In 1989 I quit my job to travel and do some mountaineering across
the Western and Upper US (as Italians say "Uppa U aS").
The craziest mountain I ever solo'ed was N Palisade, a California 14er.
The largest glacier in the Sierras lay at its north base.
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It was the driest year in a decade, and crossing the glacier was no problem. N. Palisade is dead center. Mt Sill, climbed later, is just off the left side of the picture. |
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My route was the first snow coulair left of the peak. |
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The difficult part was to be near the summit. I never made the summit. Shortly after I started up the steep coulair, I realized that I was in a desperate survival situation. I had to finish climbing the snow. But, as soon as I did, I forgot the summit and headed down the back of the mountain. I spent the next 10 hours hiking around the mountain range wondering if I had the time, endurance and ability to find my camp. |
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After resting for a day and re-evaluating my goals, I climbed the slightly easier Mt Sill. It was still a very difficult climb. I could see the steep face of N Palisade as I climbed up Sill. |
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Me on the summit of Mt Sill. The gloomy evil face of N Palisade has now haunted me for 11 years : the mountain that almost got me. |
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I got to see Another beautiful day in CA's Sierra Nevada range from the summit of Mt Sill. |