Best chute route on the west side of the Palisades
This climb is part of a larger album. If you wish, you can Open the full album
LONG LAKE AND MT GOODE ON THE WAY TO BISHOP PASS
STARTING THE TRAVERSE TO THUNDERBOLT COL
THE NECESSARY LARGE BOULDER TERRAIN THAT GETS YOU TO THUNDERBOLT COL
DRAMATIC LOCALE AT THUNDERBOLT COL
BIVY SITE BELOW THE WEST FACE OF STARLIGHT-NORTH PALISADE
LOOKING UP AT THUNDERBOLT COL AND SW CHUTE #1 FROM BIVYSITE
SUNSET VIEW OF BARRETT LAKE INTO THE HEART OF KINGS CANYON NAT PARK
SUNSET VIEW OF THE WEST SIDE OF STARLIGHT
ANOTHER SUNSET VIEW OF THE ROUTE WITH APPROX LINE OF THE STD NW CHUTE, STARLIGHT PEAK, PALISADES
SUNSET VIEW OF THUNDERBOLT, STARLIGHT AND NORTH PAL
8AM START ON A COLD LATE SEPT DAY
LOOKING AT THE START OF THE CHUTE AND THE CHOKE POINTS WHERE YOU NEED TO EXIT RIGHT
NICE TERRAIN ABOVE AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE INITIAL CHUTE
LOOKING OVER AT THE WEST RIDGE OF THUNDERBOLT FROM THE NORTHWEST CHUTE OF STARLIGHT
ONE THING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT THIS ROUTE IS THAT YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY DRAMATIC TERRAIN EVEN IF YOU AREN'T PART OF IT
THE WELL DOCUMENTED WRIGHT LEDGE TRAVERSE
SNACK TIME BEFORE CROSSING THE TRAVERSE
LOOKING ACROSS THE TRAVERSE TO THE 'WATERFALL PITCH' AND THE START OF THE UPPER GULLY
LOOKING AT THE UPPER CHUTE, SLABS AND EVENTUAL CHOICE OF THE MAIN NOTCH FINISH OR THE LITTLE NOTCH TO THE LEFT
ANOTHER HUGE TOWER HOVERING WAY OVER YOUR HEAD
LOOKING DOWN THE STARLIGHT CHUTE FROM NEAR THE TOP
DECISION TIME: STRIAGHT UP TO THE STARLIGHT-NORTH PAL NOTCH OR LEFT TO THE SOMEWHAT EASIER FIINISH
THE LEFT HAND FINISH TO THE ROUTE
STARTING UP THE LEFT HAND FINISH TO THE ROUTE
SOME NICE CLIMBING ON THE LEFT HAND FINISH TO THE ROUTE
LOOKING OVER AT NORTH PALISADE FROM NEAR THE TOP OF STARLIGHT
THE MILK BOTTLE APPEARS AT LAST
LOOKING DOWN TO THE STEEP FINISH FROM WHERE THE ANGLE FINALLY RELENTS
THE MILK BOTTLE FROM AN EASIER TO GET TO SPIRE BESIDE IT
NORTH PALISADE FROM STARLIGHT
THE EVER SHRINKING NORTH PALISADE GLACIER FROM THE TOP OF STARLIGHT
A VIEW TO THE SOUTH: BIRCH, THUMB, ED LANE, CLYDE, MIDDLE AND DISAPPOINTMENT
LOOIKING DOWN TO LAKES IN PALISADE BASIN FROM THE TOP OF STARLIGHT
PARTWAY DOWN THE LONG UNINSPIRING DESCENT OF STARLIGHT
LOOKING OUT TO PALISADE BASIN FROM THE TOP OF THE WATERFALL PITCH, STARLIGHT CHUTE
ZOOMED IN VIEW OF THE TOP OF THE WATERFALL PITCH AND THE WRIGHT LEDGE TRAVERSE, STARLIGHT CHUTE
HALFWAY ACROSS THE WRIGHT LEDGE TRAVERSE, STARLIGHT CHUTE
THE TRAVERSE, THE WATERFALL PITCH BEFORE THE UPPER CHUTE DOG LEGS TO THE LEFT, STARLIGHT PEAK
FIFTH AND LAST RAP BACK INTO THE SW CHUTE #2
SHORELINE BARRETT LAKE, WEST SIDE, PALISADES
LATE AFTERNOON ON THE PLEASANT WALK OVER TO KNAPSACK COL
END OF THE DAY VIEW BACK TO THE PALISADES FROM KNAPSACK COL
WEST SIDE DESCENT OF KNAPSACK COL
END OF THE DAY REFLECTION AS I REACH WATER AND START TO LOOK FOR A PLACE TO BIVY
BIVY SITE THE NEXT MORNING
A BIT MORE SHR TERRAIN EVENTUALLY RE-CONNECTS YOU WITH THE BISHOP PASS TRAIL
MORNING VIEW OF THE WEST SIDE OF THE PALISADES
ARROWHEAD AND LONG LAKES ON THE WALK OUT
FALL COLOR HAS ARRIVED
FINISH LINE