"More Palisades Glacier pictures" California Travelogue by bruingirl

California Travel Guide: 53,697 reviews and 100,901 photos

Looking back at the lakes in the distance

Halfway up the switchbacks, we turned to see that the lakes were getting smaller now. We were definitely gaining more elevation at this point.

The few living plants around here.....

Wildflowers

These wildflowers are able to survive above the timberline! There is hardly any soil at this elevation - mostly granite.

Looking back at the 3 lakes....

Molly presenting our ascent to Palisades Glacier

Here we are with Temple Crag right next to us. We have finally reached our goal of being at 12,400' to reach the summit that overlooks the glacier which is about 4,000 years old!

Dark and ominous clouds rolling in....

Unlike most of the other glaciers that were formed in N. America, the ones in the Sierras are unusual in that the Sierras formed its OWN glaciers b/c it's so cold even in the summers! The Palisades Crest that you see here soar to 14,200'. The dark clouds rolling in over these jagged peaks of 14,000'+ made for an eerie feeling....

I wonder how cold that water is!

Palisades Glacier

This glacier is about 2 miles wide, 1 mile in length, and several feet thick. If it weren't for the weather turning on us, we would have ventured down to the glacier itself, but we decided that it was good enough to see it from where we were and head back down the mountain....

Page Updated Sep 11, 2003
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mtncorg Jan 18, 2011 at 4:43 PM Report Abuse

Is there any place more perfect than atop that lookout above Third Lake looking across at the Temple!
Sulgi Jun 12, 2002 at 4:12 PM Report Abuse

definately a sunSET ;o) a beautiful one...
miksu May 14, 2002 at 1:18 PM Report Abuse

Fantastic sunset...:-))
mohammed7026 Apr 2, 2001 at 2:03 PM Report Abuse

Great Picture