Mt. Ritter/Banner & Surrounding Area 6/2-6/4
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 11:12 pm
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.
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.
Hope to see a TR and pictures in the near