[TR] South Sister - South spur 7/7/2012

[Bosterson]

Trip: South Sister - South spur

 

Date: 7/7/2012

 

Trip Report:

Some pics from a South Sister climb last weekend. Snow is melting out fast!

 

We left Portland after work around 6:30pm and got to Devil's Lake around 10:30; on the trail around 11. Weather was super balmy on the Moraine Lake plateau - I was in Cap 1 L/S with no hat or gloves, and no headlamp because of the moonlight.

 

We aimed to summit at sunrise but didn't quite make it due to a couple of party members not feeling 100%. Hit Lewis Tarn a little past dawn, on the summit at 7am, spent a few hours up there (napping?) and then went down into the hordes of people lining up the last ridge. Crossing the plateau under midday sun was brutal.

 

 

 

 

After Lewis Tarn the snow disappears and it's a scree slog up the last ridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Napping on the summit after being up all night. I think this was almost comfortable...

 

 

Get up there early to avoid the crowds and the slush.

 

Gear Notes:

Poles, crampons, axe, snowshoes. Axe was only useful as a glissade brake and the snowshoes were dead weight so we stashed them behind a tree early on. Crampons not necessary but useful for kicking steps up to Lewis Tarn if the snow is colder.

[Barefooter]

Thanks for the report and the photos. Good to know how much snow to expect. Going up there this upcoming Saturday. What about mosquitoes this time of the year ? Have you encountered any on the trail in the lower elevation ?

[Bosterson]

Mosquitos at the Devil's Lake trailhead tried to eat us alive when we got back to the car and were lazying around with the car doors open while we waited for the rest of our party to show up. I don't think there were any bugs at all on the trail.