lefty - Sep 21, 2009 12:02 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2009
Solo from Lake Ediza
Ascended to the saddle in firm snow conditions. got rain and hail on the way down.
thexcat - Sep 16, 2009 1:16 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2006
From Lake Catherine
Left from Thousand Islands lakes with AJ and Boris. Climbed Mt Davis day before. After descending Banner summit, packed up camp and returned to Agnews Meadows TH via river trail.
Mark N - Sep 8, 2009 1:26 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
Day hike loop
Approached from: Agnew Meadows TH/Shadow Lake/R-B Saddle. Returned via: North Glacier/Lake Catherine/1000 Isle Lake/River Trail. A fun day out.
ckerth - Aug 18, 2009 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
From Catherine Lake
Left from 1000 Island Lake and climbed over North Glacier Pass. Great view from the summit.
zplustwo - Aug 18, 2009 12:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2009
From Catherine Lake
Part of what I had hoped to be a three summit weekend, but one out of three isn't the worst.
iditarod81 - Aug 10, 2009 4:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
Great snow in the couloir.
Great snow conditions in the couloir on both the way up and (surprisingly) in the afternoon on the way down. Amazing views of Yosemite, Mono Lake, White Mtn and beyond from the summit! A little disappointing to see all the horse excrement along the trail in such pristine setting, however.
Wanted to do Ritter also, but time and fear of running into 4th/5th class chutes on the north face did not permit an ascent. We'll be back with some rope for Ritter's NF.
mrchad9 - Jul 6, 2009 12:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2009
From L Catherine
In from Rush Creek, camped at 1000 Island. Had snow from 10,000 ft to the Ritter Banner saddle. Not convinced I circled L Catherine the easiest way, but really enjoyed the climb. Stuck to the ridge near the top for some nice class 3. Over to Davis later the same day.
Climbed Banner Peak from Lake Catherine on a long loop starting from Rush Creek, to Banner, to Shadow Lake and returning to Rush Creek. Early season made it more of a snow climb but a fun time anyway! May 22-25, 2009...
Fun climb, and my first up any sort of snow pack. Imposing at first, but turned out to be fast, fun, and best of all... easy. It is a simply marvelous mountain. I would not mind doing it again on one of the East face routes someday.
Banner Peak has many routes, but we picked the straight forward climb. We had no crampons, so we roped up on the way to the saddle between Banner and Ritter. The icy chute down to the the lake on the North side of the saddle was spooky. I would not want to slip down that and go flying into the lake. Brrr.
The whole trip was great. From first camp in Toulumne Meadows, walking up Parker Pass, through the icy winds on Koip Crest, and the Lake Ediza campsite slumber before the Banner climb, I dutifully carried my unused ice axe. Glad I had it for the Glissade after summiting Banner.
We reached the summit around 10AM on a perfectly clear day.
My first Glissade was preceded by a nervous hour on the peak wondering how I would survive the Glissade. It was soooo fun! I followed my brother after about a minute and had a blast.
This is a peak most anyone can summit. It is also visible from the highways; so, you can point it out to your friends and family and say, "I climbed that with my brother."
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 1994
Nice summit
I forget the exact date. I went solo. The road down to Devil's Postpile was still closed, so that added a mile or two. After summitting, I bivied on the saddle, which was exciting. I remember the bugs being terrible down by the lakes.
J Fox - Apr 19, 2008 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2008
Ski tour from June Lake
Dervin and I skied in 10 miles from June Lake to Thousand Island lake. On the summit day we skied from Thousand Island Lake to North Glacier pass then climbed to the Banner/Ritter saddle and scrambled to the summit of Banner. This was a heck of a trip both the skiing and the climbing were lots of fun and a great workout.
Stu Brandel - Nov 15, 2007 7:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 1985
Banner Day
My first Mountain from Lake Catherine, via 3 week backcountry hike with Summit Expedition tour. Literally crawled up some of the way after glacier climb almost made me quit.
Zinge - Sep 11, 2007 1:19 am Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2007
Dayhike with Ritter
Great stop on the dayhike, a little hazy from fires, but still well worth the effort!
