Topped out on Banner from the saddle, views are phenomenal. Had planned to follow with the north face of Ritter and descend the SE glacier. My GF was more than a little intimidated by the NF of Ritter so we chose to descend from the saddle, where my usual climbing partner 'tweaked' a healing ankle, thus a following day ascent of Ritter had to be aborted. Thus, I must return again (had to descend last summer due to partner's AMS) to top out on Ritter. Quite surprised at the near absence of snow and at the smoke filling the Owens Valley from the fires.
Pantilat - Jun 25, 2007 9:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Nice summit view
Climbed after doing the North Face of Ritter.
metasyn11 - Jun 24, 2007 11:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
R-B saddle from Catherine Lake
From our campsite at Thousand Island Lake, we ascended to the Ritter-Banner saddle via North Glacier Pass. From here its an easy talus scramble to the top, with fantastic views in every direction and a dizzying drop to the lakes on the east. Later we bagged Ritter, amounting to a fine day all around.
bennovak - Sep 10, 2006 8:27 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2006
Banner-Ritter Saddle from the East
With only 1 ice axe and no crampons between G Paul and myself, we decided to abandon the snow filled shoot and climb straight up the rock to the saddle. Only major obstacle was crossing the moat (~2ft wide and straight onto 3rd class rock) and navigating the crap snow on the way down. Have an ice axe at a minimum and crampons would be a big help. Ran out of time and will have to come back for Ritter.
derbilly - Aug 17, 2006 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2006
Ritter Banner Saddle
Nice climb up the glacier from Lake Catherine. A bit of a slog from there until you get to the summit. Awesome views from the summit from this impressive-looking peak.
thebeave7 - Aug 14, 2006 4:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
Ritter/Banner Saddle
A long but very successful dayhike on Day 2 of the Sierra Challenge. A bit of a slog, but nice views.
eggheadsherpa - Aug 7, 2006 3:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
Route Climbed: From R-B Saddle
Day-tripped as part of an alternate group for the 2006 Sierra Challenge. Combined this with Ritter in one day...beautiful weather and incredible views from the summit.
Zzyzx - Jul 7, 2006 7:31 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2006
Ritter / Banner saddle
I wanted to day-hike both Ritter and Banner from Agnew Meadows. From the saddle it took me about 40 min to get to the summit. Finding the summit was a little confusing and required a short traverse along the ridge. It took me also about 40 min to descend to the saddle. I hate scree slopes... From there I went up the North Face of Ritter to the summit, down the SE glacier and back to the car - 13.5 hrs total.
Completebum - May 30, 2006 4:49 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
Isolation
It seemed like our group of 3 had the entire Ansel Adams Wilderness to ourselves. We had to start at the resort and hiked most of the way on snow. After setting up camp above Shadow lake we watched the storm break up over Ritter/Banner, then summited Banner the following morning. The exposure down the North Face was impressive.
lakenyon - May 14, 2006 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2005
Ritter/Banner Saddle
Unseasonably cold, with new snow the previous night, but a great peak.
Route Climbed: Catherine Lake to Ritter Banner Saddle Date Climbed: August 9, 1998
This was my first true peak bagging adventure. It is the perfect introductory Class 2-3 excursion. After a heavy winter, the trip to the summit was straightforward. We did it without crampons, but I would recommend them for the afternoon climb down. I did manage to slide down the main glacier twice but the suncups slowed me down just enough to brake before what could have been a swift trip right into Lake Catherine.
There were about 4 parties who summitted the same day. Each took a different route to the top and back down. On the way up we went over the North Glacier Pass and down to Lake Catherine, then straight up the glacier to the saddle. It was a heavy enough winter that we stayed on snow the entire time until veering left at the saddle to make the final ascent. The final push to the summit from the saddle was very slow going on account of tedious rock scrambling. To cut some time off of the return, we jumped off of the glacier halfway down and found a challenging Class 3 rock route with a few Class 4 legs to add a little excitement. This route took us to the North side of the peak. This required a little route searching and backtracking to avoid any technical climbing, but still saved us time.
Summitting Banner from Thousand Island Lake and the Lake Catherine Route can easily be done in two days, although three makes for a less rushed and more enjoyable experience.
