Ritter/Banner conditions
Posted:
Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:19 amby Luke Swanson
Was wondering if anyone has recent information on the conditions to get up to the ritter/banner saddle. Any steep snow crossing required right now? Will be taking a group of people up banner who won't have ice axes, although we will have a rope that I can set if we need to cross short sections of steep snow. Thanks
Re: Ritter/Banner conditions
Posted:
Fri Jul 24, 2015 4:06 pmby mfang
Had a friend who went up Banner from Lake Catherine side. Not much snow but the ice field up to the saddle looks like it's mostly bare ice that would require axes and crampons. With the drought however, it seems possible to stay on rock by sticking to the left margin of the ice field (from her pictures). Near the top of the saddle may need to make a 100' crossing on snow/ice, but at that point it's not very steep.
Re: Ritter/Banner conditions
Posted:
Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:57 pmby hgrapid
Blow up this photo:
http://images.summitpost.org/original/947553.JPGIt was taken July 25 from Duck Pass area. I think it adequately shows the snow cover between the Banner and Ritter saddle.
