Sierra Club Outings | Ritter Rising, Inyo National Forest

Photo: David Roberts

Highlights:

High alpine basins dotted with pristine lakes
Rugged peaks casting their magic
Lots of off-trail hiking

Includes:

All meals and snacks from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 8
Shuttle bus tickets on day 8

Mt. Ritter, Banner Peak and The Minarets conjure enchantment to aficionados of the High Sierra. Imagine idyllic basins cradling serene lakes nestled beneath the sometimes brooding and sometimes brilliantly jagged peaks and aretes of the Ritter Range, which divide the headwaters of the north and middle forks of the San Joaquin River. You will be exhilarated by the wild mountain majesty as John Muir's muse guides us to the spectacularly situated Thousand Island Lake, Ediza Lake and many other entrancing hideaways.

This moderately-strenuous adventure in the Ansel Adams wilderness covers a portion of Steve Roper's 195 mile High Route, a mostly cross-country route which traverses rugged alpine timberline country bypassed by hikers on the nearby John Muir trail. One or two layover days will offer us opportunities to enjoy sky-blue lakes and high cirques, relax amid blooming meadows, perhaps climb a peak, take a swim in bracing mountain waters or contemplate, as Muir did, "Nature's poems carved on tables of stone." Although we will start and finish our journey on trails, more than half of our trip's 40 miles will be off-trail in order to maximize our enjoyment of this region's fabled beauty.

Our official meeting time is 8:00 a.m. on July 8 at a to be announced location in Mammoth Lakes, on the east side of the Sierra Nevada off Highway 395. We will then shuttle to our trailhead near June Lake to begin our intrepid journey. The leaders will be arriving in Mammoth Lakes on July 7 and intend to spend that night at a local motel (details will be sent to participants). Trip members are encouraged to also arrive by that day (making your own lodging or camping arrangements) -- we hope to meet as many of you as possible by late afternoon. For those of you who are able to arrive by that evening, please join us at a local restaurant for dinner.

The closest major airport is at Reno. We will provide directions (with lodging/camping suggestions) and a trip roster well before the trip to assist participants who want to share rides. For our car shuttle, we will need to have several vehicles large enough to hold everyone and their packs.

Day 1: On the morning of July 8, provide your own breakfast before we meet at our designated location where we leave some of our vehicles and then carpool to the trailhead near June Lake. Good conditioning is essential, as a relentless climb of 1,300' is our immediate prospect. Today we will hike about seven miles on trail and gain over 2,200 feet in elevation, camping at or near Waugh Lake.

Day 2: The vicinity of beautiful Marie Lakes is our goal for our second camp. A relatively short day on trail, we will climb over 1,500 feet and likely arrive in the early afternoon. Exceptional swimming holes are anticipated.

Day 3: Leaving the trail, we visit remote lakes and cross high ridges en-route to our camp at Thousand Island Lake . From here, the views of Banner Peak are outstanding.

Day 4: We plan to spend a layover day in this high alpine basin. Relax, swim or hike to North Glacier Pass and perhaps ascend Mount Davis, which offers an expansive panorama of this wild headwaters country.

Day 5: We will continue to travel off-trail, relishing the "beetling crags" of the spectacularly massive Mt. Ritter looming above on this challenging route to exceptional Ediza Lake.

Day 6: Perhaps we will opt for another layover day here but more likely we will continue on the High Route past Iceberg Lake (probably still with floating icebergs in early July) picking our way beneath the "exceedingly sharp and slender spires" of the Minarets and down an exhilarating 30 foot class 3 chute (lowering packs as needed) to sublime Minaret Lake.

Day 7: Another invigorating day on the High Route, we cross two passes to our final camp at aptly named Superior Lake.

Day 8: Seven on-trail miles and a descent of over 2,500' brings us to Devil's Postpile where we board the shuttle bus (fare included in trip price) back to our original meeting place. A few of us will then need to be shuttled by car to the vehicles left at the beginning trailhead. The trip will end by early to mid afternoon on July 15.

Our hiking schedule is not rigid; how far we get each day and where we camp depends on how we feel, the weather, and other factors outside of our control.

We will be providing all meals and snacks; note that the first trip meal will be lunch on July 8, and the last meal is a quick lunch on July 15. Expect tasty and hearty fare, vegetarians can be accommodated for most meals, but be aware that some of the dinners will contain meat or meat products in the sauces or soups. Cooking and clean-up duties will be shared by all members of the group on a rotating basis.

This trip is rated moderately-strenuous (MS) but portions of the trip will be strenuous, particularly off-trail crossings of mountain passes. Except for day one and perhaps the layover day, most planned single-day elevation gains are less than 1600 feet. We will generally hike up to seven miles on travel days. Most days we will be hiking for 6-7 hours (including breaks), or longer if unforeseen difficulties arise. Off-trail sections of the trip (planned to be more than half of the 40 miles we will cover altogether) may cover rough, rocky terrain with loose footing, which will require patience and good balance. On this July trip we may instead be negociating lingering snow fields on steep slopes. There may be potentially difficult stream crossings. Since our trip is at high elevations, very good aerobic conditioning is essential. You must have the ability to hike at high altitude with a backpack weighing as much as 45 lbs.

