South Sister approach?

[BigWave]

Anyone have approach info on the South side of the South Sister for a ski descent somewhere near the end of March?

[Walter_Burt]

It's pretty long as you start from Mt Bachelor unless you scam a snowmobile ride from the folks who own the Elk Lake Resort. Count on 3 days prior to opening of the Cascade Lakes Road - a weekend if the road is open. It'll take a day into the Green Lakes, a day up and back and a day out if the road isn't opened.

Have fun

W

[mattp]

It is only six or eight miles from Dutchman Flat to Green Lakes, and there is not a whole lot of elevation gain, so if you are reasonably energetic, and if the snow surface is even moderately friendly, I believe you could do the trip in less than three days. But Walter is right: it is a fairly long way.

Climbing from Green Lakes, the easiest route is to stay well below (south of) the East Ridge, climbing the Lewis Glacier to the South Ridge. The south facing slope from Hodge Crest to the Lewis is a great run, and from the Lewis one can traverse around to the east and reach more entertaining (E facing) slopes that end up just north of Green Lakes. In sunny weather, you'll want to complete the run relatively early in the day, before the sun leaves those east facing slopes and they begin to crust over.

[BigWave]

Any suggestions on season to ski it in a day?

[b-rock]

Big Wave - I think anytime after the road past Ducthman Flats opens up. That will probably be around June. Of course then you'll have to contend with the hundreds of people going up the south side every weekend. Still a fun descent.

[Zenolith]

once you can get to devil's lake you can climb from there without having to walk at all except to cross the highway. the slopes are mellow enough that you can ski to the summit from the TH. its not even a full day.

[BigWave]

So what about heading toward broken top? I there a feasible day or long day shot from Bachelor to he summit with a ski in there somewhere?

[mattp]

The W side of Broken Top is pretty moderate up to within just a few hundred feet of the top and it makes a good ski run. I would rate it at an intermediate level. It can be done in a day from Bachelor, but it is easier if you wait until you can drive to Fall Creek trailhead (that trailhead is probably not more than 3 or possibly 4 miles from the snowpark, so it wouldn't take much more than an hour each direction to walk). You wouldn't have to go around to the W. side to get up Broken Top -- you could go through the crater -but it makes a better ski run that way.