Ideal Conditions @ South Sister & Broken Top
With this year’s OR snowpack so far below averages, I was backpacking Three Sisters Wilderness 2 weeks earlier than any summer in last 10 years.
Context on how this year fits into the last decade: the 2025–26 winter was one of the driest in the Cascades in years. Peak snow water equivalent in the Central Cascades hit only about 34% of normal in February 2026 — the third-lowest peak on record, behind only 2015 and 1981.
The adventure started at Soda Creek / Green Lakes TH off the OR Cascades Lakes Hwy. Driving up that long 44 mile stretch, the first sunrise was a good omen.
Regardless of the dry conditions, for example the out-flow stream from Moraine Lake was bone dry, weather was perfect with lows around 45 and highs around 80. Clear clean skies and a sliver moon helped with early morning photos before moon set. The area is so dark that even this small moon made a headlamp ‘extra’ in open areas.
Wildflowers were not as plentiful in the higher alpine meadows, but the lupin and paintbrush test = perfect wildflower peak.
Day 1 was a quick backpack from TH to Green Lakes to pitch tent near the stream on Broken Top Trail; I was the only tent in that section with the remaining 4-5 tents around the lakes. From there, a light pack ramble to No Name Lake and back.
Inside the No-Name mini-caldera and up to the Hand, there were almost 20 people. I’ve never seen more than 5 before. A USFS forest ranger checked my permit on the way back.
Day 2 started in dark with headlamp weaving around Green Lakes toward Golden Lake. South Sister caught the first sunlight against the last Green Lake.
Golden Lake was a tent city with more than 10 – I’d never seen more than 2-3 before. I was there very early in am, so just circled through down to Park Meadow and through that old burn scar to stream crossing. Small ponds were fading but a possible fresh black bear poo made sense around the meadows – peak vegatable eating!
From Meadow Park it was a long backpack day to Moraine Lake to camp two nights, after deciding that afternoon to take advantage of weather and summit south sister with small pack.
Day 3 was South Sister climbing day. I started around 4:15 with headlamp on walking out of Moraine Lake with 3 other ‘bouncing headlamps’ above on the climber trail. As sunrise hit …
An earlier party left the summit as I arrived at the rim; the ‘real summit’ was mine alone. The cascades to St. Helens … Middle Sister so close I could almost touch it and looking down on Broken Top wasn’t even close to same.
As the crowds started up that last section, I went down with a great view of Moraine Lake and turning around, where I’d been.
South Sister geologically has two lives – 1 as old as the last glacial period and 1 less than 2500 years old – a recent eruption on the south side.
The old formations from the summit (to the east)
The newer volcanic left-over formations on the south side during the descent.
Given the snowpack conditions and lack of food few large animals were seen. However, yellow bellied marmots were out – but all single individuals in at least 4 places. Only 1 was not camera shy
Day 4 was a short walk from Moraine Lake back to the TH … mostly in the dark.
I left Soda Creek TH at 6am Wednesday and returned at 6am Saturday for 3 full days of hiking, climbing, hanging out, just being in the amazing Three Sisters Wilderness. Perfect weather the entire time helped but South Sister is enough every time.
Data Geek Cellar
60 miles, 10,000 feet of elevation gain, and a South Sister summit. Two afternoons hanging out around Moraine Lake and South Sister taking it all in. (I avoided hiking from 2-5pm to limit baking on the alpine meadows)
Trail conditions were perfect. The only section that required step overs was around Meadow Park burn scar. The South Sister Climbers trail the easiest to follow over 5 summits in last 10 years.
Crazy award goes to the two guys who camped inside the first mini-caldera up South Sister. There are 2 tent sites there. I met them climbing up / down as they went slow without trekking poles especially going down the hill.
