Three Sisters loop pt. 2

Three Sister Loop Part 2

The Day is finally here, well at least it's almost here as tomorrow I begin the journey I have wanted to take for over eight years. The last two weeks I have prepared by climbing Mt. Mcloughlin (9485') and South Sister (10,358'). However I may have negated my training due to a visit from my oldest friend from out of state and the resulting late nights. Today I am slightly hungover and my leg still hurts from hauling a sixty five pound pack up South Sister. I am hoping the leg will be better by tomorrow, but I am sure I can cope with it anyway. 

Finding someone to come with me was full of ups and downs, having friends and Meetup members join up only to drop out. However one Meetup member who joined late and is now my sole hiking partner for the trip. Having only met him on one other occasion, it will be nice to meet someone new but I hope everything goes smoothly as this is my first trip as a group leader for Meetup. We have decided to complete the loop in four days instead of five, but will prepare for five. I have packed pretty normally for the trip and I think I will be under fifty pounds. I am carrying granola bars, jerky and five dehydrated meals and I think this will be more than sufficient for the four or five days. Everything else I am carrying are the basics of any backpacking trip that I take.

I am already missing my girlfriend and our three year old daughter, whom I need to make up time with due to my backpacking obsession. Eyeing bed early tonight, I plan on touching up my pack job in the morning before beginning the long haul. Wish me luck!!!

- Dan F.

South Sister

Mount Mcloughlin

Three Sisters loop pt.1

Three Sisters Loop

8/17/2011
I am not really sure why I am writing this or if it will ever be seen by anyone, maybe it will only serve as a personal journal. But anyway, here it is.

I am planning a trip that I have wanted to do for the past eight years or so. I plan to complete a fifty five mile loop encircling the Three Sisters in my home state of Oregon. I have never had the opportunity to do the trip before due to work schedules, etc. Now that I finally have the freedom myself, I am having trouble finding anyone else who shares my enthusiasm and I have been swiftly denied or just plain ignored by friends who I have asked to come along. Also I am a trip leader for the Eugene backpacker's "Meetup" group and I have posted it there, but I have only had replies from those that are "not going."

As of now I am preparing to do the trip by myself. I am not worried about going alone, I only think the hike would be more enjoyable with someone else to share it with. I have plenty of experience hiking solo and I am very familiar with the area, which is popular and certain parts of it are sure to be booming with other hikers. One thing that also stinks, my birthday is the first day of the trip, meaning I will be spending it alone unless I find some other backpackers to party with.

I now have only sixteen days until departure, and I am planning on doing some training in the two weekends prior. I am climbing Mt. Mcloughlin in three days, assuming my hiking partner doesn't change his mind the morning we are supposed to leave, like he did last time (and a few other times previously). Also I am supposed to climb South Sister with a few friends next weekend as we do annually. These trips aren't grossly technical or anything but they do provide a good workout and should give me plenty of confidence heading into September.

-DigityDan

Here's the numbers for those that are interested

• 55-60 miles
• 8,200 - 9000 ft. elevation gain
• 5 days - 4 nights

http://www.meetup.com/Central-Oregon-Backpackers/events/29649131/