TR - Mount Ritter

steeleman · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1029 Location: Paradise 94920

Part 1 - St. Paddy's Day

Approach notes:

(1) driving across the San Joaquin Valley sucks, no matter what time on Friday you do it.

(2) Monitor Pass open, and bone dry. Watch for deer!

(3) Resisted the temptation to peel off at Bridgeport due to heavy eyes, 395 southward to June Lake.

(4) Parked at June Lake SCE plant, hiked the tram to Agnew and Gem Lakes in non-existent to patchy snow. Donned skis above the dam at Gem Lake.

Moving on to address the inevitable "this thread is worthless without pics" comment:

Above Agnew Lake. Been hiking over 1,000' now with skis on my back. A TR on thebackcountry.net indicates that somebody skinned up this a week ago. Melting fast.

After farting around trying to figure out the best way around the maze below the dam at Gem Lake (and wasting a climb up to the top of the *wrong* end of the dam), I made it over and down to the lakeshore. At 8:30am, it was still cold and looking solid. I skated across a small section, then cut a very steep skin track up to Clark Lakes. From the pass just above the lakes, I saw the objective (looking pretty freaking far away too).

A closer look on zoom. Banner in front, Ritter tucked behind. My ultimate goal was the glacier on the left with the huge avy crowns.

Looking over to Mt. Davis, San Joaquin middle fork in the foreground. Had to drop down and then climb back up around that little nub in the center foreground.

Turned the corner at Thousand Island Lake and, with some creative self-timer skills, headed up towards the peaks.

Looking towards the border of Yosemite NP. Rodgers Peak is the snowy one on the left. Mt. Lyell, Yosemite's highest, is tucked back there too.

Near the outlet of Thousand Island Lake, the John Muir Trail is looking significantly less snowbound than last May. This is just below 10K, and the lakes are already opening up big time.

Rest stop #1

Thousand Island Lake basin. The largest quietest place I've been in long time. No wind, no bugs, no people, no nada. In fact, in two days, I not only didn't see another person, once I left Gem Lake I didn't see another track. Yep, California's way too crowded. Better move to SLC or Wolf Creek Pass.

I skirted the southern shore of the lake, then a mellow skin up to the saddle overlooking neighbor Garnet Lake. Another action shot cresting the ridge, with a significantly higher and steeper ridgeline to cross still ahead. First view of the Minarets now, and the day is just killing it.

After a tough and sketchy skin across the head of the canyon, I make it to the perfect spot -- just below the ridge and overlooking Nydiver Lakes, with a drop dead view of the Minarets.

Although it is only 2:30, I proclaim this to be the spot to set up camp and chill for the rest of the day, and what a sweet camp it is.

Looking at tomorrow's route up the SE glacier of Ritter. Huge slides have swept this entire side of the mountain clean, scouring parts of the glacier right down to blue ice.

Sunshine, no wind, and a decent view. This is most unsucky.

A few hours later, evening colors take over.

knut Straud · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 375

I confess total ignorance to most things this technical, but those are pretty funny looking telemark bindings..... Wink

jfb · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2404 Location: Buzerkely

Nice work, Steeleman! Was that AT Anonymous who took those photos of you? Can't wait for Part 2.
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"It's turns! 'Course it's worth the hike" -MrP

Norman Clyde · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 493

are those Scarpa Randonee Race Boots? looks like a full rando race setup. probly a good rig for those fast and light tours

Valdez Telehead · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1568

Tell me more,,,,

BTW is that actually a cotton Chevron gas station attendant shirt? If so you are really stylin....... Very Happy

Quiet in the mountains...not many better things in life.

Doug G · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2295 Location: Oregon

Nice to see that!!!!!

I've been there multiple times during the summers, since the seventies as a little kid.

madturtle · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 545 Location: folsom, ca

Agreed that Chevron shirt is STYLIN', almost the highlight of the TR Wink

. Happy birthday and great TR.
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A good friend would come bail you out of jail. A great friend would be sitting next to you saying..."but damn that was FUN"

keithermadness · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 24806

Kewl report, man!
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~km

"Everyday is a potential avalanche day."
-Missiongravity

bcrider · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:10 pm Post subject:

Happy B-day Rich! Smile

Glad you got to spend it doing what you love. Sorry I couldn't join you, (darn work sched)...you know I would have loved to.

Cool pics too and I think you're the best at the self timer ones. Cool

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more cowbell!

jw · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 6325 Location: Nevada

What's this, a thread about bc skiing?????

Very awesome even if you are using Dynafits. Wink

Can't wait for day two!!!!!

Snow Weasel · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2830 Location: Somewhere Else

Way cool trip and pics!
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Montani Semper Liberi

Pride goeth before a face plant.

SCTele · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Bay Area, CA

Awesome pics and TR steeleman! Agree with your point 1...driving across the San Joaquin Valley sucks. Thanks for the info on Monitor Pass.

Kara · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2163 Location: Denver....

perfect.

joesnow · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 534 Location: Meyers, CA

Question answered about the blue shirt. Glad to see you are rocking the Chevron w/ name embroidered.

Looking forward to day #2.
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Viva La Nina

skiter · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject:

awesome tr. thanks for taking the time to post that.

is it true that ritter is the mountain in the paramount pictures logo? i heard that a while ago.