GlennD - Aug 21, 2019 7:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2019
Middle & South Sister
2 miles from trailhead to saddle from Mack’s campground. Didn’t press on to North Sister, guess I’ll be back.
jdmorehouse - May 24, 2017 9:16 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2017
Back Again
From the end of the road in Mack's Canyon. First the Sisters, then a traverse over to Mack's Peak.
Tracy - Jun 2, 2016 10:57 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2016
from Macks Canyon
I hiked/climbed this one with MoapaPk doing a south to north ridge traverse, from the ridge south of South Sister to the top Black Rock Sister (a.k.a. Black Sista) north of North Sister - 3 sisters total.
RaymondShevsky - Dec 19, 2013 1:59 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2009
A favorite
One of my favorite Spring Mountain hikes, with spectacular views, very little traffic, and a sweet little scramble to the summit ridge.
jtellis - May 5, 2013 9:49 pm Date Climbed: May 4, 2013
Great hike
Mack's Canyon is beautiful, isolated, and very quiet. The stream flowing through the area invites lots of chickadees and hummingbirds, and the moss and flowers you find in the damp, forested drainage are rather rare, considering that this range is perched in the middle of the desert. The views from the summit are wonderful, and other than the strong winds, the weather was great for this hike.
jdmorehouse - Mar 22, 2013 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2012
Mack's Peak and the Sisters
The second day of four days of climbing in the area. All three of these are easily done in a day from the end of the road in Mack's Canyon
philadendron - May 29, 2012 6:48 pm Date Climbed: May 6, 2012
Sketchy from South to North
Easy up to the South sister from the campground. Descent from South towards North was sketchy and a little exposed for our liking. Fairly uneventful up to the North Sister. Super steep descent down to a saddle, then easy descent down a wash back to the road.
South Sister again on 6/5/16, taking Upper Bristlecone to No Name to Bonanza trail, then along the ridge directly to South Sister.
South Sister again on 6/17/17, after summitting McFarland that morning. GPS tracks
The traverse to both again on 6/24/18 with the LVMC. Ed provided a great route with some spicier options before before S Sister, and near N Sister's summit.
MissH - Jul 3, 2011 5:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
Fun
Followed guidebook up both sisters but couldn't decipher way down so we just went down a drainage chute to the wash. Good thing for tough pants!
goofball - May 10, 2010 9:11 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2010
A lot more fun
Than it looked like it would be from the road. Once up on the west ridge, between the bristle cone forest and the views of the surrounding Spring Mountains and The Sisters west face, this was a wonderful hike.
BranchWhitney - Jul 24, 2009 1:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 1997
Sisters
Done this hike (South and North Sister) too many times to remember. The descent off of the South Sister is well cairned now.
jimegan - Feb 8, 2008 7:32 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2003
SISTERS
ALSO CLIMBED ON 6/18/05 AND SOLOED S SISTER 8/07 FROM CAMP SILVER PINES; S Sister 8-29-10
Quite a bit of snow still but You Gotta Love the Views Toward Charleston and McFarland From Here.
LV Hiker - May 18, 2007 9:11 pm Date Climbed: May 17, 2007
South & Middle Sister
It had been over 3 months since I'd done any substantial hike. I decided it was time to get off my ass and go climb something.
Having studied a topo of the area I had intended to hit all three peaks. South, Middle & North. Well things don't always work out as planned. Read on....
I contacted a couple hiking friends of mine Sherry & Bernie. We arranged to meet at the Old Mill Campground and picnic area at 10:00 AM. By the time we met up and actually started the hike it was 10:30 AM.
At the back of the campground area there is a trail you can follow. I believe this is the Scout Canyon Trail. At least that's what I'm going to call it since it goes up Scout Canyon.
There was parking near the front of the campground, but to actually park in the campground you have to pay seven dollars. We all piled into my truck and paid the seven bucks to save us a half mile of walking. Talk about lazy hikers huh
Anyway we hiked about a third of a mile down the "Scout Canyon Trail" at which point we got off the trail and followed a wash up a canyon to a saddle just below the South Sister. It's about 8 tenths of a mile & 1400 ft. of elevation gain from the point where you leave the Scout Canyon Trail until you reach the saddle.
About midway up the wash Bernie decided that that was enough hiking for him for the day. I failed to inform him prior to the hike that it was all cross country. Sorry bout that Bernie
Sherry and I continued on. The wash gets really steep just before you hit the saddle. We took numerous breaks.
Once we hit the saddle we took a long break and enjoyed looking at the different mountain peaks all around us.
From the saddle looking over at The Sisters, which are only about a third of a mile away, they look impossible to climb without a rope. While scanning them trying to find a route to the top I noticed a chute going up between the South and the Middle Sister.
