Splitboarding; Traversing the Palisades Basin
Gaining Taboose Pass, looking back West into Kings Canyon.
May 2023
The High Sierra of Kings Canyon National Park, California.
Our 3-day backcountry splitboarding and skiing traverse through the heart of the Palisades Basin in Kings Canyon National Park was nothing short of spectacular. Beginning at the South Lake trailhead outside of Bishop, California, and ending at Taboose Pass near Independence, this high alpine route took us deep into some of the most rugged and awe-inspiring terrain in the Sierra Nevada. With stable snow, clear weather, and an amazing crew, the trip delivered everything we could have hoped for—and then some.
On day one, we skinned up and to the base of Bishop Pass, gaining altitude quickly and getting our first views of the vast Sierra wilderness we’d be crossing. Conditions were excellent—firm skin tracks in the morning and softening snow on solar aspects made for smooth travel and fun descents. That night, we camped at the Bishop pass Lakes, nestled in a quiet, snow-covered basin with dramatic peaks towering around us. The night sky was clear and cold, and spirits were high as we settled into our first alpine camp.
Day two was the centerpiece of the trip, taking us through the heart of the Palisades. We made our way up and over Thunderbolt Col and then crossed Potluck Pass—two steep, committing traverses that demanded both fitness and careful route-finding. Each climb rewarded us with sweeping views and long, aesthetic lines of skiable terrain. The snow was excellent, with good coverage and consistent quality on both descents and approaches. We set up camp that evening in the Palisades Basin, surrounded by some of the highest and most iconic peaks in the Sierra. The isolation and scale of the landscape were humbling, and we ended the day sharing a warm meal and big plans for the next days push over one of the Sierra’s highest passes.
Our final day began early with a climb over Mather Pass, summiting just after sunrise to beat the heat on the southerly descent into Upper Basin. However, the summit of the pass offered a new challenge—a near vertical cornice. Well, turns out ropes can be more than just a pillow at night! Well after lowering my partners down and off the lip of the cornice, I dropped in for a spicy but fun entrance into a beautiful descent into a deeper section of Kings Canyon. After a few miles of downhill skiing, we made our final big push up and over Taboose Pass, a long and exposed climb that tested our endurance one last time. The final descent down Taboose Canyon was long and filled with soft and sometimes spring corn, allowing us to end the trip with fast turns and big smiles. Once around 7000’ we had to shoulder our skis for the final walk out. We reached the Taboose Pass trailhead feeling exhausted, accomplished, and grateful.
Traversing the Palisades Basin on skis is a powerful reminder of how wild and rewarding the Sierra backcountry can be. With great snow, challenging terrain, and incredible company, this trip was a true Sierra classic—equal parts demanding and unforgettable.
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.
Thanks for reading! Cheers,
Larry
