the Minarets

 mountain, summit, climbing area

There are 17 "minarets" that have been named after one of the first ascensionists (in a few cases a person from the second ascent to avoid duplication).
While both Ritter and Banner were climbed in the 19th century, the Minarets did not see activity until the 1920s. Charles Michael, a Yosemite postal worker, along with his wife Enid, were the first to record an ascent in 1923 of Michael Minaret. Over the next ten years most of the remaining minarets were climbed by various parties involving many of the famous climbers of the era, including Norman Clyde, Walter Starr, Jules Eichorn, among others. In 1948 Dyer Minaret was the last (and most difficult) of the group to be climbed. In 1933, Walter Starr's son disappeared during a solo trip to the area. An intense search ensued, culminating in the discovery of his fallen body high on the side of Michael Minaret. His body was interred where it lay, and still rests there.

The Minarets are part of the Ritter Range, the remnants of an ancient volcanic massive that predates most of the Sierra granite. Because of its volcanic origin, the rock does not have the solid features found in granitic areas and has acquired a reputation for being loose. Much of the underlying rock is quite solid, but there is a good deal of loose talus strewn about and it is this that one must be most careful about. A helmet should be considered mandatory.

Yellow outline traces the 11,400 foot elevation contour.

A view of the Minarets from Minaret Summit www.flickr.com/photos/wwwca/2598346989/