It didn't look like a likely route but I figured we could go take a closer look at it. Sure enough a closer perspective proved that this was the way to the top. A steep way. You have to scramble up several hundred feet to reach a saddle between the South and Middle Sisters.
Sherry and I took numerous breaks on this last steep scramble. Upon arriving at this saddle I knew there was no way I was going to be able to hit the North Sister today. It was about a half mile away and would have involved losing around 500 ft in elevation then regaining it again. It just wasn't going to happen today.
The short walk over to the South Sister was easy and uneventful. The views, as always from a summit, were awesome. We took the standard summit shots then headed back to the saddle between The Sisters so we could climb the Middle Sister as it was only around 500 ft away from The Sister we were on.
Due to the fact that neither of us had done any climbing at this altitude for sometime we were feeling it. We had the typical light headedness that comes with not being used to exerting oneself at this altitude. Sherry opted not to climb The Middle Sister as it had a little exposure. Nothing serious but a slip here could prove fatal.
I, being the male of our little climbing expedition (meaning not as smart lol) wasn't about to let a little dizziness stop me from climbing on exposed cliffs. I strapped my dogs leash to my belt and started up.
Fortunately I didn't lose my balance and fall off the mountain. I suppose you already realized this as you are reading my blog. My dog, Hobo, made it as well. I signed the summit log and enjoyed a cigarette while admiring the view. My dog enjoyed a Scooby Snack while licking her sore paws. For some reason she wasn't as impressed with the view as I was and decided to nap under a shady tree.
Leaving the Middle Sister I joined up with Sherry who was already in the process of climbing back down.
We made good time going down even though our knees were tired and our legs were shaky.
But as two middle aged out of shape hikers we were still pleased with our accomplishment.
Anya Jingle - Jan 14, 2007 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2005
Winter Ascent of North Sister
Fun snow climb with great vistas. Our slideshow is here, enjoy: North Sister snowshoe
2nd trip to the sisters. This time I was successful. Hiked with the LVMC. Took just under 5 hours to hike both sisters with long breaks on each summit.
birdhead - Jun 5, 2006 12:59 am Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2006
Old Mill Campground
Climbed on a break from a Vegas bachelor party. It was the best decision I made all weekend.
Route Climbed: south, north, traverse; each peak about 5-6 times. Date Climbed: 2001 to 2005
What cp calls "Middle Sister" is what most people call "South Sister". (We're not in Oregon!) The peak cp calls "South Sister" is generally regarded as a side lump of the main "South Sister" (cp's Middle Sister), and I don't believe it rises more than 60' above the col.
Some old-timers actually manage to find 5 peaks in this range - White Sister, Black Sister, etc. The subject of names can elicit some heart-felt emotions
The traverse between the peaks (true South Sister to North Sister) is perhaps the most nteresting hike, made even more interesting by snow. There is at least one arch, and several opportunities to rip a knee ligament.
Climbed when I was TDY to Nellis AFB. It was still in the 90's in Las Vegas. We went in shorts and T-shirts and when we made it to the top of the south sister we were waist deep in snow. Had to move fast to get down. Our legs were freezing.
Route Climbed: via Mack's Canyon twice and via the Winter Route twice Date Climbed: twice in summer 03, once in winter 03/04, and yesterday, Oct 29, 2004
Always a good climb - any season.
(Oct 29, 2004) - What a day. Me, Keith and Kelly got an early start to do a snow ascent of Mack's Peak via the Mack's Canyon route. Anyway, it's daybreak and we're headed down the dirt road to Mack's Canyon from the Lee Canyon Road. About a mile down the road, there's a green truck in the middle of the road with the front end stuck in a rut. Along the side of the truck and coiled by the rear bumper was a tow-rope...or so we thought.
We start grumbling about having to waste time and stop to help this guy pull himself out of the rut, when I notice something about the "tow-rope". For one thing, one end of the "tow-rope" was jammed into the exhaust pipe - the other end was stuck into the passenger side window. "Hey, I think he's trying to kill himself." The "tow-rope" was a garden hose.
We pulled the end of the hose out of the exhaust pipe and went off to get help.
We decided to bail on the Mack's Canyon creepy route and do The Sisters by the traditional winter route instead.
A half hour later, we were on the snow slopes heading for the summit. Great climb. Perfect weather - warm, no wind. Crystal skies...I could see Telescope Peak very clearly. Kelly put her foot through a summit cornice, but hey, other than scaring the hell out of her, it was a good time.
GlennD - Aug 21, 2019 7:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2019
Middle & South Sister2 miles from trailhead to saddle from Mack’s campground. Didn’t press on to North Sister, guess I’ll be back.
jdmorehouse - May 24, 2017 9:16 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2017
Back AgainFrom the end of the road in Mack's Canyon. First the Sisters, then a traverse over to Mack's Peak.