Ritter and Banner from Agnew Meadows via the Saddle
Tagged on the way to Ritter. Less than an hour R/T from the saddle. Didn't find the register. Good view of Ritter's North Face. An awesome climb!
Sknyskiman - Aug 15, 2007 4:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2007
From 1000 Islands Lake over North Glacier Pass
Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a true "climber". I just have good physical stamina and not a lot of climbing finesse. After cresting North Glacier Pass, I got lost and climbed about 500 ft too high above the "bench" before hitting the glacier. Met two guys, Chris and Bill from the South Bay Area, before the glacier. Getting up the glacier to the R/B saddle was a good workout on my quads without poles. Chris wanted to do the north face of Ritter, so I started to do it with him, but wimped out after trying to get up the steep snow to the right chute (no poles, crampons, and nerves). Crossed the saddle and proceeded to do Banner thinking I had a better possibility of getting back in one piece and/or alive. It was a mind-awaking rock scramble for me until near the top. Then things turned a bit confusing, because the top seemed a bit craggy and couldn't see the actual summit. After fumbling amongst the rocks and talus for several minutes, I finally figured out the route to the summit. Someone urinated on the summit register box, so I passed on signing it after getting sticky stuff all over my hand (the joke was on me!!!). I ended up working part of the climb with the other guy, Bill. His buddy, Chris, made it up Ritter and back to the saddle faster than we summitted Banner. That guy was a real mountain goat! I was really thankfull to have run into those guys for a better climbing comfort level. Exceptional air quality and magnificent views from atop Banner!!! With a little more experience, I must try to do Ritter next time.
lefty - Sep 21, 2009 12:02 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2009
Solo from Lake EdizaAscended to the saddle in firm snow conditions. got rain and hail on the way down.
thexcat - Sep 16, 2009 1:16 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2006
From Lake CatherineLeft from Thousand Islands lakes with AJ and Boris. Climbed Mt Davis day before. After descending Banner summit, packed up camp and returned to Agnews Meadows TH via river trail.
Mark N - Sep 8, 2009 1:26 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
Day hike loopApproached from: Agnew Meadows TH/Shadow Lake/R-B Saddle. Returned via: North Glacier/Lake Catherine/1000 Isle Lake/River Trail. A fun day out.
ckerth - Aug 18, 2009 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
From Catherine LakeLeft from 1000 Island Lake and climbed over North Glacier Pass. Great view from the summit.
zplustwo - Aug 18, 2009 12:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2009
From Catherine LakePart of what I had hoped to be a three summit weekend, but one out of three isn't the worst.
iditarod81 - Aug 10, 2009 4:21 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
Great snow in the couloir.Great snow conditions in the couloir on both the way up and (surprisingly) in the afternoon on the way down. Amazing views of Yosemite, Mono Lake, White Mtn and beyond from the summit! A little disappointing to see all the horse excrement along the trail in such pristine setting, however.
Wanted to do Ritter also, but time and fear of running into 4th/5th class chutes on the north face did not permit an ascent. We'll be back with some rope for Ritter's NF.
mrchad9 - Jul 6, 2009 12:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2009
From L CatherineIn from Rush Creek, camped at 1000 Island. Had snow from 10,000 ft to the Ritter Banner saddle. Not convinced I circled L Catherine the easiest way, but really enjoyed the climb. Stuck to the ridge near the top for some nice class 3. Over to Davis later the same day.
sierratrekkin - Jun 1, 2009 8:04 pm
Banner from Lake CatherineClimbed Banner Peak from Lake Catherine on a long loop starting from Rush Creek, to Banner, to Shadow Lake and returning to Rush Creek. Early season made it more of a snow climb but a fun time anyway! May 22-25, 2009...
bruceg - Apr 24, 2009 8:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 1976
JMT 1976Climbed with Greg and Carl on the Bicentennial. We saw fireworks on the summit from camp at Garnet Lake
gjonbelay - Mar 23, 2009 7:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 1998
Ritter/Banner Saddle August 8 1998Climbed this Banner and Ritter on the same weekend with the PCS.
