Forums TR Archive California Mt Ritter, the long haul Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)Author Posts April 20, 2005 at 5:17 pm #566668 digdug 88 PostsMotivated by a read of Muir’s first ascent of Mt Ritter and a glimpse from the top of Koip Pk last month, my buddy mfh and I decided to try for Ritter Pk, some 12 miles behind lil’ Mammoth Mtn resort.Muir: Nature’s poems carved on tables of stone the simplest and most emphatic of her glacial compositions.Friday was the long 9+ mile skin to Ediza Lk. View from Minaret lookout, 1 mile in, Ritter is 2nd from right, next to Banner Pk: Down on the San Joaquin River, the winter’s work showed: Crossing the lakes and meadows as Ritter [L] and Banner drew closer By camp I was gone, mumbling to myself and ready for food and rest. 7 hours of intense sun and warm temps could do that, I reckon.Morning brought great light, a breeze, and somewhat rested legs: False Ritter [L] and Banner in pic above. The route climbs lower snow slopes below/left of Ritter then contours right, before climbing the glacier to small snow lines (1 visible) that take you up to the enormous summit snowfield (out of view).mfh resting on the traverse: around noon we were at the top, on an amazing day, Minarets: Cheese: mfh starts down the ridge into the chute b/t the snowfield and the glacier open cruising on corn. really fine, damn fine corn sunday we packed up for the long haul out and the drive back home. clouds blew in, but my sunburned reminder was set. don’t know if i’ll be biting off these long approaches very often, but by far the most rewarding BC trip i’ve enjoyed to date.Muir: The peaks marshaled along the summit were in shadow, but through every notch and pass streamed vivid sunfire, soothing and irradiating their rough, black angles, while companies of small luminous clouds hovered above them like very angels of light. April 20, 2005 at 5:40 pm #581735 Ecobrad 2068 PostsVery nice, digdug. The ascent looks brutal but worth the effort. Amazing terrain.Just last week I was insisting to a friend that he read Summering in the Sierra. If any of you folks have not read Muir’s writings–go find one of his books/short stories and enjoy!! April 20, 2005 at 5:43 pm #581736 SmokinFatBob 76 PostsNice!! I’ve eyed both Ritter and Banner many times while riding in-bounds at MMTH. Good to see someone out there getting some! 😀 April 20, 2005 at 7:16 pm #581737 mmcpheet 98 PostsWay to go! Ritter has been on my list of todo’s for a long time now. The south face is visible from my area, but the approach looks long. Looks like you had better spring conditions than we had up near twin peaks. April 20, 2005 at 7:35 pm #581738 Wyomingsplit_ride 663 Postsbeautiful…. 😀 April 20, 2005 at 9:31 pm #581739 bcrider 4150 PostsCongrats digdug! That’s a proud trip!Looks like beautiful terrain too.Thanks for sharing with us. 8) April 21, 2005 at 8:54 pm #581740 Bodhi 42 PostsSweeet! Way to get it the “hard way”…I might give it a go once the road down to Red Meadows opens…peace, D. April 21, 2005 at 9:15 pm #581741 SmokinFatBob 76 Posts @Bodhi wrote:Sweeet! Way to get it the “hard way”…I might give it a go once the road down to Red Meadows opens…peace, D.Are you sure you can find the road? 😉 April 21, 2005 at 9:26 pm #581742 Bodhi 42 Posts @SmokinFatBob wrote:Are you sure you can find the road? 😉 There’s a road? 😯 😛 😆I will never forget that day…or be allowed to.peace, D. April 22, 2005 at 5:43 am #581743 Snow Nymph 22 Posts @Bodhi wrote: @SmokinFatBob wrote:Are you sure you can find the road? 😉 There’s a road? 😯 😛 😆I will never forget that day…or be allowed to.peace, D.Me either 😯Beautiful trip! I’ve been up Ritter (and Banner) but only in the fall. Would like to take my board next time! April 26, 2005 at 12:21 am #581744 digdug 88 Postsmmcpheet – hate to think how big your telephoto was for that pic. but you are lucky to be able to see it from “work”. must be easy to keep the motivation going!SoCal and SN: we ran into the rangers from Devils Postpile NP, said they regulary find ‘misplaced’ sliders coming off Mammoth. hope that didn’t happen to you, that’s a hell of a hole to fall into.i’ve been thinking a trip up Mt. Brewer sounds good…. it only took a week to forget the skin! 8) Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)You must be logged in to reply to this topic.