Broken Top, 7/24/10

After last year's failed attempt to summit Broken Top (weather turned us back near the top), the peak was definitely on my summer to-do list. Because of the short approach, we first hit the REI return sale and then drove to the Green Lakes trail head on the Cascade Lakes Highway. The short, easy hike in (~4 miles) was hot but beautiful. We took a right at the first lake and quickly found a great campsite.
Terrific views of Broken Top:
And South Sister and North Sister:
Dinner time!
We got up about 6 a.m. Sunday and prepared for summit day. The sky was clear and the temperature was already rising. We hoped to get up and back to camp before the Central Oregon sun reached its peak, but our group was slower than expected.

Steve threw in the towel not far from the summit, but Brad and I kept going, using a rope to scale the short vertical pitch just below the top. Then after a short scramble, we were on top -- with views from Mount Adams to the north to Mount Shasta to the south!! I counted 16 snow-covered or otherwise nameable peaks - WOW!

Just below the summit - Mount Bachelor in the background:
On top - Three Sisters in the background:
Amazing views!
At the base of the summit block scramble:
Rappelling down the short vertical pitch:
We down climbed, met up with Steve and made our way back to camp. From the saddle, we saw tall, dark clouds forming to the south. By the time we reached camp, Broken Top had an ominous backdrop. So glad we got down when we did.After some relaxing and rehydrating, we packed up and hiked out, battling mosquitoes the whole way (They hardly seemed phased by the 100% deet covering our skin and clothes!) Dinner was Mexican food in Sisters - YUM!!
What an awesome climb - fairly easy with a huge payoff! I was happy that all my training helped me reach the top with little struggle - providing for wonderfully fun day. I can't wait to go back and share the experience with my besties :)