Tracy - Jun 2, 2016 10:57 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2016
from Macks CanyonI hiked/climbed this one with MoapaPk doing a south to north ridge traverse, from the ridge south of South Sister to the top Black Rock Sister (a.k.a. Black Sista) north of North Sister - 3 sisters total.
RaymondShevsky - Dec 19, 2013 1:59 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2009
A favoriteOne of my favorite Spring Mountain hikes, with spectacular views, very little traffic, and a sweet little scramble to the summit ridge.
jtellis - May 5, 2013 9:49 pm Date Climbed: May 4, 2013
Great hikeMack's Canyon is beautiful, isolated, and very quiet. The stream flowing through the area invites lots of chickadees and hummingbirds, and the moss and flowers you find in the damp, forested drainage are rather rare, considering that this range is perched in the middle of the desert. The views from the summit are wonderful, and other than the strong winds, the weather was great for this hike.
jdmorehouse - Mar 22, 2013 6:07 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2012
Mack's Peak and the SistersThe second day of four days of climbing in the area. All three of these are easily done in a day from the end of the road in Mack's Canyon
philadendron - May 29, 2012 6:48 pm Date Climbed: May 6, 2012
Sketchy from South to NorthEasy up to the South sister from the campground. Descent from South towards North was sketchy and a little exposed for our liking. Fairly uneventful up to the North Sister. Super steep descent down to a saddle, then easy descent down a wash back to the road.
South Sister again on 6/5/16, taking Upper Bristlecone to No Name to Bonanza trail, then along the ridge directly to South Sister.
South Sister again on 6/17/17, after summitting McFarland that morning. GPS tracks
The traverse to both again on 6/24/18 with the LVMC. Ed provided a great route with some spicier options before before S Sister, and near N Sister's summit.
MissH - Jul 3, 2011 5:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
FunFollowed guidebook up both sisters but couldn't decipher way down so we just went down a drainage chute to the wash. Good thing for tough pants!
goofball - May 10, 2010 9:11 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2010
A lot more funThan it looked like it would be from the road. Once up on the west ridge, between the bristle cone forest and the views of the surrounding Spring Mountains and The Sisters west face, this was a wonderful hike.
BranchWhitney - Jul 24, 2009 1:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 1997
SistersDone this hike (South and North Sister) too many times to remember. The descent off of the South Sister is well cairned now.
jimegan - Feb 8, 2008 7:32 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2003
SISTERSALSO CLIMBED ON 6/18/05 AND SOLOED S SISTER 8/07 FROM CAMP SILVER PINES; S Sister 8-29-10
alpspitze - Sep 26, 2007 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Apr 13, 2007
Route Climbed: Old Mill Campground RouteQuite a bit of snow still but You Gotta Love the Views Toward Charleston and McFarland From Here.
LV Hiker - May 18, 2007 9:11 pm Date Climbed: May 17, 2007
South & Middle SisterIt had been over 3 months since I'd done any substantial hike. I decided it was time to get off my ass and go climb something.
Having studied a topo of the area I had intended to hit all three peaks. South, Middle & North. Well things don't always work out as planned. Read on....
I contacted a couple hiking friends of mine Sherry & Bernie. We arranged to meet at the Old Mill Campground and picnic area at 10:00 AM. By the time we met up and actually started the hike it was 10:30 AM.
At the back of the campground area there is a trail you can follow. I believe this is the Scout Canyon Trail. At least that's what I'm going to call it since it goes up Scout Canyon.
There was parking near the front of the campground, but to actually park in the campground you have to pay seven dollars. We all piled into my truck and paid the seven bucks to save us a half mile of walking. Talk about lazy hikers huh
Anyway we hiked about a third of a mile down the "Scout Canyon Trail" at which point we got off the trail and followed a wash up a canyon to a saddle just below the South Sister. It's about 8 tenths of a mile & 1400 ft. of elevation gain from the point where you leave the Scout Canyon Trail until you reach the saddle.
About midway up the wash Bernie decided that that was enough hiking for him for the day. I failed to inform him prior to the hike that it was all cross country. Sorry bout that Bernie
Sherry and I continued on. The wash gets really steep just before you hit the saddle. We took numerous breaks.
Once we hit the saddle we took a long break and enjoyed looking at the different mountain peaks all around us.
From the saddle looking over at The Sisters, which are only about a third of a mile away, they look impossible to climb without a rope. While scanning them trying to find a route to the top I noticed a chute going up between the South and the Middle Sister.
It didn't look like a likely route but I figured we could go take a closer look at it. Sure enough a closer perspective proved that this was the way to the top. A steep way. You have to scramble up several hundred feet to reach a saddle between the South and Middle Sisters.
