Banner Peak, Mountain summit in Madera County, United States
Banner Peak is a mountain summit in California's Sierra Nevada, part of the Ritter Range at approximately 12,945 feet in elevation. The peak features dramatic vertical rock faces and several small glaciers that persist on its northern slopes.
The first recorded ascent took place in 1883 when Willard D. Johnson and John Miller reached the summit. They named it after the distinctive cloud patterns that regularly form around the peak.
The peak stands within the Ansel Adams Wilderness, drawing photographers who capture its reflection in the waters of Thousand Island Lake.
Summer offers the most favorable climbing conditions when snow coverage is minimal and glaciers are most stable. Climbers should be well-equipped for high altitude mountaineering and prepared for rapid weather changes in the alpine environment.
The peak is composed of metavolcanic rock rather than the granite common to other Sierra Nevada summits. This geological distinction gives climbers a different type of rock experience compared to neighboring peaks.
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