Once a year I look up at the Cascade mountains and I get the urge, to climb the South Sister. A few years back, late at night after work, my girlfriend (now fiancé) and I decided it was time to get a little crazy. As midnight approached we strapped on some shoes, filled our water bottles, drank some coffee and headed off on our way to the Devils Lake Trail-head: about 28 miles from Bend off the Cascade Lakes Highway on your left. We arrived at the trailhead around 1am and began our ascent (having already filled out the paperwork at the wilderness area check station). We were off on a great adventure! We would hike, camp and soon summit the South Sister. We didn't get far, only about 45 minutes up the trailhead, and we felt the long work day settle in our bones. We decided to set up camp and sleep for the night in the Hemlock Forest. We awoke early to the sound of travelers passing us by. The hike to the summit took us three hours. We had left to the summit, with some agony because we were to be back at work in the early afternoon. So we found it easier to run down, rather than trace our steadily-hiking steps, down to the trailhead and back to our car. This was our first experience to the South Sister summit and although the rush was less than ideal, we left with as great memory. This year we did it a little differently. Normally we like to hike and sleep up above Moraine Lake, a good two or so mile hike up through the Hemlock Forest and camp. We sleep under the stars and are able to enjoy one of the most breathtaking sunrises ever as you look over Moraine Lake and Broken Top above the tree-line. This year we gathered some of our best friends and family to hike the South Sister. We slept at Sparks Lake just down the road from Devils Lake Trail-head and parked on the highway to avoid the need for the Northwest Forest Service Pass and did the entire hike as a group bottom to top and back in one trip. If you want to park at Devils Lake remember your pass or bring $5 cash or check. It is a 12 mile round trip hike and well worth your time. Our group took off at a slow but steady pace with the age varying from my best friend a 24 year old Physical Therapist to my 57 year old father (who kicked our butts up the mountain). In years past we split the hike up and it took us around 4.5 hours up and 2.5 down. This time we had a few slower counterparts who kept a steady pace and it took us 6 hours up and 3.5 down. After you hike through the Hemlock Forest you make your way up to a steep grade of switch backs. Everyone says that if you have a hard time with these switch backs turn back. Yes, listen to what they have to say, but know that with determination and enough water, you can summit South Sister. Once, you make it out of the forest you make your way up to the trail split to Moraine Lake. Continue straight through, it is about a mile and a half of easy walking on a beaten path and up to the right is our normal sleeping spot up above Moraine Lake. Follow the beaten path, and you make you way up to the real start of the climb. From here on out be ready for an adventure. You will climb up a path, that twists and turns, has shale and loose rock, big boulders to scale over and soft lava rock that gets all up in your shoes and socks. If you are lucky and plan it out right you want to climb when the snow is just showing patches. That way the hike is easy to get to the base and the dirt is moist enough to stay in place. As you venture up the path to the summit, take your time. Don't forget to look around and see the beautiful summer scenery of the Cascade Lakes and Mt. Bachelor. You will continue on up the grade passing through the last of the tree's and make your way towards the saddle. The saddle is where the grey lava meets the red lava rock and there is a beautiful place to stop have a snack and look at a glacial pool that collects the run-off from the summit. Oh and don't forget to take a dip on those hot days. The water may be shocking, but hey your at over 9,000 feet and why not? It is a great way to get your adrenaline up and refresh yourself, because even though it doesn't seem like it your only half way up the summit. After we jumped in we ate some food and started our route up what is by far the hardest and most grueling part of the trip. The red trail to the top of the mountain is full of some extreme vertical and is filled with scree, a dusty, volcanic and loose substance that make it hard to move more than twenty or so feet at a time. The last section takes the longest and as the air gets thinner you can feel your lungs asking for more air. But, with enough stops, water and food you will make it up to the summit and get some of the best views of your life. God has really blessed this place, it is a transcendental feeling being up so high and being able to see the entire landscape around you. Now it is time to take a few pictures, catch your breath because you are at over 10,000 feet in elevation and get ready for a thigh burner, because you have a lot of elevation and ground to cover on your way down. The climb down makes life much easier, all of a sudden the climb wasn't that bad, and your giving intel to the hikers on the way up about how far they have to go an little tips on the best way. But, do not forget to think about yourself. The scree that hindered you on your way up is still there and every time I come down from the top, I or someone in my party ends up on their backside just about every time we hike South Sister. The snow on the way down can be another big challenge, but it can also the the most fun of the whole trip. It is slippery, but slippery can be used to your advantage. I brought up a rain coat, others have brought garbage bags, and some just use their shoes and ski down the mountain on the snow patches. Whatever you choose, bring something to play on because for our entire group it was the most fun of the entire trip and really cuts down on how much pounding your legs have to take on the way down. It is a phenomenal hike, and really tests your limits in a safe and fairly controlled environment and is a great feat to achieve for anyone who loves to hike, loves to take photo's, and love to enjoy Central Oregon. 5 Things to bring: 1. WATER-you will be gone for 6+ hours and you sweat. 2. Good Shoes-a good lightweight hiking shoes and socks. 3. A backback-it can go from 25 to 90 degrees, you will need a place to put all of you extra stuff and WATER. 4. A car- it is a short 30 minute drive to the trail head from Bend. 5. A Camera-You are going to want to record this. Here are a few extra photo's from the hike or click to
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AuthorI'm Drew and outdoor loving, hard working, leisure loving, fun making Bendite who wants to share the world of Bend with you... Archives
September 2013
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