Summit 1 - Thunderbolt Peak
elev.: 14,003 ft
route: North couloir (~40° snow)
on summit: 10:08 am

With the early-season snowcover, the traverse to the base of the North couloir of Thunderbolt was easy. The bergschrund was also covered, which can present a problem in later season. The route took a straightforward 35-40° snow couloir to the ridge (take a left spur near the top unless you feel like adding some time to the traverse). From there, we roped up and simulclimbed along the ridge to the summit. The best route probably takes the left (NE) side of the ridge.

The summit of Thunderbolt has a wildly exposed summit block. The east face looks like it would go at 5.9, but it is slabby and unprotectable, a fun boulder problem if not for the sheer drop on all sides. Previous reports indicate that you can set up an aid system on the summit block. Skeptical, I gave Mark "10 minutes," feeling that given the traverse ahead of us, each minute was just as valuable as a foot closer to the true summit. After about an hour of schenanigans that produced a sketchy looking anchor where the rope was only held in place by a protruding old bolt pin, we decided to forgo the final 10 feet and head onwards. This was a source of contention between the two of us, and kind of put a damper on the rest of the climb. Sorry Mark.....(Update: On a later trip just to climb Thunderbolt, Mark did successfully lasso the summit block and get on top; without the time crunch of needing to continue on to traverse 4 more summit, he and his partner had a lot of fun doing it.)

Photos from Thunderbolt section:

Mark's annotated overlays for the Thunderbolt section:

Ascent routes

Descent

Thunderbolt and Lightening Rod

Summit 2 - Starlight Peak
elev.: 14,200 ft
route: NW ridge, traverse from Thunderbolt
on summit: 2:44 pm

Traversing from Thunderbolt to Starlight was mostly 4th class over loose blocks, generally on the right (west) side of the ridge. There are a few low 5th moves on the downclimb from Thunderbolt, but they are pretty easy. Many trip reports indicate it takes about 30 minutes to 2 hours to traverse between the two summits, but it took us far longer due to some poor route-finding decisions and rope drag (I'd suggest staying unroped rather than simulclimbing; in fact, in the interest of time, the traverse in general requires mostly exposed unroped climbing).

The summit block of Starlight, called the "Milk Bottle" because of its distinct shape, is perhaps the coolest summit I've climbed. This was one summit block we were not going to bypass - we didn't bring along the pink cowboy hat for nothing! Although slabby and exposed, the moves were actually pretty easy (5.7ish?) on great holds, and Mark led easily up to the top. I had no problem following in my boots. To get down, we rappeled off the bolt that is on the top.

Photos from Starlight section:

Mark's annotated overlays for the Starlight section:

Ascent

Ascent

Descent

Starlight and N Palisade

Summit 3 - North Palisade
elev.: 14,242 ft
route: NW ridge, traverse from Starlight
on summit: 7:28 pm (uh oh....)

Starlight and North Palisade are quite close, but there is a difficult gap (aka "Notch" or "stem of faith") to cross which requires a tricky swing from one side of the chasm to the other off a set of slings (some reports mention downclimbing a chimney and then being able to step across the gap lower, but this looked a bit tricky too). From the gap, various reports suggest taking the right (SW) side, even though this side appears to be less featureless than the left (NE) side. We opted for the blocky left (NE) side, but ended up encountering a lot of early-season snow that forced us into convoluted and difficult detours; perhaps the right (SW) side is indeed a better choice. At least the evening lighting was nice when we reached the summit of North Palisade!

After the summit of North Palisade, the traverse requires descending to the U-Notch, which is an easy scramble and a couple of rappels from some slings. (Note: it is also possible to avoid the rappels by downclimbing the Class 4 Clyde variation, which descends the drainage to the right (west) side of the peak. Cairns mark where you leave this drainage about 400 ft down, turning left and traversing on some exposed but solid ledges that deposit you in the W Chute about 50-100 ft below the U-Notch. You could also downclimb the area where the rappels are, which is low 5th.)  By the time we reached the U-Notch, it was getting dark. Rather than spend a cold night in the notch, we decided to try to descend the U-Notch couloir, hoping that since it was early season the condition of couloir would be more snow than ice (the couloir is a popular alpine ice climb in later summer). Fortunately, we both had crampons and 2 tools, and we encountered no ice, so we were able to back down the 2000' of steep snow in the darkness without a problem. There is a bergschrund at the base of the couloir, but we found some rappel slings on the side wall (climber's right) and our rope just reached over the schrund. While we were setting up our rappel, some giant rocks careened down the couloir right where we had been about 10 minutes previous. Yikes. From the base of the couloir was an easy traverse across the Palisade Glacier to our camp, which we reached around midnight. I made some hot chocolate, snapped a few shots of the Milky Way above the moonlit Palisades, and joined Mark who was already snoring away in the tent. It was disappointing not to have completed the five-summit traverse, but at least we climbed the three more difficult summits, enjoyed that part of the route, and made it safely back to camp. I will definitely have to return for the full traverse, someday....

