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| North Ridge   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Oregon, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 44.10360°N / 121.7681°W Route Type: Mountaineering Difficulty: Class 3
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| Page By: d_shorb Created/Edited: Sep 28, 2007 / Aug 19, 2009 Object ID: 341700 Hits: 1950 Loading... Page Score: 87.5% - 7 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview
If you are at all contemplating this route, don't let the chossaineering scare you away.
From the upper Chambers Lakes area, this fun route is a straight forward, easy to follow, hike with one small scrambling section. It begins on a very broad and ever-narrowing ridge until the crux is reached at about 3/4's height, and probably around 9800'. It's crux has manageable fall potential and although it has the makings of a bowling alley, it also has some sort of geologic glue keeping it in place just long enough to lure us all in to the fun. It can be done year round, and is often done as part of a 3 Sisters Marathon.
One recommendation may be to have a small party due to the rock fall potential upon one's own party. Another would be to do an ascent in winter or spring when the route is largely covered in snow.
Getting There  Definitely check this beautiful photo out: N. ridge is the central feature.
Pole Creek Approach: This aproach is recommended. The Chambers Lakes Trail leads 7.1 miles from Pole Creek Trailhead to Chambers Lakes, heading through the forest and then encompassed by the dramatic glaciers of South and Middle Sister, where ice can appear year-round, the growth is limited to wind-twisted pines, and the rock-rimmed beauty will take your breath away. If planning to just do the north ridge, this is probably the approach you want.
Take Highway 242 west from Sisters about 1.4 miles and turn left on Road 15. Drive another 10.5 miles on the gravel and follow the signs to Pole Creek Trailhead.
At about 1.4 miles, there is a junction — bear left for .06 miles to Soap Creek. Cross the footbridge to another junction and stay to the right. After another 2.6 miles you’ll hit Whychus Creek and a fine view of the towering Middle Sister. Continue on and enjoy the views as you hike a ridge and reach Camp Lake, the first of the Chambers Lakes.
There is treatable water available at many points along the approaches, even if descending the route, the top of the mountain will have a small tarn, called Teardrop on some maps.
Route Description  The Crux (enlarge for labels)
Hike any part of the lower ridge along highpoints and you'll be guided naturally to its crux.I can't stress enough that this crux is straight-forward and FUN.
At the crux part of the ridge, stay climbers right (west) for a few hundred feet, returning to the ridge proper as the slope eases off toward the top. This bypass is straight-forward for any experienced scrambler, with the hard part being finding solid rock to depend upon. Climbing up and right along the base of a cliff buttress, surmount a few steps before crossing further right above the chute-like feature you just climbed up. Continuing up and right (and then back left) around the final steep steppy section and back to the ridge proper. It becomes obvious where to surmount the crater rim as climbers near the top of the route. If descending the route, head to the northern part of the crater rim, searching for the low point just west of its Northeastern high point. Climbers can easily spot the 'crux's' highpoint from the crater rim.
 enlarge for the location of the crux scrambling section DescentClimbers can descend the route or head down the south side's trail. Another common descent is via the "Green Lakes variation" or other routes that would proceed toward Broken Top and a 5 mountain traverse. Note also the the western slopes of the South Sister are easily descendable.Essential GearRecommendations would include:
Seasonal backcountry wear
Helmet
Water Treatment
Crampons/ice axe in all seasons, but mid-summer - fall.
local brew for the summit.
external links CURRENT WEATHER by the National Weather Service.
This Topozone Map of the location.
WHAT'S ON TAP AT DESCHUTES.
WHAT'S ON TAP AT BEND BREWING COMPANY.
What's on tap at Silver Moon Brewing
The Oregon Forum on Cascadeclimbers.
A list of food options in Bend.
A list of hotels in the Bend area.
What's up at Bachie?  Cascadetraveler's beautiful black and white shows snow on the crux here.  The north ridge is the righthand skyline Images
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Three Sisters
