South Sister and Lewis Glacier Peak - 9.19.2016

P1100598z.jpg
Park at the Devils Lake Parking area (5444')... the South Sister Climbers Trail No. 36 is located next to the restrooms... our trip was 14.4 miles roundtrip, gaining 5166 feet of elevation.
P1100599.jpg
The first quarter-mile is treed and eventually goes across the highway where you will see this sign... and a hiking permit registration kiosk.
P1100600.jpg
The first 1.5 miles was in the trees as we hiked between Kaleetan Butte and Devils Hill... gaining 1200 feet of elevation.
P1100605.jpg
Coming out of the trees at 6600 feet... and our first view of South Sister.
P1100610.jpg
Now we are going to hike a relatively flat 1.5 miles as we travel above Moraine Lake.
P1100611.jpg
On relatively flat terrain... passing above Moraine Lake... here looking east to Broken Top.
P1100621x.jpg
Above Moraine Lake and heading for steeper terrain... our approximate route to the South Sister summit.
P1100629.jpg
On steeper terrain after hiking a total of ~3 miles.
P1100649.jpg
Nearing a beautiful tarn that sits (~8800') below the Lewis Glacier.
P1100651x.jpg
Looking back at our approximate route to the tarn at the foot of the Lewis Glacier.
P1100656.jpg
The tarn at 8800 feet... another 1500 feet of elevation gain will get us to the summit... Hodge Crest on the far right.
P1100658.jpg
The route to the summit rim will follow along the west edge of the Lewis Glacier.
P1100667.jpg
Looking back at the tarn and Lewis Glacier Peak in the foreground as we hike along the west edge of the Lewis Glacier... Broken Top in the distance on the far left... with Mt. Bachelor in the distance on the right.
P1100673.jpg
Barb and Elle heading for the summit rim... hiking along the edge of the Lewis Glacier.
P1100682.jpg
Looking back as we continue toward the summit rim of South Sister... high enough now to see Green Lakes on the left below Broken Top.
P1100687.jpg
400 feet below the summit rim the trail turns away from the Lewis Glacier.
P1100689.jpg
We found a nice wind-break on the summit rim (10,200')... a 10 to 20 MPH wind made it very chilly.
P1100692.jpg
Looking at Broken Top (left) and Mt. Bachelor from the summit rim.
P1100695.jpg
Hiking around the crater rim in a counter-clockwise direction... with the summit in view above.
P1100700.jpg
Nearing the South Sister summit.
P1100711.jpg
Elle is on the summit... with North Sister and some of the Chambers Lakes coming into view.
P1100713.jpg
Looking across Hodge Crest in the foreground to Broken Top... and one of the Green Lakes.
P1100726.jpg
Group shot near the summit (10,358') of South Sister... with Middle Sister and North Sister behind us... and some of the Chambers Lakes down below.
P1100728.jpg
Middle Sister and North Sister from near the summit of South Sister... and all of the Chambers Lakes.
P1100732.jpg
The Sisters... Barb, Elle, Middle and North.
P1100734.jpg
Continuing along the crater rim.
P1100738.jpg
Middle Sister, North Sister and Chambers Lakes as we continue along the crater rim.
P1100740.jpg
A pano shot from the crater rim... the summit is on the left.
P1100747.jpg
Continuing along the crater rim... with North Sister through the gap.
P1100750.jpg
Steeper than it looks here... still hiking along the crater rim.
P1100754.jpg
Middle Sister and North Sister from the crater rim of South Sister... Teardrop Pool is in the center of the crater... many years ago (1988) it had enough melt to look like a small tarn... but I haven't seen it look like a tarn for the last 15 years.
P1100756.jpg
Closing our loop that goes around the crater rim.
P1100760.jpg
Heading down toward the 8800 foot tarn.
P1100765.jpg
Nearing the 8800 foot tarn... with Lewis Glacier Peak in the foreground.
P1100769.jpg
When we get back to the 8800 foot tarn we will cross over Lewis Glacier Peak and go down to Green Lakes on our return.
P1100774.jpg
Elle starts up Lewis Glacier Peak... it was really windy.
P1100779.jpg
On the summit (9017') of Lewis Glacier Peak... looking down at Green Lakes and over to Broken Top... the summit of Broken Top is less than 100 feet above us now.
P1100783.jpg
Heading for Green Lakes... there is a faint path most of the way... and cairns help where the path is hard to follow.
P1100785.jpg
It feels like we are getting close to Green Lakes... however, it will take us two hours to get from the 8800 foot tarn down to the lakes.
P1100786.jpg
Barb continues down on what used to be a glacier... Hodge Crest is above.
P1100793.jpg
Still some work to do in reaching Green Lakes.
P1100800.jpg
Will we ever get there?
P1100804x.jpg
Looking back at our approximate route down from Lewis Glacier Peak.
P1100806.jpg
Getting close to Green Lakes now.
P1100810.jpg
On flat ground now.
P1100811.jpg
Looking back at our route down to the lakes.
P1100814.jpg
Our spouses have hiked into Green Lakes and will escort us back to a car waiting for us at the Green Lakes Trailhead.
P1100818.jpg
My escort waiting at Green Lakes for me to arrive.
P1100825.jpg
One of the Green Lakes... with Broken Top in the distance.
P1100846.jpg
From Green Lakes it is a four mile hike back to the car... and most of the hike follows along Fall Creek which has many many waterfalls like this one.