Condition of Glacier SW of Banner?

[scerny]

This coming Sunday 7/4 I'm climbing Banner via the glacier from Catherine. I've already packed my crampons/ice axe, but I'm wondering if anyone has recent intel on the glacier? I would love to carry just microspikes/hiking poles if the snow is soft enough, suncupped enough, or receded enough to stay on rocks. Not sure how hard or soft it is as this point. I should be on the glacier late morning/early afternoon.

[cantare]

I have no direct experience, but the Ritter SE thread I just posted has some relevant discussion of this route.

Also see this: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6907

[bobby49]

I haven't been there recently. However, I would expect some fairly hard suncupped ice going up from the lake. So, I would take microspikes and trekking poles. That gets you up to the saddle. From there, it will be just large talus chunks.

Technically, I don't believe that it is a glacier, although it is very similar.

[scerny]

Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate it. Last time I climbed Banner was in high school in the late 80's. I have only some faint memories of that trip, though. I'm super exited to tackle it again decades later.