That is if Spring ever gets here. I've been looking at getting a snow machine ride into either Green Lakes or Devil Lake for a multi day trip around South Sister end of next month. Has anyone else been thinking about it? I'm sure that with all this late snow the highway probably won't open until late May or June if we're lucky, so thinking about some alternatives. Maybe a traverse via Pole Creek when it opens or come in by snow machine from the South. We'll see, just throwing it out there.

Yeah, I just went to go shooting at Marys peak, 12" easy at 2000 ft. I was doing fine, driving in the big truck tracks that all the wheelers left on the road. Until the little plow came through, loosened and spread it out. Great idea, not! Became to much of a stuck-worry after 100 yards of that.

I like the idea, don't have time to. Last term at OSU!

Workin' on something. I'll let you know of my progress come mid-week.

Cool. Think I've finally gotten all my gear together, picked up a pair of Scarpa Charmoz GTX's at REI with the 20% off, already have crampons, ice axe, various bits of climbing gear and ropes (not really necessary for Three Sisters, but I plan on Rainier soon too), tent and other backcountry gear.......just need to get access to the area. Looks like all the people I know East of the Cascades don't own snowmachines, so that's the big issue. I've been up on South Sister a few times up to 7500-8000', but first go I had just quit smoking and was WAYYYYY out of shape, second got screwed by weather and a boogered knee from a spill on Adams a month before. So far things are looking good, and instead of trying to drive over and do it in one day, plan on breaking it up into 2-3 days.

South Sister in full snow is very doable from the Mt. Bachelor parking lot. I've skied in to Green Lakes several times. Would be a straightforward snowshoe. It's a pretty approach and worth enjoying on its own.

http://www.summitpost.org/south-sister- ... 010/594399

Went for a quick hike up the McKenzie Highway at the West closure gate up around 3000'. Melting fast, but still an average of a foot or so on the road. I'll be its May before they start any plowing up there. If that's any indicator, Cascade Lakes will probably be June.