Mount Bachelor - 6.5.2020
I parked (6400') on the side of the Cascade Lakes Highway at the gated entrance to Mount Bachelor's Sunrise Lodge.
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A closeup of South Sister from where I parked... Middle Sister is sneaking into the photo on the far right.
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I found a trail sign for Mt. Bachelor near the base of the Sunrise Express Chairlift.
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Even though I had found the trail sign, I could not find any evidence of a trail... so I just headed uphill trying to hike on dirt instead of snow.
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It didn't take very long for the dirt to disappear... so I moved over to the Marshmallow ski run and continued uphill... this ski run originates at the base of the Sunrise Express Chairlift.
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Continuing up the Marshmallow ski run... with the Bachelor summit area coming more into view.
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Nearing the base of the Summit Express Chairlift... where I will more or less follow the chairlift on up to the summit area.
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After hiking 1 mile I'm at the base (7300') of the Summit Express Chairlift... looking back across the highway at Tumalo Mountain.
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Heading uphill on the Beverly Hills ski run from the base of the Summit Express Chairlift... every step will be uphill.
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Looking over at Broken Top, Broken Hand and Ball Butte as I gain elevation up the Beverly Hills ski run.
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Looking down as I continue up the Beverly Hills ski run... the top of the Sunrise Express Chairlift is on the right... with Tumalo Mountain on the horizon... clouds are forming.
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Continuing up the Beverly Hills ski run on my way to the Bachelor summit area... old foot steps in the snow helped a lot.
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Still gaining elevation... and looking back at my route.
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Continuing up the Beverly Hills ski run... taking a short break on this melted out area... I'm going to go over and up to the rib on the right to see if the views will improve.
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After hiking 1.4 miles I have reached a rib (7900') coming down from the summit... and the views are definitely improving... with Broken Top in the distance... the bumps in the foreground are blocking my view of the Three Sisters... but that will change very soon.
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On the rib at 7900 feet... looking up at the Bachelor summit area... at least I can get off of the snow for awhile and continue higher on some dirt.
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Gaining elevation on the rib as I continue to gain elevation.
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Gaining elevation on the rib... with Three Sisters on the left... Broken Top in the right center of the photo... and Todd Lake below Broken Top.
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After hiking 1.8 miles I have left the rib and returned to the Beverly Hills ski run.
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Looking over at Three Sisters and Broken Top... hard to see in this photo, but Three Fingered Jack is barely visible between North Sister and Broken Top.
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Two skiers blow past me as I near the top of the Summit Express Chairlift.
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After hiking 2 miles I am just below the Summit Express Chairlift... where I will peel off and head for Bachelor's true summit in the distance on the right.
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Nearing the Bachelor summit area... as the clouds start to roll in.
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After hiking 2.2 miles I have reached the summit (9065') of Mount Bachelor... here watching the clouds cover Sparks Lake on the right... and Elk Lake on the left.
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A pano shot from the summit... looking NW to Sparks Lake on the left... north to the cloud covered Three Sisters and Broken Top... and NE to Tumalo Mountain on the far right.
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Still on the summit... looking SW to Elk Lake and Crane Prairie Reservoir... the clouds are getting thicker and it is time to get off of the summit.
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Heading down to the chairlift station at the top of the Summit Express Chairlift.
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Heading down... Tumalo Mountain is in the distance.
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Heading down... with Three Sisters and Broken Top on the left... and Tumalo Mountain in the center of the photo... I will need to give up 1700 feet of elevation just to get down to the base of the Summit Express Chairlift.
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Nice view of Three Sisters and Broken Top as I near the base of the Summit Express Chairlift.
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After hiking 3.6 miles I have reached the top of the Sunrise Express Chairlift.
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Looking back up to the Bachelor summit area from the top of the Sunrise Express Chairlift.
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I'm going to go down the Roostertail ski run from the top of the Sunrise Express Chairlift.
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Heading down the Roostertail ski run... I thought it might be a good idea to get off of the snow and onto the service road, but alas, the road was very muddy.
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Back on the Marshmallow ski run... following the Sunrise Express Chairlift down to the Sunrise Lodge... leaving a short hike back to my car parked next to the highway in the distance at the base of Tumalo Mountain... the hike was 4.8 miles, gaining 2705 feet of elevation.
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