Palisade Glacier, largest in the Sierra, is reached by a trail up Big Pine Creek from the end of a road to and past Glacier Lodge resort. The trail climbs past Second Falls and alternates through several meadow areas and cascades until it climbs above First Lake - then Second Lake - and then Third Lake. Above Third Lake a rough trail continues to Sam Mack Meadow and on to the Glacier.
The main trail continues up to Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Lakes. An alternate route goes by trail from near Fourth Lake down to Black Lake meeting the main trail just below First Lake. The mountains are quite rugged and the scenery outstanding. The Black Lake trail and the trail above Fifth Lake offers outstanding views of the Palisade Crest and routes up Mt. Sill and North Palisade. In the spring, ground rock from the glaciers flows with the melt water into the lakes, giving them a green tinge. This is one of the most scenic areas of the Sierra.
More information including a video here. More pictures.
From 1961 through 1977 I participaged in a number of trips into this area with Explorer Post 360, the Sierra Club and private trips. Climbs of Mt. Gayley and Mt. Winchell were included on two of the trips.
The first trip on May 19-21, 1961 was a twelve mile round trip to 12,120' Sam Mack Lake with Explorer Post 360 - Bill Paine, Don Deck, Dick Pasek, Bill Ravenscroft, Jim Moore, Kevin Barry, Eric Beck, John Paine, John Butler, Mike Smith, Dennis Leisure, Art Ravenscroft.
We camped at the trail junction to Palisade Glacier (10,500'). Bill Paine, Mike Smith, Art Ravenscroft and I climbed to the ridge above Sam Mack Lake. John Butler and Eric Beck camped on the glacier and climbed Mt. Sill and North Palisade. (3 hours to Palisade Glacier Trail Junction, 1-1/2 hours down)
The second trip was on July 1-2, 1961 to climb Mt. Gayley with the Sierra club. Details of that trip here.
On June 1-2, 1963 I participated in a twelve mile round trip Sierra Club trip signseeing on the Palisade Glacier. The group included Don Deck, Bob Brooks, Sam ..., Howard Jordan, Allen Van Norman, Mike Devitt, Tom Beeler.
We found lots of snow on the ground but warm temperatures. Camped at Third Lake - climbed to Glacier on Sunday - beautiful day.
On June 24-28, 1967 twenty members of Explorer Post 360 and nine guests set out to climb 13,800+' Mt. Winchell.
Mt. Winchell is located in the Palisade region of the Sierra Nevada. To access the route we took we drove to the end of the road in Glacier Canyon (Big Pine Creek) and hiked up the north fork of Big Pine Creek past first, second, and third lakes. At the junction with the Sam Mack Meadows trail we followd that trail to the meadows.
You can climb any of the chutes that leave the meadows and head toward the Thunderbolt Glacier. Mount Winchell is to the north of Thunderbolt Peak.
Of the twelve who attempted the climb six or seven made the peak.
A group of fifteen, including myself, went to 12.700+' on the glacier signt seeing while two stayed in camp.
More snow than usual but a beautiful weekend.
Mt. Gayley/Winchell/Palisade Glacier Trip itinerary
On July 21-22, 1973 myself, Brian Twohey, Dan Curley and Dan Berg made a thirteen mile round trim to 11,100' Seventh Lake.
We had beautiful weather. Hiked up the main trail past 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lakes to Fourth Lake. Trail continues around lake and at a crossing of the inlet stream, bears off to the left (not right as shown on topo map).
Right trail goes to old Glacier Lodge high cabin site. Left trail climbs to saddle of ridge with outstanding views of Palisade Glacier peaks, and views of Fifth Lake and the route to Jigsaw Pass.
A rough foot trail descends to Fifth Lake which can also be reached via a main trail below fourth lake. The rough foot trail continues along the ridge to Sixth Lake. Trails go around both sides of Sixth Lake to Seventh Lake.
Camping at Seventh Lake was pleasant with no other people, although many were on the lower trails. Camping is limited with no meaningful shelter - trees too small or terrain too rough. Some camping would be possible between 7th and 6th lakes. A nice well used campsite (fairly large - room for several groups) is near the outlet of sixth lake. Small campsites can be found on the southwest side also.
Campsites at Fifth Lake are clustered around the outlet stream. A meadow area near the inlet stream from the Jigsaw pass area offers camping also. The views from the rough trail between Sixth and Fifth Lake are great. We made it to Seventh Lake in a very leisurely manner by 3:30 p.m. (5 hours slow hiking plus breaks). Enjoyed a pleasant, though windy, camp.
Sunday morning the two Dan's got away about 7:15 with plans to leave packs at Fifth Lake and climb Jigsaw Pass, then Mt. Agassiz. They arrived on Jigsaw Pass about 10:00 and saw a significant elevation drop, plus many other climbers, plus ropes were in use on the nearest direct route. They decided it would take too much time to go all the way around to Bishop Pass and make the peak so returned to Fifth Lake.
Brian and I cleaned up camp and moved leisurely down to Fifth Lake arriving about 9:45. I read a book. Brian had brought along (The Wild, Wild West by Lyon) while he fished. He caught one nice sized trout (total of five all weekend with shortage of right bait). We saw a bird fly by with a good sized trout in its claws.
We all left Fifth Lake about noon and headed down via the Black Lake route. It took only about 2 1/2 hours to come down. The views from this trail of the 1st and 2nd Lakes and Temple Crag and the Palisade Crest are outstanding.
On June 18-19, 1977 myself, Al Nikolaus, Evelyn Nikolaus, Frank Nikolaus, Bill Caipen and Bruce Mather did a fifteen mile round trip to Sam Mack Meadow.
we left Independence about 6:30 Saturday morning and drove to the "new" roadhead and unloaded our gear. No parking there so we back tracked to the parking area and left the car. We got a ride part way and hiked the rest of the way back to the "new" roadhead.
Hit the trail around 8, I think. Stopped at Third Lake overlook about 11:15 for lunch and siesta - departed about 12:30 or so and made Sam Mack Meadow camp about 1:30 or 2. After a nap, started supper about 5 p.m. as a storm moved in with some snow. Corn flurries fell off and on as we fixed and ate supper. Finally hit the sack around 8 as light snow fell off and on into the night.
Sky was clear Sunday morning. Bruce went fishing while Al, Bill and Frank climbed Mt. Gayley and Evelyn and I hiked just to the glacier and back. Peak climbers left about 7:30 and made the peak about noon, using a high third class route to the notch rather than the snow tongue which they felt might be soft.
They returned via the snow route and found it no problem. It was snowing on top. Evelyn and I returned to camp and waited around a fire until the peak climbers returned around 3 p.m. It snowed off and on while we waited and picked up as we headed out. We made the car via the horse trail around 6 p.m. It was a great trip in spite of the weather.
