Taking a gang up Broken Top for our annual fun at Green Lakes this weekend and wondering if anyone can tell me what the area around Green Lakes is looking like, snow-wise. The Forest Service report from 11th talks about snow still, but I'm doubtful...I'm guessing it's pretty melted out and things are looking good. Last photos I saw of B.Top looked like things were pretty melted out up on the route. Just want to make sure a few newbies in our group are properly outfitted to deal with some snow if there still is quite a bit....Has anyone taken the approach from Green Lakes up S.Sister recently? A ton of snow there? or a boot path or melted out trail?
Thanks for any beta,
Amy

THis was taken from S. Sister the morning of August 7th. About 10 days back. Give you a good enough idea?

I hiked up Middle Sister yesterday and there was a lot more snow than when I did two years ago....but if your going up middle sister and broken top, I would say your fine. We made it to the top of Middle Sister and had to cross several glaciers, but never needed any equipment. If you havn't ever hiked up Middles Sister....it is 10X's better than South. Enter from the East side via Obsidian Trail off of McKenzie Hwy....Waterfalls, rivers....it was great!

Thanks for all the info! Trip was great, took a group up Broken Top, including two who had never done any rappelling outdoors, so that little rappel up there was super fun for them. No snow at all on Broken Top. Came down the scree descent, also no snow there..

We did S.Sister the next day, and there's still quite a bit of snow on the approach from Green Lakes up to the lake below the summit. Nothing that was un-passable, but might wig out someone who doesn't like walking on steep snow....was actually really nice instead of a dirt/scree slog. Final ridge up to the summit is snow free, but Teardrop Pool in the summit hasn't melted out at all yet. Kinda crazy....
There were perfect snow patches in the trees at Green Lakes...used them as beer coolers

Mosquitoes were absolutely horrible in early a.m. and at dusk at Green Lakes. And ran into a lot of them on the Green Lakes approach trail on the way in and out..wherever there was melting snow/mud we got eaten alive.

amy