Trip Report
dervin - Sep 22, 2008 11:06 pm Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2008
Skied from June LakeWe did it as a two night trip out of June Lake. There is not better way to find solitude than to ski to it.
PrestonRhea - Sep 3, 2008 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2007
From Lake CatherineFun climb, and my first up any sort of snow pack. Imposing at first, but turned out to be fast, fun, and best of all... easy. It is a simply marvelous mountain. I would not mind doing it again on one of the East face routes someday.
dpsiebert - Aug 23, 2008 4:43 am
SaddleDayhiked along with Ritter for Day 2 of 2003 Sierra Challenge.
twhirled - Jun 23, 2008 10:22 pm
Brother Leads To SummitBanner Peak has many routes, but we picked the straight forward climb. We had no crampons, so we roped up on the way to the saddle between Banner and Ritter. The icy chute down to the the lake on the North side of the saddle was spooky. I would not want to slip down that and go flying into the lake. Brrr.
The whole trip was great. From first camp in Toulumne Meadows, walking up Parker Pass, through the icy winds on Koip Crest, and the Lake Ediza campsite slumber before the Banner climb, I dutifully carried my unused ice axe. Glad I had it for the Glissade after summiting Banner.
We reached the summit around 10AM on a perfectly clear day.
My first Glissade was preceded by a nervous hour on the peak wondering how I would survive the Glissade. It was soooo fun! I followed my brother after about a minute and had a blast.
This is a peak most anyone can summit. It is also visible from the highways; so, you can point it out to your friends and family and say, "I climbed that with my brother."
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 1994
Nice summitI forget the exact date. I went solo. The road down to Devil's Postpile was still closed, so that added a mile or two. After summitting, I bivied on the saddle, which was exciting. I remember the bugs being terrible down by the lakes.
J Fox - Apr 19, 2008 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2008
Ski tour from June LakeDervin and I skied in 10 miles from June Lake to Thousand Island lake. On the summit day we skied from Thousand Island Lake to North Glacier pass then climbed to the Banner/Ritter saddle and scrambled to the summit of Banner. This was a heck of a trip both the skiing and the climbing were lots of fun and a great workout.
Stu Brandel - Nov 15, 2007 7:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 1985
Banner DayMy first Mountain from Lake Catherine, via 3 week backcountry hike with Summit Expedition tour. Literally crawled up some of the way after glacier climb almost made me quit.
Zinge - Sep 11, 2007 1:19 am Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2007
Dayhike with RitterGreat stop on the dayhike, a little hazy from fires, but still well worth the effort!
Adamus - Sep 9, 2007 11:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2007
Ritter and Banner from Agnew Meadows via the SaddleTagged on the way to Ritter. Less than an hour R/T from the saddle. Didn't find the register. Good view of Ritter's North Face. An awesome climb!
Sknyskiman - Aug 15, 2007 4:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2007
From 1000 Islands Lake over North Glacier PassLet me preface this by saying that I'm not a true "climber". I just have good physical stamina and not a lot of climbing finesse. After cresting North Glacier Pass, I got lost and climbed about 500 ft too high above the "bench" before hitting the glacier. Met two guys, Chris and Bill from the South Bay Area, before the glacier. Getting up the glacier to the R/B saddle was a good workout on my quads without poles. Chris wanted to do the north face of Ritter, so I started to do it with him, but wimped out after trying to get up the steep snow to the right chute (no poles, crampons, and nerves). Crossed the saddle and proceeded to do Banner thinking I had a better possibility of getting back in one piece and/or alive. It was a mind-awaking rock scramble for me until near the top. Then things turned a bit confusing, because the top seemed a bit craggy and couldn't see the actual summit. After fumbling amongst the rocks and talus for several minutes, I finally figured out the route to the summit. Someone urinated on the summit register box, so I passed on signing it after getting sticky stuff all over my hand (the joke was on me!!!). I ended up working part of the climb with the other guy, Bill. His buddy, Chris, made it up Ritter and back to the saddle faster than we summitted Banner. That guy was a real mountain goat! I was really thankfull to have run into those guys for a better climbing comfort level. Exceptional air quality and magnificent views from atop Banner!!! With a little more experience, I must try to do Ritter next time.