On September 14-15, 1974 myself, Gil Beilke, Dan Curley, Rob Berube and Terry Wainscote backpacked into the Middle Palisade area.
We left the roadhead at 7:30 a.m. with frost in a few places but nice clear weather. Ran into a couple dozen grouse on the trail - it was opening day of grouse season but they didn't seem to be bothered by us.
We soon came to a ridge-top that gives you great views of the Palisade range from Mt. Sill south. Gil and Dan made it to Brainard Lake by 10:30 and charged off to climb The Thumb. They went up a chute that got them into some 5th class, but made the peak okay and then came down via South Fork Pass. They encountered lots of loose scree and rock fall.
The rest of us arrived in a more leisurely manner at 11:30 and setup camp. Rob and Terry went off to explore the snow fields above the lake and I hiked up to Finger Lake. Gil and Dan made it back to camp about 6:30 p.m. where we had supper ready.
After a good night's sleep during which Rob christened his A-16 Half-Dome and I christened my new Holubar 4-man tent. Gil went off to climb Peak 12,861 north of Willow Lake. Rob and I hiked up toward the South Fork Pass glacier. We went as far as the snow field on the terminal moraine. Nice campsites at the upper lakes.
Terry loafed around camp and Dan headed for the car - slow because of sore knees. We all got back to car about 2 p.m. (left camp at noon) and headed home after a fine weekend.
