The volcanic peaks of the Three Sisters Wilderness dominate the landscape of central Oregon, visible
from the Willamette Valley to the west and far across the high desert to the east. The Three Sisters are the
highest and most prominent of the dozens of volcanoes which dot the Cascade Range between Mount Jefferson in
northern Oregon and Mount Shasta in California, with each of the Sisters reaching the lofty 10,000-foot (3000 m)
mark. The Three Sisters group is quite compact, as the summits of North, Middle, and South Sisters span a total
distance of less than 5 miles (8 km), yet the peaks host over 15 glaciers including the largest in Oregon (by
area), the Collier Glacier. The variety of volcanic features in the area is astounding, including the extensive
lava fields and cinder cones reaching from North Sister to McKenzie Pass and the numerous obsidian flows along the
south flanks of South Sister.
The youngest, tallest, least eroded, and most climbed of the three peaks is South Sister, which
offers several fine possibilities for summit ski ascents and descents, including the classic and popular South
Ridge route. Superb summit ski descents can also be found on the north or southeast ridges of Middle Sister, which
forms a perfect cone on its western half, but is missing its entire eastern half where glaciers have carved out a
massive cirque. North Sister is the most eroded of the group, with the original conical surface now vanished and
with a ridge of unstable (and unskiable) congealed magma pinnacles forming the true summit. However, a number of
routes on North Sister are skiable from just below the rocky summit area. In addition, it is possible to make a
grand traverse of the entire Sisters group, known as a Three Sisters Marathon, and the neighboring peaks of Broken
Top and Mount Bachelor can also be included if three volcanoes isn't enough. Unfortunately, access to the group is
very long in winter and early spring, since all roads which lead to the wilderness region are closed by the heavy
snowfall. By late spring, day trips into the heart of the region become feasible as trailheads on several sides are
plowed out.
| Route |
Ratings |
Starting
Elevation |
Elevation
Gain |
Roundtrip
Distance |
Notes |
| Quality |
Effort |
Ascent |
Descent |
| South Sister Ski Mountaineering Routes:
|
South Ridge
from Devils Lake |
 |
8.0 |
 |
 |
5400 ft
(1650 m) |
5000 ft
(1500 m) |
12 miles
(19 km) |
Route info...
(See my ski trip report from June 1999.)
|
Green Lakes
from Dutchman Flat
(winter / spring access) |
 |
6.5 |
 |
|
6300 ft
(1900 m) |
+1200 ft
(+350 m)
-900 ft
(-250 m) |
18 miles
(32 km) |
Route info... |
Prouty Glacier
via Green Lakes |
|
9.0 |
|
 |
5400 ft
(1650 m) |
5000 ft
(1500 m) |
15 miles
(24 km) |
Route info... |
North Ridge
from Pole Creek |
|
9.0 |
 |
 |
5300 ft
(1600 m) |
5100 ft
(1550 m) |
16 miles
(26 km) |
Route info... |
Lost Creek Glacier
from Pole Creek |
 |
11.0 |
|
|
5300 ft
(1600 m) |
6000 ft
(1800 m) |
20 miles
(32 km) |
Route info... |
Three Sisters Traverse
South to north |
|
13.0 |
|
|
5400 ft
(1650 m) |
8400 ft
(2550 m) |
19 miles
(30 km) |
Route info... |
| North to south |
14.0 |
|
|
4800 ft
(1450 m) |
9000 ft
(2550 m) |
| Middle Sister Ski Mountaineering Routes:
|
Southeast Ridge
from Pole Creek |
 |
8.5 |
|
|
5300 ft
(1600 m) |
5100 ft
(1550 m) |
15 miles
(24 km) |
Route info... |
Hayden Glacier
to Hayden-Renfrew Saddle
from Pole Creek |
|
7.0 |
|
|
5300 ft
(1600 m) |
4200 ft
(1300 m) |
12 miles
(21 km) |
Route info... |
North Ridge
via Hayden Glacier |
8.0
|
|
|
5100 ft
(1550 m) |
13 miles
(21 km) |
Renfrew Glacier
to Hayden-Renfrew Saddle
from Frog Camp |
|
8.0 |
|
|
4800 ft
(1450 m) |
4400 ft
(1350 m) |
14 miles
(22 km) |
Route info... |
Northwest Face
via Renfrew Glacier |
9.0
|
|
|
5300 ft
(1600 m) |
15 miles
(24 km) |
| North Sister Ski Mountaineering Routes:
NOTE: All ratings are for ski routes only up to the base of the summit pinnacle. |
South Face / SE Ridge
from Pole Creek |
|
7.5 |
|
|
5300 ft
(1600 m) |
4300 ft
(1300 m) |
12 miles
(19 km) |
Route info... |
Collier Glacier
to Collier-Hayden Saddle
from Frog Camp |
|
7.5 |
|
|
4800 ft
(1450 m) |
4000 ft
(1200 m) |
14 miles
(22 km) |
Route info... |
Southwest Ridge
via Collier Glacier |
8.5
|
|
|
4800 ft
(1450 m) |
15 miles
(24 km) |
Villard Glacier
from Pole Creek |
|
7.5 |
|
|
5300 ft
(1600 m) |
4300 ft
(1300 m) |
12 miles
(19 km) |
Route info... |
|
Upcoming additions: |
Topographic map showing all ski routes. |
| Full page description and photos of South Sister South Ridge route. |
|
Middle (left) and North Sisters from the summit of South Sister,
with Mount Jefferson in the distance behind North Sister;
the southeast ridge of each Sister faces the camera
(photo by Amar Andalkar) <click to enlarge>
|
|
|
Panoramic view of the Three Sisters (left, center) and Broken Top (right)
from the south near Sparks Lake in June
(photo by Amar Andalkar) <click to enlarge>
|
Useful Web Links:
List of Guidebooks: (detailed references on the
bibliography page)
More photos, routes, links, references, etc. coming soon...
Please contact me with any suggestions, additions, or corrections.
|
