Timberline hike tough warm-up for climb

By Tom Chace

The trek of a lifetime is awaiting 16 Black Butte Ranch and Sisters hikers next week as the date for the assault on South Sister approaches.

A hike preliminary to the climb to the Sister summit was taken Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 15-17 around Mt. Hood along the Timberline Trail.

"It was very difficult," said Sharyn Fetrow, leader of the planned South Sister climb. "We did something a little over 40 miles in three days."

The length of the trek in itself is arduous, but "we climbed to about 7,320 feet with many ups and downs as we had to ford several rivers and streams that required climbing down gullies to get to the water level and then back up again," Fetrow said.

Several did not make the complete first day's trek but seven of the 12 starters did, "and it was wonderful," said Fetrow.

The balance of the hikers took a "short-cut," cutting the first day's planned 20-mile hike in half.

"We had everything going for us, clear skies, magnificent scenery, warm, spring-like weather," Fetrow said. "I hope it is that grand on South Sister."

They stopped the first night at Silcox Hut, part of the Timberline Lodge complex, where a couple of the non-hiking husbands drove to the Lodge and joined them for the evening.

"The Timberline hike was one of the most wonderful thing I have ever done," Fetrow said. "The night at the Silcox Hut and the gourmet dinner was such a treat! I don't think I slept all night ... the elevation of 7,200 feet may have contributed to my sleeplessness."

The attack on South Sister is scheduled to take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, September 2 and 3. About half of the group will do the assault in one day. The balance will camp overnight on the mountain completing the trip in two days.

Those who plan to climb to the South Sister summit and return in one day are: Doug Wood, Sydney Chandler, Marjorie and Dick Tipton, Peggy Miller, Dave Barry and Jessica Judy.

They will meet in Bend, "before dawn" and make it to the top and back on Wednesday, September 3.

The two-day hikers, who will meet the one-dayers on the trail for a "photo op," include: Russ and Sharyn Fetrow, Mimi and Bill Miller, Darla Neiss, Scott Reekie, Beverly Gaskins, and Pat Neufeldt.

They plan to meet for breakfast in Bend on Tuesday morning, September 2, hike part way up and return the following evening.

"We absolutely, positively won't go unless the weather forecast is perfect," Fetrow said. "We will keep fine-tuning the date until we know that we have a good opportunity of ideal weather. We want our 'weather window' to be perfect for at least two days out as it can change up there so rapidly that we don't want to be caught."

She indicated that they will go regardless of haze from the fire.

"Wind and haze conditions change minute by minute," she said. "That won't stop us."

All the hikers are from the Black Butte Ranch or Sisters area.