Banner Peak
Encyclopedia
Banner Peak is the second tallest peak in the Ritter Range
of California
's Sierra Nevada. The mountain is 12,936 feet (3,943 m) tall and there are a few glaciers on its slopes. It lies within the boundaries of the Ansel Adams Wilderness
; at the foot of the peak lie Garnet Lake, Lake Ediza, and the famous Thousand Island Lake
. Banner Peak is near the town of Mammoth Lakes; from there, climbers can hike to the foot of the mountain where various routes reach the summit, the easiest of which is a class 2
from the west end of Thousand-Island Lake and then the saddle between Banner Peak and the slightly-taller Mount Ritter
. Other nearby lakes to the peak include Lake Catherine and Shadow Lake.
The peak was named in 1883 by USGS
topographer Willard D. Johnson who observed a banner cloud streaming from the summit.
Ritter Range
The Ritter Range is a small mountain range within California's Sierra Nevada. Most of the mountain range lies within the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The Range is easily viewed from Minaret Summit, which is accessible by auto. The Ritter Range is most easily accessible from Mammoth Lakes, where hiking...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Sierra Nevada. The mountain is 12,936 feet (3,943 m) tall and there are a few glaciers on its slopes. It lies within the boundaries of the Ansel Adams Wilderness
Ansel Adams Wilderness
The Ansel Adams Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada of California, USA. The wilderness is part of the Sierra and Inyo National Forests. The wilderness spans...
; at the foot of the peak lie Garnet Lake, Lake Ediza, and the famous Thousand Island Lake
Thousand Island Lake
Thousand Island Lake is a large alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada, within the Ansel Adams Wilderness in eastern Madera County, California.The lake is named for the many small rocky islands that dot its surface. Theodore Solomons probably established the 'Thousand Island' name, as this appears on his...
. Banner Peak is near the town of Mammoth Lakes; from there, climbers can hike to the foot of the mountain where various routes reach the summit, the easiest of which is a class 2
Yosemite Decimal System
The Yosemite Decimal System is a three-part system used for rating the difficulty of walks, hikes, and climbs. It is primarily used by mountaineers in the United States and Canada. The Class 5 portion of the Class scale is primarily a rock climbing classification system. Originally the system was...
from the west end of Thousand-Island Lake and then the saddle between Banner Peak and the slightly-taller Mount Ritter
Mount Ritter
Mount Ritter is located in the Sierra Nevada, in Madera County of California, in the Western United States. It is in the Ansel Adams Wilderness of the Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Mount Ritter is the 16th highest mountain peak of California.-Geography:...
. Other nearby lakes to the peak include Lake Catherine and Shadow Lake.
The peak was named in 1883 by USGS
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
topographer Willard D. Johnson who observed a banner cloud streaming from the summit.