June 2001 

EB and Liz standing triumphantly on the col above the SE corner pinnacle.  Volcanic Ridge is in the immediate background, and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the broad treeless mountain poking up behind it.

Rich stands at the edge of the SE Glacier proper, after completing the sketchy traverse over from the col (see footsteps in the snow contouring around on the left side).  Ice axe and crampons definitely required for this bit.  Directly above Rich's head, the chutes leading to the summit snowfield are visible.  At this point, EB and Liz decided to turn back to camp, and Griffin and I pressed on towards the summit.

Griffin crossing the SE Glacier.  The SE corner pinnacle rises behind him.  We crossed the small col just above and to the right of the pinnacle.   Ediza and Shadow Lakes are visible to the left of the pinnacle.  Also, in the lower left hand corner, the Nydiver Lakes are barely visible.

A better view of the "three toed buttress" from the SE Glacier, and the selection of chutes leading up towards the summit snowfield (barely visible at top right).  The green line is the direct route suggested by Secor.  This year, the chute looked dry and completely climbable.  However, based on Alan Ritter's advice, we headed up the glacier towards the more gradual class 2 rocks on the top of the buttress, following the red line in this photo.  Alan calls this "Owen's Chute".  I agree that this is a good way to get to the summit, and looks much easier than the Secor chute (although it is somewhat less direct).  Griffin decided to call it quits at Owen's Chute.  With the summit in sight, I left him for a quick run up to the top.

Atop the Ritter Range at 13,150', looking down on the Minarets.  The next page has two large summit panoramas.

Looking NE from the summit, over the top of Banner Peak, towards Mono Lake.

Griffin and I made it back down to camp, although we arrived late due to a miscalculation on the way down (we stupidly missed the lower gully on the descent and came down 1/2 mile to the south of the gully, necessitating a mosquito-laden bushwack back to camp).  After a very windy night, we woke up for the hike back out to Agnew Meadows and our breakfast at the Stove in Mammoth Lakes.

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