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SE Glacier

3rd Easy Snow, Snow, Alpine, 3000 ft (909 m),  Avg: 2.9 from 19 votes
FA: John Muir, 1872 (on descent)
California > High Sierra > 04 - Ritter & M… > Mt Ritter

Description

A classic glacier outing. This route first gains a large bench from the stream that feeds into Ediza Lake. Opinion varies about how to do this. Some prefer the rock and some prefer the snow. Both work just fine. From the bench follow the glacier until it ends. Be prepared for big suncups in the summer. When the glacier ends bear right onto talus to gain the summit plateau. Then go to the top, crossing a snowfield. From Ediza Lake, the route is 2.35 miles and 3960 vertical feet. The total roundtrip with the approach is 19.4 miles and 7053 vertical feet.

Location

The route starts at the base of a large bench above the inlet stream to Ediza Lake. To get there, go to Ediza Lake and then proceed West along the creek. Stay on the North side of the creek. The roudtrip from Agnew Meadows to Ediza Lake is 14.7 miles and 3093 vertical feet.

Protection

Nothing, really.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Me looking down from the summit
[Hide Photo] Me looking down from the summit
Corn turns below the short chute on Mt. Ritter
[Hide Photo] Corn turns below the short chute on Mt. Ritter
Not particularly steep, but icy and consequential.
[Hide Photo] Not particularly steep, but icy and consequential.
SE glacier route
[Hide Photo] SE glacier route
Looking back up from the base of the lower cliffs.
[Hide Photo] Looking back up from the base of the lower cliffs.
Mt Ritter at sunrise from Nydiver Lakes
[Hide Photo] Mt Ritter at sunrise from Nydiver Lakes
SE Glacier on 7/8/21
[Hide Photo] SE Glacier on 7/8/21
Skiing the upper bowl on Mt. Ritter
[Hide Photo] Skiing the upper bowl on Mt. Ritter
Skiing on Mt. Ritter
[Hide Photo] Skiing on Mt. Ritter
Booting towards the summit of Mt. Ritter
[Hide Photo] Booting towards the summit of Mt. Ritter
Looking down from the summit
[Hide Photo] Looking down from the summit
Descending SE glacier
[Hide Photo] Descending SE glacier