Ricks Saddle - 9/14/20

Rick's Peak (L) - Macks Peak (R) nearing Ricks Saddle

Formidable Ricks Peak overshadowed by Macks Peak

Ricks Saddle view up to Ricks Peak

Starting up South Sister Trail

Okay. I know what you are thinking! Who's Rick? I have no idea, but he named a peak adjacent to Macks Peak. And, ... the saddle below Ricks Peak could be called Macks Canyon Saddle ... but, it could also be called McFarland Canyon Saddle. And, ... Macks Canyon kind of has two saddles albeit one is higher than the other. So, .... I'm calling the destination of this hike, Ricks Saddle which is the saddle between Macks Canyon and McFarland Canyon yet is at the base of the diminutive Ricks Peak. There you have it!

Five of us parked at the increasingly popular Pay Phone Trailhead and hiked up past the Old Mill Picnic Area. Soon, we were on the familiar South Sister Trail.

South Sister Trail

The South Sister Trail leads up through a beautiful shaded canyon before it takes a decidedly steeper feel up to the South Sister Saddle. The climb was around 2/3 of today's total elevation gain. Always a heart starter!

The Steep Part

At the saddle, there is a trail that neither leads up nor down and to the other side of the ridge. Until today, it was simply a curiosity. Today was the day we would find out what was on the other side of that door!

Starting down the Cairned Lubinski Trail to the Ridge of Views

First gulley Crossing

From the saddle, our small group was embarking on an exploration with information gathered by Jon Lubinski, Brian Dodd and Lettie Guttierez ... and, of course, Google Earth! Lettie's group had gone to the trouble of cairning the route that was first put on the map by Jon. By now, the trail is very easily followed until you reach the first overlook point. This is where Lettie's cairns help out a lot. The trail jogs uphill about 30 feet before it takes off again over the ridge and dips in and out of a second big gulley. This puts you onto a bare ridge. The views around the Lubinski Trail and the bare ridge are numerous and gives the hiker a new perspective of the mountains east of the Spring Mountains Divide or the Bonanza Trail. The ridge begins at a small rocky tor.

The Trail jogs up from the First Overlook Point

At this point, there are three different directions that can be taken. The first is to turn to the right and climb up to the neighboring ridge for more of a straight shot to Ricks Saddle.

After jogging up, the Lubinski Trail crosses the Second Gulley

The second is to use Brian's track and head straight down toward Ricks Saddle. Always a possibility.

From the Lubinski Trail & Ridge of Views

North (L) & South (R) Sisters from Ridge of Views

The third option was our natural selection. We followed the fun Ridge of Views down as it curved around to the left then dropped down on the left side finding a vague game trail that took us around to the right heading straight for the target saddle. This was also Lubinski's track of choice. We only saw one cairn on the game trail as it led us in and out a third gulley then over to a large flattish area and down to Ricks Saddle where a very large deposit of wild horse poo awaited us! This large flattish area lies between the lower and higher Macks Canyon Saddle. It is also the bottom of the ridge we would later take on our ascent back up to South Sister Saddle. The trail on this ridge can be otherwise referred to as Pauls Trail. (Story later.)

One more Gulley on Game Trail after Dipping down from Ridge

At the saddle, we had another choice to make. To the left, we could continue our descent to a creek area. Since it is the middle of September and we haven't had a lot of rain, we decided to put this off until next time.

Approaching Ricks Saddle & Peak

To the right, we could follow the canyon down about a quarter mile to a spring area. We took this option thinking that the spring might be flowing. When we got down where the map said the spring was, we did not find it. May have been dry.

Exploration down to the Spring

Back at Ricks Saddle, we took our break ... away from the horse poo ... and stared up at Ricks Peak with Macks Peak beyond. Our dreams of climbing Macks Peak from this perspective had long disappeared! Macks Peak never appeared so daunting as this!

Snack Break on Ricks Saddle

After our break, we turned to climb the ridge behind us. This cairned trail is known as Pauls Trail. (On one hike several years ago, Paul was leading some of the more advanced hikers and they abandoned him before he reached Ricks Saddle. The others climbed up through a difficult canyon to get to the South Sister Trail while Paul happily climbed Pauls Trail, a much easier option!) We followed the cairns until we found a game trail that led back over to the Lubinski Trail then returned to South Sister Saddle. The last part was not real graceful but we had fun! (To be improved.) Then, it was back down the South Sister Trail to the cars. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Stats: 6.6 miles; 1800' gain; 4.5 hours

Starting up Pauls Trail marked with Cairns

Back on the Lubinski Trail

Down the South Sister Trail