Yosemite. The Cathedral Spires. The first ascent of the higher spire was finally effected on April 15th, 1934, by Richard M. Leonard, Jules M. Eichorn and Bestor Robinson. This was the culmination of several attempts the previous autumn, and marks the first use of pitons to any extent in the Sierra Nevada. The route led up a difficult series of pitches on the west face. (Sierra Bulletin, 1934, pp. 34-7.) These same three climbers on August 25th made a successful assault on the lower spire, being the first to reach the summit, at the same time as another trio, Beverly Blanks, Elliot Sawyer, and Boynton Kaiser were repeating their route on the higher spire.

Banner Peak. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Rittenbacker of San Mateo were killed on this mountain about August 17th. According to Norman Clyde who found the bodies after a week’s search, they must have fallen about 600 ft. from a point about 1000 ft. below the summit on to the glacier on the west side of the peak.

K. A. H.