On Monday, September 15, 2025, eight adventurous backpackers left the Pole Creek
Trailhead, west of Sisters, headed on a wilderness journey lasting six days. On
September 20 th , only three would return to the trailhead, but more about that later in this
report.
The multi-day trip started with a hike through a 2012 burn area that seemed to go on
forever yet offers awesome views of the Three Sisters. Even though the burn left
thousands of dead trees in its wake, it was encouraging to see so many new fir and pine
trees taking their place. After hoisting our packs uphill for several hours, we finally
made it to Park Meadow. At 6,147 feet, Park Meadow, untouched by the fire, is a
beautiful green expanse with a flowing stream, and a wonderful view of Broken Top.
Everyone was glad to get their packs off, setup camp, and enjoy our first night on the
trail.
The next morning, we were on the trail by 9:00 am, heading to Morain Lake at the base
of South Sister. After a lunchbreak at Green Lakes, we traveled across Wickiup Plains
and said goodbye to two members of our group as they headed back to civilization.
They trekked out to the Green Lakes Trailhead and caught a ride back to their car. The
rest of the group continued to Morain Lake, traveling in a clockwise direction around
South Sister. Our stay at Morain Lake did not disappoint, with lovely views of South
Sister and a beautiful sunset at the end of the second day on the trail.
The next stop on our trek, was Mesa Creek: an ice cold, spring fed, creek flowing
through an alpine meadow. The merry group of six hikers enjoyed the view and utilized
the time in camp to shed some trail dirt and prepare for the next day, promising to be
the most difficult leg of our journey.
Our next segment extended north on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), where we could see
smoke from the Foley Ridge fire. After several phones calls and getting updated
reports, we determined the fire was about 10 miles to the west, somewhat contained,
and moving slowly. With that knowledge and because we would be traveling north and
east, away from the fire, we ventured on. We were aware of the Foley Ridge fire while
planning our trip and so thankful it was not growing rapidly.
At Separation Creek we left the PCT and headed east on a poorly maintained,
unmarked trail, only shown on some maps, that would take us to our next destination,
Camp Lake. The trail is worn and easy to follow but can just disappear when crossing
rock outcroppings. This route is the shortest option for circumnavigating South Sister.
After a steep 1.5-mile climb, the trail becomes more moderate. Eventually, we came to
a bluff overlooking Camp Lake, nestled between South and Middle Sister. It was time to
stop for a break, enjoy the view, and take a group photo. Not long after our break, we
came to a “Great Big Ugly Hill” which we had to descend to get to the clearly visible lake
and our campsite. This last portion of trail for the day was very steep, with lots of loose
rock and extremely treacherous with a 40-pound pack on our back. Taking our time,
using our poles, helping each other, and carefully picking our path, we all made it to the
bottom successfully without any mishaps.
Camp Lake is located at 7,000 feet and provides excellent views of the surrounding
mountains. It is a very popular location with a well-maintained Camp Lake Trail
originating from the east side of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Our camping spot was
surrounded by gnarled trees, a testament to this extreme harsh environment, rocky soil,
strong winds, and brutal winters.
That night our group decided to set our alarms for 1:00 am, interrupting our peaceful
slumber, to view the stars and the Milky Way with the promise of a dark sky and a clear
moonless night. The conditions were perfect for star gazing, making our interrupted
sleep well worth the effort.
The next day three more of our members left early to visit friends and get back in time
for the Civil War football game on Saturday between Oregon and Oregon State. (Go
Beavs! Go Ducks!) We said our goodbyes in the morning as they started the seven-
mile hike back to their cars at the Pole Creek Trailhead.
The remaining trio left our base camp and headed out for a day hike. We thought about
taking the climber’s trail towards the top of Middle Sister but decided on a less
ambitious three-mile hike to Demaris Lake. Most of us felt we had enough steep
ascents and descents over the past five days and were looking for something less
challenging. After a relaxing lunch at Demaris Lake, we headed back to Camp Lake.
During our time at Camp Lake, we heard and saw several large rockslides on South
Sister. It was amazing to watch these incredible acts of nature from a safe distance.
This natural process of slowly reshaping these huge peaks over eons of time, is truly
incredible to witness.
Even though it was late in the season, water was still readily available along our route.
Wildflowers were sparce but the mosquitos were gone, and the trails were in fairly good
condition for hiking. We were delighted with the near perfect hiking weather, with highs
in the mid-70s and not a drop of rain.
I couldn’t have asked for a better group of backpackers to share this adventure. They
included: Ken Roley (Leader), Lanell Carlson, Maria Flores, Ashley Sorg, Sheryl
McConnell, Larry Koppy (Guest), Bill Carpenter (Guest), and Michael Gilles. Thank you
all for making this a great trip!
Backpacking group leaving the Pole Creek Trailhead for a great adventure in the Three Sisters Wilderness. North Sister in the background. Front (L-R) Lanell Carlson, Ashley Sorg, Marie Flores. Back Row (L-R) Larry Koppy (Guest), Bill Carpenter (Guest), Sheryl McConnell, Ken Roley (Leader). Picture taken by Michael Gilles.
South Sister and beautiful Camp Lake in the Three Sisters Wilderness.
Sunrise at Camp Lake.