Minarets and Ritter Range 2010

Today marked the end of the afternoon low clouds, the weather for the rest of the trip was perfect!  Nice hike through scenic country.. again the pictures speak for themselves!

Journal Entry: Clouds cleared out last night with no precipitation—another cloudless morning!  Hiked up toward Ritter-Banner Saddle, good use trail most of the way.  Cool area right below Ritter & Banner at the small tarn.  Headed toward Nydiver Lakes but stayed above to angle over to Whitebark Pass.  Great views in both directions from the pass—Thousand Island Lake visible over Garnet Pass—our route tomorrow.  Camped at lakes above Garnet Lake with today’s and tomorrow’s passes and Garnet Lake views, with Banner Peak towering above.  Have seen quite a few people in this area but they all headed out.  A few marmots and pikas spotted during the day.  And the sky has remained (almost) completely clear all day!  Had quite a bit of dew last night which may have removed most of the moisture from the air.  Tomorrow we head over to Thousand Island Lake and then up North Glacier Pass to Lake Catherine on the “back” side of Banner Peak.

Whitebark Pine near Whitebark Pass