Mt. Ritter/Banner & Surrounding Area 6/2-6/4

Questions and reports related to Sierra Nevada current and forecast conditions, as well as general precautions and safety information. Trail conditions, fire/smoke reports, mosquito reports, weather and snow conditions, stream crossing information, and more.
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alpinemike
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Mt. Ritter/Banner & Surrounding Area 6/2-6/4

Post by alpinemike »

Almost all trails are snow free with the exception of a few patches on North Facing slopes. I expect that to be gone within the next 2 weeks as well

Ediza & 1000 Island are completely thawed out. On the other hand Iceberg and Catherine are completely frozen. I don't expect either to thaw out for another month.

North Glacier Pass was fun and the conditions were pretty straightforward in the morning. Lots of hard suncups and as you get further up the snow got a bit harder, but still could kick step into it without much of an issue. In the afternoon though that was a different story as it was not only suncup hell but all posthole hell. Ice ax was used.

Ritter-Banner Saddle from Lake Catherine was completely covered in snow and I traveled on it for a little while. The conditions were similar to North Glacier Pass. I did have to cut some nice steps to get up some sections but even the steepest section at the top was fairly soft. Ice ax was also used.
Never put off a backpacking trip for tomorrow, if you can do it today...
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maverick
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Re: Mt. Ritter/Banner & Surrounding Area 6/2-6/4

Post by maverick »

Thanks for the intell Mike. :thumbsup: Hope to see a TR and pictures in the near
future. :D
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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alpinemike
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Re: Mt. Ritter/Banner & Surrounding Area 6/2-6/4

Post by alpinemike »

Yes sir you certainly will. I typed it all up.. just getting around deciding which pictures to post!
Never put off a backpacking trip for tomorrow, if you can do it today...
Alpine Mike-

http://mikhailkorotkinphotography.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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