Sherry and I took numerous breaks on this last steep scramble. Upon arriving at this saddle I knew there was no way I was going to be able to hit the North Sister today. It was about a half mile away and would have involved losing around 500 ft in elevation then regaining it again. It just wasn't going to happen today.
The short walk over to the South Sister was easy and uneventful. The views, as always from a summit, were awesome. We took the standard summit shots then headed back to the saddle between The Sisters so we could climb the Middle Sister as it was only around 500 ft away from The Sister we were on.
Due to the fact that neither of us had done any climbing at this altitude for sometime we were feeling it. We had the typical light headedness that comes with not being used to exerting oneself at this altitude. Sherry opted not to climb The Middle Sister as it had a little exposure. Nothing serious but a slip here could prove fatal.
I, being the male of our little climbing expedition (meaning not as smart lol) wasn't about to let a little dizziness stop me from climbing on exposed cliffs. I strapped my dogs leash to my belt and started up.
Fortunately I didn't lose my balance and fall off the mountain. I suppose you already realized this as you are reading my blog. My dog, Hobo, made it as well. I signed the summit log and enjoyed a cigarette while admiring the view. My dog enjoyed a Scooby Snack while licking her sore paws. For some reason she wasn't as impressed with the view as I was and decided to nap under a shady tree.
Leaving the Middle Sister I joined up with Sherry who was already in the process of climbing back down.
We made good time going down even though our knees were tired and our legs were shaky.
But as two middle aged out of shape hikers we were still pleased with our accomplishment.
Anya Jingle - Jan 14, 2007 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2005
Winter Ascent of North SisterFun snow climb with great vistas. Our slideshow is here, enjoy:
North Sister snowshoe
redsplashman23 - Sep 8, 2006 10:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2006
The Sisters 9/8/062nd trip to the sisters. This time I was successful. Hiked with the LVMC. Took just under 5 hours to hike both sisters with long breaks on each summit.
birdhead - Jun 5, 2006 12:59 am Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2006
Old Mill CampgroundClimbed on a break from a Vegas bachelor party. It was the best decision I made all weekend.
MoapaPk - Dec 6, 2005 9:22 pm
Route Climbed: south, north, traverse; each peak about 5-6 times. Date Climbed: 2001 to 2005What cp calls "Middle Sister" is what most people call "South Sister". (We're not in Oregon!) The peak cp calls "South Sister" is generally regarded as a side lump of the main "South Sister" (cp's Middle Sister), and I don't believe it rises more than 60' above the col.
Some old-timers actually manage to find 5 peaks in this range - White Sister, Black Sister, etc. The subject of names can elicit some heart-felt emotions
The traverse between the peaks (true South Sister to North Sister) is perhaps the most nteresting hike, made even more interesting by snow. There is at least one arch, and several opportunities to rip a knee ligament.
davis13 - Aug 4, 2005 1:20 pm
Route Climbed: Old Mill Date Climbed: Nov 2000Climbed when I was TDY to Nellis AFB. It was still in the 90's in Las Vegas. We went in shorts and T-shirts and when we made it to the top of the south sister we were waist deep in snow. Had to move fast to get down. Our legs were freezing.
SusanM - Jul 24, 2005 5:36 pm
Route Climbed: Old Mill Campground Route Date Climbed: May 21, 2005Climbed one of the two sisters, I will return when I have ambitious hiking partners.
cp0915 - Oct 30, 2004 1:33 pm
Route Climbed: via Mack's Canyon twice and via the Winter Route twice Date Climbed: twice in summer 03, once in winter 03/04, and yesterday, Oct 29, 2004Always a good climb - any season.
(Oct 29, 2004) - What a day. Me, Keith and Kelly got an early start to do a snow ascent of Mack's Peak via the Mack's Canyon route. Anyway, it's daybreak and we're headed down the dirt road to Mack's Canyon from the Lee Canyon Road. About a mile down the road, there's a green truck in the middle of the road with the front end stuck in a rut. Along the side of the truck and coiled by the rear bumper was a tow-rope...or so we thought.
We start grumbling about having to waste time and stop to help this guy pull himself out of the rut, when I notice something about the "tow-rope". For one thing, one end of the "tow-rope" was jammed into the exhaust pipe - the other end was stuck into the passenger side window. "Hey, I think he's trying to kill himself." The "tow-rope" was a garden hose.
We pulled the end of the hose out of the exhaust pipe and went off to get help.
We decided to bail on the Mack's Canyon creepy route and do The Sisters by the traditional winter route instead.
A half hour later, we were on the snow slopes heading for the summit. Great climb. Perfect weather - warm, no wind. Crystal skies...I could see Telescope Peak very clearly. Kelly put her foot through a summit cornice, but hey, other than scaring the hell out of her, it was a good time.