Banner Peak’s West Face Ski

This trip is an ode to skiing itself and one’s ability to make lemonade out of a few lemons.

While waiting for our snowpack to catch up to our stoke, Nick & I set out for a two day mission into the Ritter range. Equipped with all the technical goodies, we set out from the ski area towards Minerat Summit & down to the San Joaquin river.

Banner peaks West face from Ritter, April 2023

The road from the ski area connecting Red’s and Agnew meadows is a grand amphitheater into the Ritter range.

Ritter and it’s rolling terrain

Once at reds meadow we transitioned to skins and made our way to the bridge crossing.

Mammoth ski area!

It was a full-on spring day in early February. 45 degrees, full sun strength and no wind: an absolute scorcher.

We continued up to Shadow lake, following the summer trail as it was quite defined from the lack of snow.

Scenic views during some no fall zone skinning

Having done this approach before I was pleasantly surprised at the ratio of open water sources to easy movement. My last two trips back here were hellacious.

After a few hours of flat moving in the scorching heat we finally made it to Lake Ediza, where I camped in 2023 for Ritter.

First steps onto Lake Ediza with the Minarets above

We decided to move another thousand feet up to hedge our bets a little further.

Just about to our campsite for the night, perfect views of the Ritter /Banner Col

For dinner that night I had a chicken tikka masala freeze-dried that my brother got me for Christmas. I absolutely love Indian cuisine and this might be the best freeze-dried meal I’ve ever had

A perfect evening in the Sierra Nevada

We agreed upon a 5am alarm since by that point we’d be in our sleeping bags for nearly 12 hours.

The alarms came sooner than we imagined , as always, and we collected ourselves in a leisurely pace.

Starting up towards the Ritter/Banner Col

We left camp in ski mode; skiing across to the base of our ascent line. The conditions were confusing so we opted to boot the entire thing than faff back and forth to between skins & crampons. In hindsight we could’ve started on skis as the conditions were quite good.

Nick taking point into the couloir

The movement to the base of the Ritter / Banner Col was straight forward. Once at the base of the couloir the angle ramped up enough to warrant the classic one axe one pole combo.

Nick showing us the modified French step

As we climbed I felt the excitement grow internally. What I thought was going to be a mellow access point turned out to be a awesome piece of terrain for the day, both up and down.

We topped out of the couloir and were met by strong winds from the west.

Our shadows on the Col with frozen lake Catherine below.

Once at the Col we began up towards Banner’s West face. I took over the sharp end and began the booter. Another straight forward stairmaster for roughly 1000’ vertical.

The north face of Ritter, the Col & Nick

As you ascend the west face of Banner the true summit doesn’t reveal itself easily. For those looking to venture to the summit, stay climbers right up the face. The true summit block is on the right side of the summit ridge.

After about an hour of booting I was on the summit ridge trying to find the true summit. Thankfully I realized I wasn’t on the true summit before Nick got to me and was able to direct him to the correct line.

Nick and I on the summit of Banner Peak!

There is nothing too technical about the ascent but after looking at this mountain for years it seemed to have exceptional grandeur after reaching the top.

After walking back down to where the snow starts, we clicked into our skis and were off. Nick skiied the first 100 feet to stage for some photos and I proceeded to ski the whole face in one pull.

Nothing beats finding flow in high and exposed places.

3…2…1…dropping

At the base of the west face I watched Nick descend into the start of the couloir. Watching others in big terrain is almost as fun as skiing it for yourself.

Nick looking small at the entrance

The riding below the couloir was just what the doctor ordered; smooth sun-soaked turns as the scale of the mountain you just skiied starts to sink in.

Nick and I all packed up and ready to boogie home

We retraced our steps from the day prior and got our asses home. The exposed creeks always add an element of exposure that’s hard to articulate.

Exiting Lake Ediza

The partially mindless movement that sets in after a big day in the mountains is divine. Retracing our tracks from the day prior allowed us to zone out and revel in the two days we just had: premier ski mountaineering conditions in early February.

The walk out can feel long, because it is. The road you ski down morning of day one is seemingly endless skinning back up it on day two.

Banner peak! We were up there!

Reaching Minerat Summit we ripped skins and skiied all the way back to Mammoth Ski Area. A perfect way to end a magnificent two-day mission into the high country.

This ski descent is dedicated to all the lives lost to the mountains in February 2026. We love you.