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Upcoming activity

Broken Top – NW Ridge Climb

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    Sign up will open on
    06 / 24 / 2026

  • Start date: 08/08/2026

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 08/08/2026

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Although not one of the Obsidians '10 Peaks' award peaks, Broken Top is an iconic central Oregon summit with spectacular views of the 3 Sisters. The climb starts at the Green Lakes Trailhead and follows the beautiful Fall Creek trail to Green Lakes. From there we take a steep, loose, rocky, class 2 climbers trail up to and along the NW ridge to a 'balcony' about 100' below the summit. At the 'balcony' we will don our harnesses and helmets and climb about 10-15 feet of vertical low 5th class rock, following a fixed rope, to an exposed class 2 ledge system that we follow south to the summit ridge. We do a U-turn and take the exposed and (in)famous 'Catwalk' to the final 20 foot class 3-4 scramble to the cozy summit (we will set up a fixed line for that). We descend the way we ascended, but with a rappel down the short vertical 5th class pitch to the 'balcony'. From there we will reverse our footsteps back to the trailhead. Water (filter or treat it) is available at Green Lakes and on the climbers trail. This is a long, hard day, typically 10-12 hours car-to-car.

Photo by: Steve Davis

  • Event Leader: Steve Davis

  • Event Leader Phone: 832-527-1756

  • Event Leader Email: lunaripple1@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader: Maryanne Reiter

  • Event category: Climbs

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location:

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 260

  • Season:

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Upcoming

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Light hiking boots or approach shoes, wool or synthetic clothing for all weather conditions (no cotton), harness, helmet, 2 locking carabiners, PAS, 2 prusiks, autoblock, ATC or similar, sun protection, 2-3 liters fluids (water, electrolytes), food and snacks for a long day, personal 1st aid kit and any necessary medications, Obsidians 10 essentials.

  • participant prerequisites: Participants must be in excellent physical condition and capable of sustaining 4-6 hours of uphill travel. Rock climbing skills are required, including knowing how to follow a fixed line with a prusik and how to rappel. Though they are non-technical in nature, there is significant exposure on the class 2 ledge system and the 'Catwalk'.

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 12.5 miles

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 3700 feet

  • Non-Member Fees: —

  • Committee: Climbs

  • Junior member fees: —