Participants must maintain a regular fitness program, supplemented with weekend practice hikes wearing the boots and pack (loaded with at least 40 pounds) you plan to bring on the trip. Also, taking at least one "warm-up" backpacking trip prior to this outing, at altitude if possible, is recommended. If you are not in good shape, you just won't have a good time. Be honest with yourself about your high altitude capabilities. Altitude sickness is unpleasant and can potentially be a serious condition. Trip participants are encouraged to arrive in the area a day or two before the trip so as to begin high elevation acclimatization.

The High Sierra is renowned for its excellent summer weather. However, extended storms can occur at any time of the year. Afternoon thunderstorms, with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, hail and even snow are not uncommon. Be prepared for extremes: high temperatures during the day can exceed 80 degrees and fall into the low 20s at night.

Participation in this outing requires that you be experienced, in shape, and have reasonable expectations for the trip. Recent backpacking experience and good physical conditioning are essential. Experience in cross-country backpacking is required, as hiking on rough, rocky terrain does require balance and a patient, tolerant attitude, both of which are requirements for the trip. Our objectives are to enjoy the experience of spectacular alpine majesty and to complete the trip safely.

We provide the following items: food (including trail snacks), pots, utensils, stoves, fuel, first aid kit, repair kit, trowel, ropes, and tarp. Bears are present and so we will be carrying our food in bear-proof cans. Each participant will be issued a small bottle of iodine or chlorine-based tablets for water treatment. You may prefer to bring along your own water filter. Limit your personal gear to no more than 25 pounds -- each participant's share of the commissary load could be 16-18 pounds at the start of the trip, occupying at least as much space as a full grocery sack. Make sure your backpack is large enough to carry the required loads, which on any given day could include both a bear can and a pot set or other bulky commissary gear.

Sturdy, fully broken in boots (providing good support and constructed at least partially of leather) with rubber lug soles are required. For shelter, tents with rainfly are strongly encouraged, and lightweight waterproof tarps are the required minimum. For rain gear, we recommend a waterproof jacket and rainpants rather than a poncho. may encounter some dry stretches along our route, so a water carrying capacity of at least 2 liters is required.

We suggest that you bring your own map and compass; not only is this a matter of safety, but you will have a better appreciation of where we are going and where we have been. Most of our route is on the USGS 7.5 minute " Mt. Ritter " quadrangle, or the Wilderness Press 15 minute "Devils Postpile" quad. The first and last days of our route are on the 7.5 minute Koip Peak , June Lake and Mammoth Mtn. quads. The Tom Harrison Maps "Mammoth High Country" covers the entire route, as does the Forest Service "Ansel Adams Wilderness" map.

The leaders will initiate discussions, usually while relaxing after dinner, about Public Lands and Wilderness Protection. Discussion topics will include specific wilderness legislation before Congress, recently added wilderness in California and the need to protect our nation's magnificent wild public lands.

We will also discuss the history of the Sierra Club and its founding members and the role of Outings in furthering the cause of conservation. The Sierra Club's history is steeped in efforts to preserve endangered habitat and wilderness. The Club was instrumental in expanding protection for Yosemite a century ago, establishing Kings Canyon National Park and passing the Wilderness Act. As Club members, we have reason to be proud of these accomplishments when we hike through the region.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System, originally protecting nine million acres of national forest lands. In this Act, "wilderness" is defined as "an area where the earth and its community are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor." Today more than 106 million acres are encompassed by the system, including the Ansel Adams Wilderness, where we will be visiting. We should each consider the level of protection that the Wilderness Act has given to this area and give thought to how we will pass these areas on to future generations.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

David Roberts clearly remembers the moment of stillness and solitude when, at age 12, he first became entranced with the wilderness. His first Sierra Club outing was in 1969. Since 1977, he has led or co-led private backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere. He began leading for Sierra Club Outings in 2001. The wilderness keeps drawing him back year after year; he especially delights in visiting remote lakes and canyons far from the distractions of civilization. When not working for the local Environmental Health Services, or clearing overgrown brush in his yard, he enjoys writing, photography, and playing the classical guitar. Fits of laziness don�t last long for David -- his dog demands a daily hike on the trails adjacent to his home in the Santa Cruz mountains.

E-mail: djbdoon@cruzio.com

Mary Hess has loved the mountains since she started backpacking in California�s Trinity Alps when she was eleven. The call of the wild has taken her to heights of beauty throughout the western states. She has participated on 20 Sierra Club National Outings -- some as leader, many more as assistant. She enjoys Sierra Club trips for the pleasure of meeting great people from all over the United States. Her other pursuits include playing the recorder and harp, reading poetry, beach combing, and contra dancing.