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Anybody knows if it's worth it to bring crampons and ice axe for Ritter and Banner from Lake Catherine? From what I read it's possible to bypass the snow up to the saddle (class 3?). From there Banner shouldn't be a problem. What about Ritter? Is there any snow/ice to cross to get into the "right hand chute"? We are planning to go there on the first Sept. weekend.

Thanks a lot.

1000Pks wrote:I descended from Ritter by the west slope (cl. 2) with no snow, too lazy to see what you mean by right hand chute, that time of year. The NF is said to be deadly with routefinding a big problem, some do not make it then. I haven't done it, btw.

Thanks. I was talking about the north face. Seccor refers to a right hand chute to go up. It's here: http://www.summitpost.org/image/25895/1 ... -face.html
On these pictures I can see some snow. Was just wondering if that's gone by this time or if it's ice.
The problem wouldn't be renting. I'm thinking more about the weight. But it might be safer to bring it.

Here is a picture from last weekend from inside Yosemite- of the area in question.

I would take crampons, but mine are very light. Though it does appear you might be able to avoid the glacier. When I did this route a couple years ago (early July) I was glad to have them, but then again did Lyell a few weeks ago and they were completely unnecessary, so who knows. Sorry I do not have much info on what it was like there before I was born.

For full size click the link...
http://c0278592.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspac ... 651626.JPG

hubix wrote:Thanks. I was talking about the north face. Seccor refers to a right hand chute to go up. It's here: http://www.summitpost.org/image/25895/1 ... -face.html
On these pictures I can see some snow. Was just wondering if that's gone by this time or if it's ice.
The problem wouldn't be renting. I'm thinking more about the weight. But it might be safer to bring it.

There might very well still be snow there in September this year. The day I took that picture, Aug 10, I went up the North Face with aluminum crampons - a huge mistake when we hit ice. I was lucky to borrow another ice axe from a companion to get through it, but it was steep and dicey. There was no way at that time to avoid it. If you have to cross some of it this September, it will probably include ice sections. Bring sharp, steel crampons.

I'd bring 'em. Some terrain you don't want to slip on around there. Ritter's N face is a route you don't want to miss, too. Be safe & have fun.

Thanks for the info. You convinced me to carry the extra weight