THE PALISADES
This infrequently visited peak should have many more visits. It is the high point in this section of the Norns – surprisingly it is higher than Frog Peak, its closest neighbour two kilometres to the north. There are good views and one can see the airport in Castlegar.
Two cabins, the Shaw and the Ladybird are on the slopes to the right.
Difficulty: C2
Elevation gain: 2400′
Key elevations: Park 5600′ Summit 8000′
Distance:
Time: 3 hours up.
Map: 82F/5 Castlegar and 82F/12 Passmore. Palisades is exactly on the border of the two maps.
Drive: From the junction of Broadwater Road in Robson and Pass Creek Road, turn north and drive 9.8 km to Norns FSR.
0.0. Drive on Norns Road for 11km to just past a cement bridge. This road is deactivated further on.
10km. Go right. Left is for West Ladybird FSR which trends west.
11km Turn right (north) continuing on Norns FSR. Ignore one spur road to the right.
16.5km. Park at the bridge that is out.
Route: Cross the creek on the provided logs and follow the permanently deactivated main road for about 40 minutes. Kamikaze Peak is on the left and the Palisades on the right. There are two high points visible on Palisades, part of the same ridge. Your target for the bushwhack is the right side of the high one. Start at a high point in the clearcut. As long as you go north, you will not miss the ridge. After 1.5 hours of bushwhacking and some scrambling, reach the grassy slopes leading to the ridge’s high point. Frog Peak loses most of its grandeur from this viewpoint.
The Palisades can also be climbed from the Frog Peak access road up Boulder Creek FSR.