Route Climbed: Ritter/Banner Saddle Date Climbed: August 26, 2005
Long, boring climb, especially if combined after ritter. Some interesting cl 3 moves near the summit, but still a slog. Enroute down the chute below the saddle posed some problems for me and I took a hard fall, thankfully arresting. It seemed to take quite a toll on my performance and composure back to camp. All's well that ends well - a fun and humbling experience.
Route Climbed: Thousand Island Lake-Lake Catherine Glacier Date Climbed: 8/11/2005
Incredible ascent with bouldering and a cramponless ascent up the Glacier. We were able to step onto the glacier by using treking poles and a retrieval rope so that each of the Venturers could ascend. Weather was perfect and the views tremendous. We believe we saw Mt. Diablo at 283° but will have to verify.
Summiters included: Quin S, Ross O, Drew L, Scott P, Emerson P, Andy S and Jeff L
Route Climbed: From Catherine Lake (near maximal glacier!) Date Climbed: 22 July 2005
Starting from the 1000 Island Lake area, we were on snow most of the way to North Glacier Pass. Contoured around toward the glacier, crossing a few steep snow slopes (one of which had some icy stretches and proved to be the most treacherous part of the entire climb). We were using ice axes, but never broke out the crampons. The glacier was a cruise with soft, steppable snow. Got up to the saddle, and slogged up the final stretch. Summit was a bit obscured by clouds, making route finding slightly more difficult. Just kept going up until couldn't go up any more. After visiting several of the high points and giving up on finding the register, I found it. Route from 1000 Island Lake was fairly long, but technically easy and very pretty.
Steve Larson - Jul 30, 2007 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2007
From Catherine LakeGetting from Glacier pass onto the glacier was harder than I expected, though maybe we went the wrong way.
96avs01 - Jul 8, 2007 10:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2007
Must Return For Ritter AgainTopped out on Banner from the saddle, views are phenomenal. Had planned to follow with the north face of Ritter and descend the SE glacier. My GF was more than a little intimidated by the NF of Ritter so we chose to descend from the saddle, where my usual climbing partner 'tweaked' a healing ankle, thus a following day ascent of Ritter had to be aborted. Thus, I must return again (had to descend last summer due to partner's AMS) to top out on Ritter. Quite surprised at the near absence of snow and at the smoke filling the Owens Valley from the fires.
Pantilat - Jun 25, 2007 9:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Nice summit viewClimbed after doing the North Face of Ritter.
metasyn11 - Jun 24, 2007 11:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
R-B saddle from Catherine LakeFrom our campsite at Thousand Island Lake, we ascended to the Ritter-Banner saddle via North Glacier Pass. From here its an easy talus scramble to the top, with fantastic views in every direction and a dizzying drop to the lakes on the east. Later we bagged Ritter, amounting to a fine day all around.
bennovak - Sep 10, 2006 8:27 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2006
Banner-Ritter Saddle from the EastWith only 1 ice axe and no crampons between G Paul and myself, we decided to abandon the snow filled shoot and climb straight up the rock to the saddle. Only major obstacle was crossing the moat (~2ft wide and straight onto 3rd class rock) and navigating the crap snow on the way down. Have an ice axe at a minimum and crampons would be a big help. Ran out of time and will have to come back for Ritter.
derbilly - Aug 17, 2006 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2006
Ritter Banner SaddleNice climb up the glacier from Lake Catherine. A bit of a slog from there until you get to the summit. Awesome views from the summit from this impressive-looking peak.
thebeave7 - Aug 14, 2006 4:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
Ritter/Banner SaddleA long but very successful dayhike on Day 2 of the Sierra Challenge. A bit of a slog, but nice views.
eggheadsherpa - Aug 7, 2006 3:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
Route Climbed: From R-B SaddleDay-tripped as part of an alternate group for the 2006 Sierra Challenge. Combined this with Ritter in one day...beautiful weather and incredible views from the summit.
Zzyzx - Jul 7, 2006 7:31 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2006
Ritter / Banner saddleI wanted to day-hike both Ritter and Banner from Agnew Meadows. From the saddle it took me about 40 min to get to the summit. Finding the summit was a little confusing and required a short traverse along the ridge. It took me also about 40 min to descend to the saddle. I hate scree slopes... From there I went up the North Face of Ritter to the summit, down the SE glacier and back to the car - 13.5 hrs total.
