Three sisters

[Wheepickle]

Hey! i am looking to do the three sisters in one weekend, starting from the north and skiing south last. I'm looking for input from someone who's done it before and someone who would be interested in joining as soon as there is access.

[jlag]

Access is coming from Pole Creek TH, just outside of Sisters. Currently the last 3 miles are snowed in to TH, but should be melting out quickly. From there(depending on which route you want to climb) you go up the SE ridge and then traverse the W. side to the summit. Pretty airy traverse and can be quite dangerous conditions depending. THen up/over Middle via N. ridge, ski the SE ridge of middle(really good descent) and then pick a ridge up the N. side of South Sister.

 

Depending on your fitness, North and Middle in one day. Bivy at Camp Lake and then up/over S. Sister.

 

when you plan on going in?

 

JL

[rocky_joe]

oh man, Three sisters marathon. I remember the last time I said that phrase without a sense of despair, pain or anger...about 5 minutes before we left Pole Creek.

 

Beta...Don't ski it...wait til August and hike. Leave Pole Creek no later than 2am on the day you plan to do the marathon. Hydrate/Eat VERY well. Pack Iodine. Bring a 30m line to rap the bowling alley...it will save you 45 mins. DO NOT take the direct line up S. Sister's N. Ridge (skirt to climbers left, it's a walk up.) Trekking Poles are a must. GAITERS!!! Be in fantastic shape...from Pole Creek to Devil's Lake it is ~10000 gain/loss and 18 miles.

 

Oh and one last piece of advice...don't get lost coming down S. Sister...the emergency bivy at 9000' is really unpleasant.

 

Best of Luck and happy climbing.

[Wheepickle]

I was thinking of doing north and middle on a saturday and south on a sunday (weekend warrior, ha). I would love to do it as soon as possible, upon access. I've never really been in the area and hear that north can be a bit loose.

 

I would love to bring skis, you think that's reasonable or leave the S sister for a separate ski day?

 

Fitness good. Endurance stellar. Knowledge of the area not so hot