Round and round the Ritter Range
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:53 am
Finally, this is the trip report I've been hinting at in various posts.
I took a week to explore Roper's "High Route" on both sides of the Ritter Range, which I've now concluded may be the single most beautiful stretch of the Sierra. I started from the June Lake area and went over North Glacier Pass (west of Thousand Island Lake), sustained a dislocated left shoulder , but kept going to Blue Lake. I dayhiked over to Yosemite from there -- it is truly amazing how the terrain looks quintessentially Mammoth (volcanic with amazing peaks) on the east side of Blue Lake Pass and quintessentially Yosemite (granite slabs/domes, meadows, gentler peaks) on the west side of the pass.
After coming back over North Glacier Pass, I had intended to head down to Minaret Lake and clamber up on Volcanic Ridge, but I ran out of food, time, energy and camera battery (so I made it only as far as the foreboding Iceberg Lake). I had also hoped to climb Ritter, but I figured I needed to locate my shoulder first before trying that.
On the way out, I passed several terrifying encampments of men swarming around enormous blue tents and carrying rifles. It was by far the creepiest thing I've ever seen in the mountains (is it hunting season already????). This was right in the area I had planned for my last night's camp. So I had to alter my plans and keep going until dark, where I ended up -- in all seriousness -- at a spot called "Spooky Meadow." But it was far less spooky than being around the paramilitary cult.
Here are some pictures:
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560765342AHvtRj
I took a week to explore Roper's "High Route" on both sides of the Ritter Range, which I've now concluded may be the single most beautiful stretch of the Sierra. I started from the June Lake area and went over North Glacier Pass (west of Thousand Island Lake), sustained a dislocated left shoulder , but kept going to Blue Lake. I dayhiked over to Yosemite from there -- it is truly amazing how the terrain looks quintessentially Mammoth (volcanic with amazing peaks) on the east side of Blue Lake Pass and quintessentially Yosemite (granite slabs/domes, meadows, gentler peaks) on the west side of the pass.
After coming back over North Glacier Pass, I had intended to head down to Minaret Lake and clamber up on Volcanic Ridge, but I ran out of food, time, energy and camera battery (so I made it only as far as the foreboding Iceberg Lake). I had also hoped to climb Ritter, but I figured I needed to locate my shoulder first before trying that.
On the way out, I passed several terrifying encampments of men swarming around enormous blue tents and carrying rifles. It was by far the creepiest thing I've ever seen in the mountains (is it hunting season already????). This was right in the area I had planned for my last night's camp. So I had to alter my plans and keep going until dark, where I ended up -- in all seriousness -- at a spot called "Spooky Meadow." But it was far less spooky than being around the paramilitary cult.
Here are some pictures:
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560765342AHvtRj