We started with 8 climbers. After covid 19 and other ailments took three, and the date change ( by a day ) due to weather, claimed two, we were down to three. The weather window was very small so we began in a light mist and sprinkles and hiked from Devil's Lake parking (essentially on the highway due to snow at the turn off) to a tree-well wind break camp at about 7000'. After the tents were up and the stoves were roaring, the mountain showed itself. The night stars were amazing as were views of Broken Top and the alpenglow on South Sister. The morning dawned clear and cold. Ground conditions were wintry and crampons bit nicely until the wind-formed ice globules near the crater rim. Our descent to pack up camp and to the cars saw the change in the weather again and we returned to the rain in the valley. 2022 Climb School graduate Kaitlin Sommerfeld (snack maven par excellence) , Assistant Cathy Lazarus and Leader Ellen Gradison were the happy summiters.
