North Sister - North Ridge

Trail Description

Driving Route

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The trail in is a bit longer than the usual South Ridge - Pole Creek approach, but what a beautiful trail through the Matthieu Lakes, lava flows and cinder cones! And you bypass the west face death traverse, though the loose, steep stuff to gain the Bowling Alley from the north isn't all that great either...
- Glenn Widener
The trail in is a bit longer than the usual South Ridge - Pole Creek approach, but what a beautiful trail through the Matthieu Lakes, lava flows and cinder cones! And you bypass the west face death traverse, though the loose, steep stuff to gain the Bowling Alley from the north isn't all that great either...
- Glenn Widener

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  1. Glenn Widener
    Sun, Jul 22 2012
    Had a great time leading a fine group of climbe...
    Had a great time leading a fine group of climbers, and finally getting back to finish this route. North Sister is a pile of junk from any direction, but at least there is a little fun this way! And the folks doing the terrible traverse on the regular S Ridge route looked like they were having less fun...
  2. pdxhiker
    North Sister (10,085 ft) is the...
    North Sister (10,085 ft) is the fourth highest point in Oregon. This was an offical Mazamas climb led by Glenn Widener and assisted by Mark Fowler. There were 12 climbers in the group of which 11 summitted. We started at the Lava Lake Campground and hiked in about 7.5 miles passing North and South Matthieu Lakes, Yapoah Crater, Minnie Scot Spring and setting up camp near the back side of Collier Cone. The following morning we climbed the NE Ridge until reaching the Glisan Pinnacle. Here Glenn placed a fixed line to protect this loose 5.1 rock pitch up Glisan. After assending this pitch the team traversed Glisan to a spot near the base of the Prouty Pinnacle (the true summit). Glenn placed another fixed line over this loose 5.0 rock pitch allowing the team to reach the summit. We then rapped off Prouty traversed back to Glisan rapped off Glisan and headed down the NE ridge back to camp. The next day we returned to the Lava Lake Campground completing this adventure. We had an amazing team and a great adventure.
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Driving Route

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