Calendar

Past Activity

South Sister

  • Start date: 08/26/2018

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 08/28/2018

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

South Sister is the third tallest mountain in Oregon. Although a non-technical climb, a successful summit of this peak requires endurance, mental strength, and an incredible tolerance for loose scree. Efforts are rewarded with a stunning summit view that may extend as far north as Mt Adams on a clear day. We’ll backpack in to Moraine Lake on Sunday afternoon, gaining approx. 1200 ft of elevation in under 2 miles and arrive at the lake after some of the week-end crowd has departed. Monday’s climb will begin early to avoid the heat of the afternoon sun. We’ll gain an additional 4000 ft of elevation in 3.5 miles. Participants need to be strong enough to carry the 10 essentials, a lot of water, ample snacks, and multiple layers and types of clothing as summit temperatures and conditions could be cold and windy. After the climb, we’ll return to Moraine Lake for a second night in one of Oregon’s most beautiful locations.

  • Event Leader: Osinga Laura

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Climbs

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: South Eugene High School, 19th & Patterson

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 220

  • Season: 2018

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: What to bring: 10 essentials, weather appropriate clothing and footwear, backpacking gear, water filtration system, cook stove, food for 2 days, trekking poles.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 12

  • Member Fees: 3

  • Elevation Gain: 5200

  • Non-Member Fees: 15

  • Committee: Climbs

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Three Obsidians left Eugene around noon to meet up with a fourth member at the Devil’s Lake trailhead. After gearing up in the parking lot we headed to Moraine Lake, hoping enough of the heavy week-end traffic had left and we’d be able to find a camping spot. It took about an hour to reach the lake and set up camp and clouds along with heavy mist rolled in shortly thereafter. Rain continued throughout the night, threatening to cancel the climb altogether, but lifted enough by 8:00am that we decided to give it a go and left camp by 8:30am. We stayed dry and warm, stopping to add or remove layers as necessary. Everyone reached the summit in a little more than 3 hours where we enjoyed Eric’s rice crispy bars and other treats after standing on the true summit. The cloud bank rolling in from the north made for a dramatic backdrop and photographs. Returning to camp took a similar amount of time, but the clouds started to lift and we enjoyed better views of Broken Top and Mt Bachelor during the descent. One climber hiked out to their car after the climb and the remaining three climbers spent a second night at Moraine Lake where they experienced very strong winds and a mostly sleepless night. This was the leader’s first time leading a climb for the Obsidians and it was a great group to lead, including a first summit of South Sister for two of the participants.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 4
  • Number of spots available: 0
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Osinga, Laura 541-337-9160 N 3
2 Signed-Up Lodeesen, David 214-709-0352 N 15
3 Signed-Up Cooney, Marguerite 541-600-0217 N 3
4 Signed-Up Thornton, Eric 541-206-8571 N 3
5 Waitlist Shipley, Riccie 541-972-2225 N 15
6 Signed-Up Ellington, Jon 541-653-6976 N 15