Tentative route - hike around Thousand Island Lake, through North Glacier Pass and camp at Lake Catherine. From Agnew Meadows to Lake Catherine is at least 11 miles and 3200 ft. of gain. Day 2, climb Ritter, then maybe Banner as a bonus. This could be up to 4500' of gain and 5-6 miles, total for both peaks, depending on the route. There's supposed to be a class 2 route up the southwest side of Ritter, or a class 3 route up from the Ritter/Banner saddle. Banner requires ice axe and crampons, as does the Ritter saddle route or an east side approach. I would take a helmet for the class 3 route, but I prefer to try the class 2 route. Day 3 hike out, or climb Banner or Davis and hike out. The road to Agnew meadows is only open something like 7:30pm to 7am - you have to take the shuttle during the day - we plan to start early enough to avoid the shuttle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Agnew Meadows to Lake Catherine (3,365 m = 11,040 ft.) is about 11 miles and 3200 ft. of gain by way of Thousand Island Lakes and Glacier Pass (3400 m + = 11,155 ft. +). Then it's about 5 miles with 4400 ft. of gain, total, to do Ritter (by the SW approach 2300' gain), and go all the way back to lake 3365m and climb Banner (from the SW 2100' gain). ----------------------------------- http://climber.org/TripReports/2003/1076.html - Banner peak cannot be seen from the saddle, it is behind the false peak, so while going up keep to the left of the false peak. Apparently there is a trail with ducks leading to the peak. --------------------------------------------------------------- http://piotrowski.us/viewtopic.php?t=831 Sierragator Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Bishop, CA Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 4:14 pm subject: Ritter, Banner, Davis Tomcat and I bagged Ritter and Banner from Lake Catherine yesterday. Definitely needed the ice equipment to go from the saddle to the base of the north face chute on Ritter. Above that it was mostly ledges (lots of loose rocks) up to the left turn to gain the arete. Fun climb with spectacular views! Bagged Banner Peak after descending back the Ritter-Banner saddle. Outstanding views from this summit as well. We've been wanting to summit Ritter and Banner for quite some time. Very satisfying climb. I went over to Mt Davis the day before from our base camp at Lake Catherine. -------------------------------- Wayne Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 94 Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:58 pm Most definitely a nice climb! I did a September Banner-Ritter climb from Thousand Island Lake, only to discover I needed my axe and crampons to cross over the ice field from Banner to Ritter, just as you describe. So, I aborted the Ritter part, but sure had fun on Banner. While climbing Banner, I heard a climber screaming for help, as he went sliding down the glacier on his belly. He was a newby, with ice axe and crampons, and did not know how to plant his ice axe. He learned quickly. Just as he came to the dropoff to eternity, he managed to arrest his slide. Talk about an adenalin rush--for him and all the rest of us! He inched his way back up to safety. ---------------------------------------------------- There is a really nice place for one or two tents at the outlet of Lake Catherina (west shore), several more places on a meadow near the outlet, towards Mt. Davis, and at least one good place on the east shore, by a spring, above the lake. Note: Lake Catherina could be a very windy place, and there is no real protection anywhere during a storm. If more than one person is on the route from Ritter-Banner col to Ritter, a helmet is really, really required. Crampons might be needed on the snow field above the col. If you stay at Lake Catherina for several days, Mt. Davis, and of course, Banner Peak, are worthy goals. I've posted a few pictures from the approach to Lake Catherina via North Glacier Pass, and to Ritter-Banner col at: http://highwire.stanford.edu/~galic/hiking/banner2005/08142005/index1.html --------------------------- Mt. Davis 12303 ft / 3750 m - about a mile and < 1148 ft. gain from North Glacier Pass (3400 m / 11,155 ft. +). Class 2 from the pass.