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| Rick's Peak (foreground) and Mack's Peak (background) - Rick's Saddle (lower right) |
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| Outcropping on Rick's Peak |
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| South Sister from near Overlook |
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| Starting up Old Mill Trail |
Three Pastel Belles arrived at the Pay Phone Trailhead located just below the Lee Canyon traffic circle early in the morning around 7am. (The horses were busy bothering other visitors!) We started up the paved road next to the Old Mill Picnic Area and forked to the right onto the Old Mill Trail. This trail is lined with rocks and very easy to follow. On up the trail, there is an open glade on the right. This is the beginning of the South Sister Trail. We veered to the right and hiked up past the spring that pipes in water, assumably, to the picnic area. The first phase of the South Sister Trail starts up a wash on a gentle wooded slope but turns steep after a large wash junction. The steep climb ends on South Sister Saddle. We took a short rest here.
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| Early Morning on Old Mill Trail |
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| Spring and Pipe on lower South Sister Trail |
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| South Sister Trail Phase 1 |
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| Climbing to South Sister Saddle |
To proceed, we took a trail that starts out a downward traverse straight and to the right. This trail is still cairned fairly well but you still have to watch out for a right turn upslope at one point. Mountain views start appearing of McFarland, Everest, Ricks and Macks Peaks. The high ridge to the left holds the Bonanza Trail or Spring Mountain Divide. The traverse trail drops through a couple of deep washes before depositing hikers onto the "Ridge of Views." This is a scree covered ridge with open views all around. We followed the ridge down taking a left turn at the end. Nearing the bottom of the slope, find an as yet unmarked trail to the right. This trail will take you on another downward traverse all the way over to the Macks and Ricks Saddles area.
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| View back from near South Sister Saddle |
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| Starting down Traverse Trail |
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| Traverse Trail (Cairned) |
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| Last Gulley Crossing |
Macks Peak comes into view first along the trail. Ricks Peak, a smaller peak, is seen soon after. There is a bare saddle at the base of Ricks Peak, marked only by a large pile of horse manure next to a tree. The saddle was our destination for this hike so we looked around for some sitting logs. Up the hill a short way, we saw a nice arrangement and went up for our break. The views on this side of the Sisters Ridge are magnificent. Difficult hikes display themselves all around. To the right of Ricks Saddle, the canyon will lead you to the end of Macks Canyon Road. The other side of the saddle brings you to Macks Creek. Also to the left, well, how about a climb up Mt. Everest? Jerry and Cheryl did this one not long ago. They said it was difficult! (It looks difficult!)
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| Ridge of Views |
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| Approach to Rick's Saddle |
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| On Rick's Saddle (Rick's Peak behind) |
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| Pastel Belles at Break |
After our break and photo, we started up the slope behind us. This ascent trail is also cairned pretty well. We could call this trail the South Sister Trail from the Macks Canyon side. It leads up from the saddle area straight to the South Sister Overlook, or, at the end of Phase 2 of the traditional South Sister Trail. We climbed slowly passing the turnoff to the right that would take us back to the first traverse trail. (It is a very vague game trail.) Anyway, our South Sister trail continued all the way up to the overlook where we rested at the high point. Next, we found the trail the leads down the right edge of the ridge to the South Sister Saddle. This trail is sometimes difficult to follow but we always found it again!
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| Climbing up from Saddle (Mack's Peak in distance) |
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| Cairned Ascent Trail |
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| Cairned Ascent Trail |
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| South Sister Overlook |
Having completed the loop, we started down the first phase of the South Sister Trail. Up to this point, we talked quite a lot but it got quiet when we began concentrating really hard on the steep slippery slope! Down the trail, through the woods, past the spring and old home foundation, left on Old Mill Trail and down the paved picnic road. We arrived at the car tired but very happy! Hiking is great!
Stats: 6 miles; 1825' gain; 4.25 hours
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| Descent on South Sister Trail Phase 2 |
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| Center Trail is the Traverse Trail. - Trail to Right is South Sister Trail Phase 2. |
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| Descent on South Sister Trail Phase 1 |
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