Trip Report

Our party of six left the South Eugene High Parking Lot at 9:15 a.m., and drove across the Santiam Pass to Bend and on to Fall Creek Cabin, arriving at 12:45. There were about 20 vehicles in the parking area. We had lunch and were on the trail by 1:15. Most of the trail was snow covered, but easy to follow due to many footprints. A brief thundershower about 4 p.m. caused us to shelter under some low trees. We arrived at Green Lakes at 4:45 and made camp near the outflow of Fall Creek. Tents were scattered everywhere about the lakes. A party of about 15 Ptarmigans from Vancouver (Wn) were camped near us. The night was dry and not cold. We arose at 4 a.m. to a clear sky with bright stars. We started our ascent at 5:10 crossing a snow bridge, up steep snow fields to the foot of Lewis Glacier. We used steps made by the Ptarmigans who had a half hour head start on us. We crossed the lower half of the glacier and struggled up the Red Ridge, the last of the party reaching the summit at 10:30. The sky was clear, but horizons were hazy. We saw Mount Hood, and optimists claimed farther. The Crater Lake was formed but mostly frozen over. A chipmunk was sighted at the 9500 foot level. We left the summit at 11:30 and had glissading down the snowfields and glacier. The last of the party arrived in camp at 1:50 p.m. We rested and packed up, getting on the trail at 2:45. It was crowned with the disappointing discovery that someone had stolen and consumed the can of juice the leader had buried in snow bank! We drove away at 6:10 going by Davis Lake and the Willamette Pass to arrive in Eugene at 9:30. All reached the summit. On this climb were: Theresa & Al Gamache, Michael Harrison, Carl Lohman, Jim Tattersall and leader Joel McClure.