Central Oregon October fun at South Sister

South Sister Quality Hiking in October!

  I got up super late due to my own laziness and lack of get up and cold weather go get'em on Tuesday the 12th of October.  My "attitude" about this hike deprived me of the early morning altitude and the sunrise surprise from the top but I still did South Sister in a timely fashion, working in the beautiful sights and sounds of Central Oregon all along the Devil's Lake Trail to South Sister Hiker Trail 36.  Well worth the trip.  Clearly I was not the only person think so as many others made the mid week sojourn to take advantage of the beautiful weather to work in this fantastic hiking experience.

Was there any red tape or permit requirements during the month of October? No because I did not need the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for day or night use which was required from May 28th to September 24th of this year (2021). When I went you still had to fill out the free forest permit at the trailhead. When it comes to your vehicle you still need the "America the Beautiful Pass" or the "National Forest Pass", or a day pass and you are good to go. The views are also stellar when you go this late in the year... no smokey skies! With crisp cold winter air you have the making for long range views that take your breath away!

  I ran into several people out on the trail that day, most of whom did get up far earlier than I!  So we would meet with them coming down as I was heading up...  However there were some folks who had a later start than myself even... imagine that!  More about that later on though... The impact upon the snowy trails was minimal and going up was easy as the trail was very obvious despite the light covering of snow, with drifts here and there covering the way forward a bit more completely.  I had brought snowshoes along on this trip but left them at the car and instead packed my microspikes and Snow axe for the trip.  Never really needed the microspikes... sort of! 

Taking my time on the final stretch after the frozen lake I began to attack the trail with renewed vigor once attaining the final ridge line leading up to the top.  Halfway along this final stretch I turned back to see two people following far behind me... About twenty minutes later they turned back with only another maybe 30 to 40 minutes hiking left for them to attain the top.  All of us know that disappointment and we each have to make the call on what we find to be acceptable risk in hiking, while scrambling and climbing our objectives.  For them that was their call and for them it was the right choice.  For me I continued on as I am quite comfortable going through the final stretch of woods back down towards Devil's Lake in the Dark.  No biggie.

  I ran into a group of folks up top who were there to spread the ashes of someone who was clearly important to them.  It takes some effort to get up top in those conditions!  I ended up catching up to them fairly quickly as they took their time for the elderly member of their party... he was the spreader of the ashes up top.  I didn't pry with questions but respectfully offered to take photos of them and took a great many so that they could pick the best of the litter.  Of course I should have been wearing my Micro Spikes up top as there was rime ice everywhere.  Ahem (cough)(COUGH!) I did crash and burn once while hurrying to reposition for a great photo of the lads.  My mistake as I got too eager and ran to get into position.  Embarrassing!

  While taking photos of everyone I realized that quite a system was touching down upon our favorite Sister and so took my leave of the six man party and quickly, but in a safe manner this time, headed over to the highest point along the Caldera.  I know well where the USGS markers are, see the photos, and uncovered one of them from the snow and ice and snapped a quick photo.  Looking off towards Middle & North Sisters I could barely make them out through the cloud cover, which did thin out enough at one point for me to snap the photo off that I shared here with you.  It was awesome up top - the atmospherics made up for the lack of the mountaintop view.   But as the conditions deteriorated further I then called it and headed back across the caldera and headed down for the long hike out.  I only needed the headlamp and flashlight for the final two miles of this amazing hike and by then the snow was coming down heavily in the forest which just made me feel really at peace with the entire world.  Hiking is how I commune with Nature and I can never have enough of this quality time... and so it is on to the next hike!

Stay healthy, be well and have fun out on the trails!

Sean Tobin

Beaverton Oregon

10/28/2021