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The highest and easiest of the Three Sisters, Oregon's third highest peak is a non-technical walk-up great for those want great views and a long hike. Great early season ski descent. Crampons and ice axe not needed in late season. Summit crater has highest lake in the state. Summit bivys can be popular. One of the easier glaciated peaks to climb to become a Mazama member.
Activity Notes
South Sister is Oregon's third-tallest mountain @ 10,358-foot. The climb, 4900 ft elevation gain in 4.9 miles one way. In June the trail will be snow covered unlike later in the summer when it is just a trail, so we will need mountaineering boots, crampons & ice ax's. Depending on the conditions we might get a short glissade as well. This is a beautiful mountain with spectacular views on a clear day and a great climb right out of BCEP. Geology:The Three Sisters formed within the past 100,000 years as part of the High Cascades, a string of similar volanoes that extends from California to British Columbia. North Sister, the oldest of the "sisters," has been eroded to a summit plug of dangerous crags. South Sister, the youngest, still retains its uneroded conical shape. Its summit crater contains the state's highest lake, Teardrop Pool.| Other Information | |
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| Driving Distance from Portland | 190 miles |
| Driving Time from Portland | 4 hours |
| Distance - Round Trip | 11 miles |
| Expected Duration | Car to car in one day |
| Relevant Books | Oregon High by Jeff Thomas |
| Relevant Maps | USGS 7 1/2 minute series: South Sister, and Geo-Graphics, Three Sisters Wilderness <href="http: "="" adventure="" c463="" starts-here="" title="On the Mazama Climbing and Hiking map page " www.mazamas.org="" your="">On the Mazama Climbing and Hiking map page <href="http: maps.google.com="" maps?f="q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=middle+sister&sll=44.103449,-121.769206&sspn=0.018891,0.04549&g=north+sister&ie=UTF8&ll=44.127028,-121.734352&spn=0.151065,0.363922&t=p&z=12"" title="Google maps">Google maps</href="http:></href="http:> |
| Awards Qualified | 16 Major NW Peaks, Seven Oregon Cascades Peaks |
