Mt. Lyell and Mt. Ritter Ascents, 191 



is almost as conspicuous here as it is from Lyell. Mt. 

 Clark is to the south of west, while Gray and Red moun- 

 tains, Merced Peak, Black Peak, Goddard, Humphreys, 

 Red Slate, and, in the distance towards Nevada, the 

 White Mountains, are easily picked out in their order. 

 In fact, snow-capped peaks surround Ritter in every 

 direction, so that one is inclined to unite in the ecstatic 

 descriptions of others who have ascended this mountain 

 and say that the view from Ritter is one of the most 

 sublime to be found anywhere in the High Sierra. The 

 combination of snow, ice, granite, trees, glacial lakes, the 

 Mono Lake and craters, Pumice Valley, the majestic 

 White Mountains of Nevada, the near-by Minarets, and 

 rugged Banner Peak almost within stone's throw, the 

 Coast Range in the dim western haze, and the numberless 

 unnamed peaks and crests to the north and south as far 

 as the eye can see, form a vision never to be forgotten. 

 For two hours we remained on top of the mountain, drink- 

 ing inspiration from the view, during which time we also 

 managed to do full justice to the usual hearty Sierra 

 Club luncheon. 



With a brief account of our ascent we inscribed our 

 names in the Sierra Club register, and on top of the cairn 

 placed the skeleton head of a mazama which Mr. Gould 

 carried up from near Thousand Island Lake for the pur- 

 pose. Leaving this guardian of the sacred archives, we 

 regretfully turned away from the magnificent view and 

 slowly and cautiously began our descent. 



This was no easy task. We followed down a ridge 

 of large and very loose rocks which led in a northeasterly 

 direction to the big snow-field between Banner and Ritter. 

 These rocks would appear from above to be very secure. 