Photos from North Palisade section:

Mark's annotated overlays for the North Palisade section:

Starlight and N Palisade

Ascent (**what is shown here might not be best line of ascent**)

Summit 4 - Polemonium Peak
elev.: 14,200 ft
route: W ridge, traverse from North Palisade via U-Notch
on summit: N/A

(Since Mark and I did not climb Polemonium or Sill, my descriptions here are just general descriptions gleaned from other trip reports. There are no good photos of the route.)

The traverse between North Palisade and Polemonium first involves an easy scramble and two rappels to the U-Notch (see previous section for description). From the U-Notch, it is not far to the summit of Polemonium. Ascend a series of Class 4 ledges up and right to a notch in the ridge (1 pitch). The toughest part of this section is the beginning, and the pitch ends short to reduce rope drag. From the notch, ascend the ridge, deviating slightly to the left (north) side of the ridge for a short 5.2 finger crack crux move. Above this is easy 4th class scrambling to the summit on an exposed and airy crest!

Photo of Polemonium from North Palisade at sunset:

Mark's annotated overlays for the Polemonium section:

Ascent

Summit 5 - Mt. Sill
elev.: 14,162 ft
route: W ridge, traverse from Polemonium via V-Notch
on summit: N/A

Mt. Sill lies quite a distance from Polemonium, but the route is straightforward and can be done quickly. After the short Class 4 section of downclimbing from the summit of Polemonium, it is just 2nd-3rd class scrambling near the ridge all the way to Sill. Whenever the ridge gets more difficult, drop off to the right (south) side of the ridge.

From reading other trip reports, the descent from Sill to the Palisade Glacier is apparently not that fun. The descent starts a bit below the summit of Sill (on the route between Polemonium and Sill). The descent route is marked with cairns. At a step/slight notch in the ridge, turn right and downclimb a series of 4th class chimneys, traversing slightly right (east). From here there are some exposed and sandy ledges that traverse to a notch between Mt. Sill and Apex Peak. This whole section may have verglas form on it in various spots at night and the rocks are loose.

From the notch, either descend the L-Shaped (north) Couloir to Glacier Notch, or if you don't have crampons, descend to the left (north) side of the snowfield on class 2-3 blocks, with loose blocks and scree. At the leg of the "L" there is a rappel station for clearing the final section of snow. This puts you at the Glacier Notch at 13,200 ft. Descend one of the earlier couloirs closer to Apex Peak and NOT at the lowpoint of the ridge closer to Gayley. This descent to the glacier is class 2-3 and has extremely loose rock and scree. From there there is a 30-35 degree downclimb and traverse along the edge of the Palisade Glacier to the moraine and climbers trail, which leads back to Sam Mack Meadows.

Photo of Mt. Sill from North Palisade at sunset:

Mark's annotated overlays for the Mt. Sill section:

Ascent routes, descent

Ascent routes, descent

The Approach
route: North Fork of Big Pine TH to camp on Palisade glacier
miles: ~9 miles to glacier camp (~7 on trail, ~2 cross-country)
elevation gain: ~4550 ft from TH (elev. 7750 ft) to glacier camp (elev. ~12,300 ft)

We chose to approach the Palisades via the North Fork of Big Pine trail, which gains about 9 miles (the last 2 are cross-country) and 4550 ft as it winds through a series of lakes to Sam Mack Meadows and then up to the Palisade Glacier. The trailhead is just west of Big Pine. Due to the early-summer snow cover, we turned off the trail before reaching Sam Mack Meadows and ascended the snow above Third Lake directly to the glacier. It was a pretty easy approach, but gains a lot of elevation so would definitely make a car-to-car push on the Palisade Traverse a good workout!

Photos from the approach:

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At Camp

We had a beautiful camp on the lower Palisade Glacier, well-placed for both the approach and descent from the traverse. The Palisades were beautiful in the light of the waxing moon, so Mark and I both spent some time doing some night photography. It was fun to have a climbing partner interested in being awake to enjoy the stars as well!

Photos from camp:

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Hiking out

Although we had hiked in via the snow slopes above Third Lake, we chose to hike out via a quick glissade to Sam Mack Meadows. The trail was snow free after the Meadows, and visions of a post-climb meal propelled us onward. I will definitely have to return for the full traverse, too bad it's so far from Seattle, maybe I can link it with a Yosemite climbing trip...

Photos from the hike out: