Obsidian & PCT SOBO

With good weather and wild fire smoke avoiding the west side of Three Sisters Wilderness and an Obsidian TH day hike permit … perfect.

I started at TH around 6:00 went straight up Obsidian Trail. At one of the first burn scar clearings, sunrise came over the ridge on the knoll.

Middle Sister quickly comes in view with this barren cinder look and the sun slicing up the snowfields (as small as they are).

At the PCT junction, Obsidian waterfall was a trickle, so tempted me to walk up the hill to Sisters Spring – that too was hardly flowing. A tent was pitched stupidly in the meadow by the spring.

Knowing this was the only good water, I drank my fill and refilled bottles.

With Middle and South Sisters never too far from view I headed down the PCT (SOBO) to Reese Lake. Water level was end of August like, not July …

Compare the log in the lake above with below from last year same time – so much less water this year due to low snow pack. (look how close the rock to the left of log is to the water)

South Sister watches over Reese Lake and never disappoints.

After hanging out at Reese Lake, I headed back on PCT to Obsidian and right before heading down the hill both Sisters said “Good bye”

Obsidian Trail is a great, though long, entry point to the west side of of Three Sisters Wilderness. Arriving at Sisters Spring and Obsidian Falls was not as dramatic this year as the spring was hardly flowing and the creek a trickle over the falls. Water between Obsidian and Reese Lake was null (one stagnant seasonal creek). But, Middle and South Sister stood as beautiful as ever with very little snow … the rest of the summer will be fire dangerous.

The Route

From Obsidian TH to PCT at Obsidian Falls and then SOBO to Reese Lake. Turn around and redo same.

Trail Conditions were perfect. A few step-over blow downs and PCT hikers have not completely destroyed the trail-sides with trekking pole gouges. I met maybe a dozen hikers but very few PCT thru hikers. Water is the issue – just dry as a bone.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Lone Peak WP Boots – Currex Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Grit
• Upper Layers: Lightweight baselayer
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 06:00-15:00
• Carbon ratio: -1.5 hours (3.5 hours driving: hours outdoors 9.0); YTD = 170.63 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 832
• Notes:
  • Trail was very clean and fast