from the bergschrund of the U-notch Couloir
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 12
. 06/23/2007
Looking down the couloir from the U-notch
Item Actions Looking down the couloir from the U-notch
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 14
The angle of the U-notch is about 45 degrees- not especially steep as far as ice climbing goes, but without a rope it was plenty steep to keep me on my toes- literally! There was still a layer of frozen snow for most of the way up, providing secure purchase for crampons and axes, but near the top the pure blue alpine ice was exposed, where I felt very insecure given the thousand feet I would tumble down if I slipped! 06/23/2007
Peering through the "U"
Item Actions Peering through the "U"
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 14
The beautiful Sierra Nevada unfolds below as you reach the U-notch. This is Kings Canyon National Park, with Sequoia National Park far in the distance. 06/23/2007
5th class rock protecting the summit of North Palisade
Item Actions 5th class rock protecting the summit of North Palisade
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 12
After reaching the top of the u-notch, I switched to rock shoes to climb the 5.5 rock leading to the summit ridge. I had intended to descend the other side of the peak, so I carried my boots, axes, and crampons up to the summit, only to decide that getting down the other side was too risky without a rope- so I climbed back down the same way, with all my ice climbing gear on my back! 06/23/2007
The High Sierra
Item Actions The High Sierra
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 12
. 06/23/2007
Looking back down the glacier from near the summit
Item Actions Looking back down the glacier from near the summit
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 8
. 06/23/2007
Starlight Peak
Item Actions Starlight Peak
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 12
Neighboring Starlight Peak is possibly the most spectacular summit in the Sierras, with its "milk-bottle" summit block rising towards the open sky. 06/23/2007
Kings Canyon
Item Actions Kings Canyon
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 9
Southwest from the Palisades, the massive Kings River Canyon is clearly visible, the namesake of Kings Canyon National Park. 06/23/2007
The summit of North Palisade
Item Actions The summit of North Palisade
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 11
. 06/23/2007
Sierra Club Summit Register
Item Actions Sierra Club Summit Register
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 11
. 06/23/2007
Done with the 14'ers
Item Actions Done with the 14'ers
Date: 06/23/2007
Views: 19
. 06/23/2007