Sierra Club Bulletin. 



Vol. V. San Francisco, January, 1904. No. i. 



THE ASCENT OF THE NORTH PALISADES. 

 By J. N. LeConte. 



Of all the vast area of the High Sierra, without doubt 

 the wildest, most magnificent, and most difficult of access 

 is that portion about the extreme sources of the Middle 

 Fork of King's River. This stream above its junction 

 with Goddard Creek (the " head of navigation " for the 

 average camp outfit) drains a basin of about one hundred 

 square miles, nearly all of which is above the timber-line, 

 and which includes about its rim some of the highest 

 points in the State. Through the midst of this rugged 

 area the Middle Fork cuts a profound cafion in granite 

 and black volcanic rock, many points on the west side 

 rising five thousand feet above the stream. This 

 caiion trends almost due north and south. From its 

 edge, extending back four or five miles to the east, is a 

 rough plateau scored by deep transverse gorges which 

 pour the melted snows of the Main Crest into the river. 

 On the north the basin is hemmed in by the Goddard 

 Divide between the King's and San Joaquin rivers, and 

 on the west by a huge spur of the latter terminating in 

 Woodworth Mountain. Except to a man afoot, all these 

 canons and divides are impassable from the west and 

 north, though it is reported that the Main Crest is crossed 



