Friday, July 15, 2005
Northern Three Sisters loop
Written by Mrs Trail Seeker
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NORTHERN THREE SISTERS LOOP
July 11, 2005- Monday
We've arrived and began the trip at Pole Creek Trailhead; it's 3:30 p.m. The weather is quite warm, the sky is clear blue! The trail is nice and steady, catching a glimpse of north and Middle sister. A few skeeters- they like me best I think.
Crossed a few small creeks along the way. Now at the North Fork Squaw Creek crossing- had to put on water shoes and shorts to get across the freezing cold, rapidly moving water- up to our knees but no problem crossing at 6:00 p.m. This is a nice rock to journal on- the sky is so clear blue- can see Middle Sister upstream with the bright sun just above starting to set.
Arrived at Camp Lake, 7:30 p.m., have hiked 7 miles, elevation 7,000 feet. Snow around the lake, which is at the base of South Sister. This spot is a windy area- very windy! Last part of the trail the breeze picked up, felt good, and less to no bugs now. Our camp spot has a nice pile of rocks to make a short wall to help protect us from the wind. Dinner was a cup a soup and crackers. It's 9:00 p.m. and we're settled into the tent, it's still very light outside.
July 12, 2005- Tuesday
It's 6:30 a.m.- starting to pack... it was a breezy night, sounded like being at the ocean and waves crashing. Woke up at 2:30 a.m. and awake quite a while; not quite so breezy this morning but still quite windy and cooler temperature out.
Hiked between Middle and South Sister- over snow patches, rock scree... sometimes on a trail, sometimes not- down a gully area, walked thru the snow down that, and got thru the pass- went pretty good, no bugs to speak of. It was an awesome adventure to go thru the pass. We've not seen any people since the very beginning of the trail yesterday. Elevation is 6,650 now at 10.4 miles. It's 10 a.m. and stopped along the creek for water fill and breakfast--- oatmeal and trail snacks. Small biting skeeters are here, but we're still in long sleeves from the cool breeze.
After going thru the pass we picked up on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and began to see other backpackers here and there. It's 12:45 p.m. and we're at Eileen Lake. We took a dip in the water, had a little snack and enjoyed the beautiful views of the Three Sisters Mountains.
Beautiful green meadow, but a steep hike back up to the PCT, arrived at 3:30 pm. Back to the junction of the PCT.
It's 4:00 pm. And break time... a view of Scott Mountain down into a pretty meadow, 20.2 miles.
It's 5:45 p.m. and break time... hiked by Obsidian Falls; the trail has some logs to go over and under, walking along lava now. No views of the mountains in this area. Decide to go on a few more miles before camping for the night.
Went thru Oppie Dilldock Pass- a lot of uphill thru lava!! Then finally reach Minnie Scott Spring at 24.8 miles. Skeeters are bad, got some water and set up the tent and got in quick! I boiled water with netting over my face- that really worked well! Had hot cocoa and a few crackers at 8:00 p.m we're too tired to think about dinner. Finished the day with 17.8 miles on hiking…no wonder we're tired tonight. There are a few other people camping in this area on the other side of the spring.
July 13, 2005 - Wednesday
It's 6:45 a.m.- packing up; it's 39 degrees out. It got cold last night, there is ice on the backpacks. Got some water from the spring and headed out on the trail. There's been a few backpackers already out on the trail this a.m.
Hike thru Yapoah Crater area- uphill mostly. Continued uphill to the South Matthieu Lake junction then a couple miles of downhill. The skeeters were out and biting but the net worked good, I'm happy with that. Took a break at Alder Creek at 11:30 a.m. Nice area to rest. Then a hike up and down and then steadily down hill. We haven't seen any other hikers since the last junction. We realize the loop is a little longer than the book says.
Finished the loop at 3:00 p.m. and 38.7 miles. Amazing, the whole trip was done in 48 hours! -Mrs Trail Seeker
(edited to add this link to show a view of the Three Sisters taken last year from Scott Mountain and McKenzie Pass; The link )
--------------------------------------
NORTHERN THREE SISTERS LOOP
July 11, 2005- Monday
We've arrived and began the trip at Pole Creek Trailhead; it's 3:30 p.m. The weather is quite warm, the sky is clear blue! The trail is nice and steady, catching a glimpse of north and Middle sister. A few skeeters- they like me best I think.