Completebum - May 30, 2006 4:49 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
IsolationIt seemed like our group of 3 had the entire Ansel Adams Wilderness to ourselves. We had to start at the resort and hiked most of the way on snow. After setting up camp above Shadow lake we watched the storm break up over Ritter/Banner, then summited Banner the following morning. The exposure down the North Face was impressive.
lakenyon - May 14, 2006 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2005
Ritter/Banner SaddleUnseasonably cold, with new snow the previous night, but a great peak.
dshoshone - Nov 8, 2005 6:49 pm
Route Climbed: from catherine lake Date Climbed: 6/15/2004Long day hike. Went in the high trail to 1000 island and met a friend a catherine lake. Then up the glacier to the summit
tdoughty - Oct 16, 2005 12:08 pm
Route Climbed: Saddle 2nd classnice view
jenarrow - Sep 6, 2005 6:23 pm
Route Climbed: Catherine Lake to Ritter Banner Saddle Date Climbed: August 9, 1998This was my first true peak bagging adventure. It is the perfect introductory Class 2-3 excursion. After a heavy winter, the trip to the summit was straightforward. We did it without crampons, but I would recommend them for the afternoon climb down. I did manage to slide down the main glacier twice but the suncups slowed me down just enough to brake before what could have been a swift trip right into Lake Catherine.
There were about 4 parties who summitted the same day. Each took a different route to the top and back down. On the way up we went over the North Glacier Pass and down to Lake Catherine, then straight up the glacier to the saddle. It was a heavy enough winter that we stayed on snow the entire time until veering left at the saddle to make the final ascent. The final push to the summit from the saddle was very slow going on account of tedious rock scrambling. To cut some time off of the return, we jumped off of the glacier halfway down and found a challenging Class 3 rock route with a few Class 4 legs to add a little excitement. This route took us to the North side of the peak. This required a little route searching and backtracking to avoid any technical climbing, but still saved us time.
Summitting Banner from Thousand Island Lake and the Lake Catherine Route can easily be done in two days, although three makes for a less rushed and more enjoyable experience.
Desert Solitaire - Sep 5, 2005 5:08 pm
Route Climbed: Ritter/Banner Saddle Date Climbed: August 26, 2005Long, boring climb, especially if combined after ritter. Some interesting cl 3 moves near the summit, but still a slog. Enroute down the chute below the saddle posed some problems for me and I took a hard fall, thankfully arresting. It seemed to take quite a toll on my performance and composure back to camp. All's well that ends well - a fun and humbling experience.
uwjennie - Aug 29, 2005 1:56 am
Route Climbed: Western slope from R/B Saddle Date Climbed: 8/26/05Climbed along with Ritter from the cars on Friday. Then, back to camp Friday night. Hiked out Saturday.
249Eagles - Aug 15, 2005 1:50 pm
Route Climbed: Thousand Island Lake-Lake Catherine Glacier Date Climbed: 8/11/2005Incredible ascent with bouldering and a cramponless ascent up the Glacier. We were able to step onto the glacier by using treking poles and a retrieval rope so that each of the Venturers could ascend. Weather was perfect and the views tremendous. We believe we saw Mt. Diablo at 283° but will have to verify.
Summiters included: Quin S, Ross O, Drew L, Scott P, Emerson P, Andy S and Jeff L
mpyle - Jul 31, 2005 11:46 am
Route Climbed: From Catherine Lake (near maximal glacier!) Date Climbed: 22 July 2005Starting from the 1000 Island Lake area, we were on snow most of the way to North Glacier Pass. Contoured around toward the glacier, crossing a few steep snow slopes (one of which had some icy stretches and proved to be the most treacherous part of the entire climb). We were using ice axes, but never broke out the crampons. The glacier was a cruise with soft, steppable snow. Got up to the saddle, and slogged up the final stretch. Summit was a bit obscured by clouds, making route finding slightly more difficult. Just kept going up until couldn't go up any more. After visiting several of the high points and giving up on finding the register, I found it. Route from 1000 Island Lake was fairly long, but technically easy and very pretty.
DeeDee - Jul 26, 2005 10:40 pm
Route Climbed: From Lake Catherine Date Climbed: June 17, 2003Nice rock scramble.
danman3156 - Apr 19, 2005 2:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2012
Route Climbed: ritter banner saddle Date Climbed: July 2004From saddle, approached from garnet lake side and descended to Catherine Lake side.