Three Sisters Sept 11-16 2013

[retired jerry]

I went around Three Sisters. 5 nights. 73 miles. Started at McKenzie Pass, went on West side, went between South and Middle, cut over to above Green Lake, around Broken Top, South of South Sister, back to McKenzie Pass on west side.

At Wilsonville, all three lanes of I-5 blocked. I sat there for an hour. Thankfully I found a tree with a little privacy:

From the pass between South and Middle, I went above Chambers and Carver Lakes:

First 1/2 mile easy. Next 0.4 mile pretty easy up snow slope (probably glacier but I stayed near edge and saw no crevasses).

Next 0.8 miles was bad. I should have turned around. Mostly, my boots filled with loose rocks rather than danger of me falling down slope or breaking leg. I walked right next to Carver Lake which was bad because a couple times I was in water up to calf. Looking back:

Glacier was melting right at lake and there was a narrow place to walk. I didn't see any signs of the glacier breaking off and no big rock fall. I could have walked 0.1 mile up, but then maybe there would have been crevices.

Last 1.6 miles was easy.

Next time, I'll try the other route marked, below Chambers and Carver Lakes.

Between Park Meadow and Three Creek Lake there was a section burned. Trail was good though:

Then I went up Tam McArthur Rim Trail. There was a sign that said "end of trail maintenence". I went a little further up, then went cross country to between The Hand and Broken Top. That is some great area to go cross country. Easy to find a route. Maybe 2 miles:

I camped on the Broken Top trail about 2 miles before Green Lake. Nice views of Broken Top:

Is this why they call it "The Hand"?

Spring below trail:

[oldandslow]

Broken Hand was named for Thomas "Broken Hand" Fitzpatrick, a mountain man who passed through Oregon around 1843. A musket exploded in Fitzpatrick's hand resulting in the loss of two fingers. The story is that thenceforth the indians called him "Broken Hand, the King of the Mountain Men."

[rainrunner]

Jerry, sounds like you had a great trip, hopefully the weather cooperated for the entire trek.
In your first picture at Wilsonville, is everyone standing outside their cars getting pictures of you at your privacy tree?
You hiked on that glacier just above Carver lake? You are far braver than I am.

[VanMarmot]

Great trip! Looks like you decided to do the Sierras or Wallowas another time?

[Zia]

We hiked up to Broken Top's crater on the 14th. 1st time in the area. Beautiful country. Can't wait to go back. Glad you had a good trip!

[retired jerry]

"You hiked on that glacier just above Carver lake? You are far braver than I am."

On the one hand, it didn't seem that dangerous, but

on the other hand, I won't do that again. I committed and then just continued. And it was at about mile 10 for the day and I knew I had to do 14 miles before Park Meadow, kind of tired and making poor decisions?

actually, I walked between the glacier and the lake. I saw no signs of the glacier breaking away.

like I said, next time I'll go below Carver and Chambers Lakes at about 7600 feet elevation, I think that wouldn't be a lot worse than just walking on a trail.

[retired jerry]

maybe Sierras next year? I didn't want to spend an extra few days.

[Karl Helser]

The picture you are calling The Hand, is actually a picture of Ball Butte. Broken Hand is north a bit over a mile.

[retired jerry]

Maybe that's why it doesn't look like a hand?

I don't know how I got thinking that was The Hand

[Sean Thomas]

Jerry, sounds like you had a great trip, hopefully the weather cooperated for the entire trek.
In your first picture at Wilsonville, is everyone standing outside their cars getting pictures of you at your privacy tree?

Great TR Jerry. Have you done a loop around sisters or the timberline more times?