Temple, Galey, Sill Traverse  5.7+

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Type:  Trad, Alpine, Grade IV Consensus:  5.7+ [details] FA:  unknown Submitted By:  fossana on Jul 25, 2011 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (2) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

Galey and Sill from the summit of Temple Crag

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Description 

If you're looking for something to test your alpine endurance and route finding skills the Temple/Galey/Sill traverse is a worthy candidate. The traverse is ~1.8 miles in length, slightly longer than Thunderbolt to Sill with ~3 less approach miles. There are a number of options for summiting Temple Crag ranging from 5.7 to 5.10c (12-18 pitches). For the traverse Sill is traditionally climbed via the Swiss Arete (5.7, 6 pitches).

SOME TEMPLE CRAG ROUTE OPTIONS
Venusian Blind Arete (5.7, 12 pitches)
Moon Goddess Arete (5.8, 14 pitches)
Sun Ribbon Arete (5.9/10a, 18 pitches)
Dark Star (10c, 16 pitches)

GALEY
From the summit of Temple Crag work your way down the ridgeline of Galey. There are many ways to go, but if you want to save time stay off the ridgeline until the summit. We didn't encounter anything harder than 5.7. The rock on Galey is far chossier than Temple and Sill so pick your line carefully. The quality improves as you get closer to the summit.

SILL
From the summit of Galey scramble down the class 2-3 ridge to the saddle between Galey and Sill (Glacier Notch). Cross the L-shaped couloir to reach the base of the Swiss Arete.

EXTRA CREDIT
Continue on to Thunderbolt (reverse of this route). The most direct descent back to the Palisade Glacier is Underhill Couloir (loose class 4) between Starlight and T-bolt. IMO this linkup is a great warm-up for Evolution.

Location 

APPROACH (7 miles)
From the Glacier Lodge trailhead in Big Pine take the N Fork of Big Pine Creek trail. There are 2 main places to cross the creek, the first at ~5.5 miles on the east side of Second Lake (between First and Second Lake). The second is at the outlet to Third Lake at ~6 miles. The former is more reliable when the water level is high. The places where you leave the main trail to access the creek crossings are well used by overnighters. After the creek crossing head (SW or S, respectively) cross-country to the base of Temple Crag.

DESCENT (~10 miles via Sam Mack)
From the summit of Mt Sill head down the Class 3 Ridge toward Polemonium. Descend the L-shaped Couloir then Glacier Notch to reach the Palisade Glacier. There are not obvious starts to these so pay attention. There are generally cairns marking both. From Galey Camp either descend straight down to Second/Third Lake (more direct and best with snow) or take the trail back to Sam Mack which joins up with the N Fork of Big Pine Creek trail.

Protection 

See the individual route descriptions for gear requirements. Expect minimal to no fixed gear.

Photos of Temple, Galey, Sill Traverse Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: more popular route options on Temple	BETA PHOTO: annotated traverse from the summit of Temple	BETA PHOTO: map showing approximate approach and descent optio...
easier terrain on Galey	traversing towers on Galey	getting closer to Sill
Galey choss	heading down easy slopes to the L-shaped couloir o...	looking up the L-shaped couloir
heading toward the Swiss Arete	looking down the Swiss Arete	BETA PHOTO: tracks leading to Galey Notch
Sun Ribbon Arete	Venusian Blind	Moon Goddess
peaks to the NW	looking toward Middle Pal from Galey	traverse from the summit of Temple
BETA PHOTO: Swiss Arete (and surrounding peaks) annotated	looking down the Swiss Arete toward Galey	looking NW from the final section on Galey
BETA PHOTO: Galey summit (center)	Sill from just past Galey Notch