Crossed a few small creeks along the way. Now at the North Fork Squaw Creek crossing- had to put on water shoes and shorts to get across the freezing cold, rapidly moving water- up to our knees but no problem crossing at 6:00 p.m. This is a nice rock to journal on- the sky is so clear blue- can see Middle Sister upstream with the bright sun just above starting to set.
Arrived at Camp Lake, 7:30 p.m., have hiked 7 miles, elevation 7,000 feet. Snow around the lake, which is at the base of South Sister. This spot is a windy area- very windy! Last part of the trail the breeze picked up, felt good, and less to no bugs now. Our camp spot has a nice pile of rocks to make a short wall to help protect us from the wind. Dinner was a cup a soup and crackers. It's 9:00 p.m. and we're settled into the tent, it's still very light outside.
July 12, 2005- Tuesday
It's 6:30 a.m.- starting to pack... it was a breezy night, sounded like being at the ocean and waves crashing. Woke up at 2:30 a.m. and awake quite a while; not quite so breezy this morning but still quite windy and cooler temperature out.
Hiked between Middle and South Sister- over snow patches, rock scree... sometimes on a trail, sometimes not- down a gully area, walked thru the snow down that, and got thru the pass- went pretty good, no bugs to speak of. It was an awesome adventure to go thru the pass. We've not seen any people since the very beginning of the trail yesterday. Elevation is 6,650 now at 10.4 miles. It's 10 a.m. and stopped along the creek for water fill and breakfast--- oatmeal and trail snacks. Small biting skeeters are here, but we're still in long sleeves from the cool breeze.
After going thru the pass we picked up on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and began to see other backpackers here and there. It's 12:45 p.m. and we're at Eileen Lake. We took a dip in the water, had a little snack and enjoyed the beautiful views of the Three Sisters Mountains.
Beautiful green meadow, but a steep hike back up to the PCT, arrived at 3:30 pm. Back to the junction of the PCT.
It's 4:00 pm. And break time... a view of Scott Mountain down into a pretty meadow, 20.2 miles.
It's 5:45 p.m. and break time... hiked by Obsidian Falls; the trail has some logs to go over and under, walking along lava now. No views of the mountains in this area. Decide to go on a few more miles before camping for the night.
Went thru Oppie Dilldock Pass- a lot of uphill thru lava!! Then finally reach Minnie Scott Spring at 24.8 miles. Skeeters are bad, got some water and set up the tent and got in quick! I boiled water with netting over my face- that really worked well! Had hot cocoa and a few crackers at 8:00 p.m we're too tired to think about dinner. Finished the day with 17.8 miles on hiking…no wonder we're tired tonight. There are a few other people camping in this area on the other side of the spring.
July 13, 2005 - Wednesday
It's 6:45 a.m.- packing up; it's 39 degrees out. It got cold last night, there is ice on the backpacks. Got some water from the spring and headed out on the trail. There's been a few backpackers already out on the trail this a.m.
Hike thru Yapoah Crater area- uphill mostly. Continued uphill to the South Matthieu Lake junction then a couple miles of downhill. The skeeters were out and biting but the net worked good, I'm happy with that. Took a break at Alder Creek at 11:30 a.m. Nice area to rest. Then a hike up and down and then steadily down hill. We haven't seen any other hikers since the last junction. We realize the loop is a little longer than the book says.
Finished the loop at 3:00 p.m. and 38.7 miles. Amazing, the whole trip was done in 48 hours! -Mrs Trail Seeker
(edited to add this link to show a view of the Three Sisters taken last year from Scott Mountain and McKenzie Pass; The link )
# posted by Trail Seeker @ 2:37 PM 
Comments:
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Wonderful stories; thanks for sharing. It was almost like being there, but without the exercise.
TS, is that your WIFE in that picture? Or is it your daughter? Either way, she's beautiful.
TS, is that your WIFE in that picture? Or is it your daughter? Either way, she's beautiful.
Ann, my wife was flattered by your question, she just turned 40. Kids were at (cough, cough) girls camp.
TS, thank you for giving me the link to this post. I loved the pictures, the 3rd and 4th ones were my favorites. The commentary was great. Very impressive, very enjoyable read. Good Show.
ps, how's that for somebody posting a comment a year after a blog post goes up. :)
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ps, how's that for somebody posting a comment a year after a blog post goes up. :)
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