6/28/2008
The Minarets Traverse:
Minaret, Ediza, Garnet and Thousand Island Lakes
in the Ansel Adams Wilderness
 August 2007

On August 7-12, 2007 Jon Ball, Patty Kert Dailey, Lynda Daniels, Bill Edwards, Jay Helms, Katy Travaille and Ann Waters back packed from Devil's Postpile National Monument, traversing the Ritter Range from south to north, and exiting at Agnew Meadows.  This 6-day trip was approximately 27 miles (plus day hikes), with 6600' of elevation gain and 5900' of elevation loss.

Images may be clicked to bring up hi-resolution photos.
Route Description
The map shows the route from south to north in yellow (day hikes in green) with camps indicated by red tents.

DAY 1 (Tuesday, August 7): We hike from Devil's Postpile National Monument (7,559') up the John Muir Trail, then veer off onto a spur to dramatic Minaret Lake (9,830'), set beneath a dizzying array of arêtes to the south and west.  (6-1/2 miles.)

DAY 2 (Wednesday, August 8): We hike cross-country to hidden, windswept Cecile Lake (10,280') where Clyde Minaret looms overhead.  Then we climb down over talus slopes to deep-blue Iceberg Lake and descend to Ediza Lake (9,320').  (3 miles)

DAY 3 (Thursday, August 9): Layover day at Ediza Lake with a day hike to the foot of Mt. Ritter.

DAY 4 (Friday, August 10): We descend two miles to rejoin the John Muir Trail and hike north to Garnet Lake.  Then we continue up the JMT past Ruby and Emerald lakes to Thousand Island Lake (9,834'). (9 miles)

DAY 5 (Saturday, August 11): Layover day at Thousand Island Lake with a day hike to North Glacier Pass (11,200') above Lake Catherine on the back side of Banner Peak and Mt. Ritter.

DAY 6 (Sunday, August 12): We return via the High Trail to the Agnew Meadows trailhead (8,335').  (8-1/2 miles)
Day 1: Devil's Postpile National Monument to Minaret Lake
Dinner in Mammoth the night before
Dinner in Mammoth the night before
 At the trailhead
At the trailhead
Katy Travaille, Lynda Daniels, Patty Kert Dailey and Ann Waters
Katy Travaille, Lynda Daniels, Patty Kert Dailey and Ann Waters
Bill Edwards
Bill Edwards
Katy Travaille
Katy Travaille
Jay Helms
Jay Helms
Minaret Lake campsite under Clyde Minaret.
Minaret Lake campsite under Clyde Minaret.
Day 2: Cross-Country via Cecile and Iceberg Lakes to Ediza Lake
Climbing up from Minaret Lake
Climbing up from Minaret Lake		 Patty Kert Dailey and Ann Waters
Patty Kert Dailey and Ann Waters
Cecile Lake and Clyde Minaret
Cecile Lake and Clyde Minaret
Katy Travaille
Katy Travaille		 Lynda Daniels and Bill Edwards
Lynda Daniels and Bill Edwards
Ediza Lake with the Minarets, Mt. Ritter, and Banner Peak in the background
Ediza Lake with the Minarets, Mt. Ritter, and Banner Peak in the background
Day 3: Day Hike to the Foot of Mt. Ritter
Day 4: Hike via Garnet Lake to Thousand Island Lake
Katy Travaille
Katy Travaille
Garnet Lake
Garnet Lake
Patty Kert Dailey and Ann Waters' campsite
Patty Kert Dailey and Ann Waters' campsite		 Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak
Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak
Day 5: Day Hike to North Glacier Pass (11,200') above Lake Catherine
Ascending from Thousand Island Lake
Ascending from Thousand Island Lake		 Jay Helms
Jay Helms
Lake Catherine and the back sides of Banner and Ritter above Lake Catherine from North Glacier Pass
Lake Catherine and the back sides of Banner and Ritter above Lake Catherine from North Glacier Pass
Lynda Daniels and Katy Travaille
Lynda Daniels and Katy Travaille		 Ann Waters at North Glacier Pass
Ann Waters at North Glacier Pass
Jon Ball
Jon Ball		 Lynda Daniels
Lynda Daniels
Day 6: Hike Out via the High Trail to Agnew Meadows
The Ritter Range from the High Trail
The Ritter Range from the High Trail		 Hiking out on the High Trail
Hiking out on the High Trail
Home Page.