Traversing the Palisades Basin
Gaining Taboose Pass, looking back West into Kings Canyon.
Traversing the Palisades Basin: A Splitboard and Ski Adventure Through Kings Canyon
May 2023 | Kings Canyon National Park, California
There’s a certain magic in linking up remote terrain by ski, especially when that terrain lies deep in the heart of the High Sierra. In May 2023, our crew set out on a three-day backcountry splitboarding and skiing traverse from South Lake to Taboose Pass—cutting straight through the stunning and rugged Palisades Basin of Kings Canyon National Park.
With stable spring snow, clear skies, and an all-star crew, the stage was set for a full-value Sierra adventure. What followed was a trip filled with big climbs, dramatic passes, aesthetic descents, and the kind of remote wilderness experience that only the Sierra can deliver.
Day 1: South Lake to Bishop Pass Lakes
We kicked off the tour at South Lake trailhead, just outside Bishop, CA. The climb up to Bishop Pass came quickly, with well-set skin tracks and firm snow underfoot. As we gained altitude, the landscape opened up around us—vast ridgelines, frozen lakes, and endless granite spires. It was the kind of terrain that makes you feel small in the best way possible.
We set up our first camp near the Bishop Pass Lakes, tucked into a quiet snow-covered basin, ringed by dramatic peaks. That night, the skies were perfectly clear and the temps dropped fast, but morale was high. We shared hot food, traded stories, and soaked up the quiet.
Day 2: Through the Heart of the Palisades
Day two was the crux of the trip—both physically and logistically. We climbed up and over Thunderbolt Col, then traversed over to Potluck Pass, two steep, high-alpine crossings that demanded solid fitness, routefinding, and teamwork. The terrain was committing but gorgeous, and every hard-won step was rewarded with expansive views and dreamy lines of skiable snow.
The snowpack held up beautifully—smooth, consistent, and well-bonded, allowing us to link turns down long faces and couloirs in near-perfect conditions. That evening, we camped deep in Palisades Basin, surrounded by towering giants like North Palisade and Mount Sill. The scale of the landscape was humbling, and the silence—complete. Over dinner, we shared laughs and mapped out our final push across the range.
Day 3: Mather Pass to Taboose Canyon
We were up before dawn on day three, aiming to summit Mather Pass early and take advantage of firm snow for the descent. The sunrise lit the peaks in gold as we reached the top—only to find a surprise challenge: a large overhanging cornice guarding the south side of the pass.
After assessing the feature, we used our rope systems to lower the team safely off the lip, turning a tense moment into a textbook solution. I dropped in last, threading a narrow, steep line into the basin below—spicy, but unforgettable.
From there, we descended into Upper Basin, then made the final climb toward Taboose Pass. The ascent was long, hot, and exposed—a true test of endurance on tired legs. But the reward was worth it: a long descent through Taboose Canyon, with soft snow and even pockets of classic spring corn. We skied as low as we could before shouldering our gear around 7,000 feet for the final few miles of trail.
We reached the Taboose Pass trailhead in the late afternoon, totally worked, deeply satisfied, and filled with that quiet kind of joy that only comes after a big mountain mission.
Final Thoughts
Traversing the Palisades on skis was everything we could have hoped for: demanding terrain, great snow, remote solitude, and lifelong memories. Trips like this are a reminder of just how wild the Sierra backcountry still is, and how lucky we are to move through it—one skin track and one turn at a time.
Thanks for reading! If you are interested in multi-day ski traverses, reach out! Let’s earn those turns and discover a new side of the Sierra together.
See you in the mountains,Larry
