Oregon Cascades - Need Info

“So, I think I want to start getting a trip together for the Oregon Cascades next summer. The thing is, I've never really been there so, short of the scant info I can get from the NPS, I don't know a lot about the area at all.

When's a good time of year to go? What can be expected weather-wise? What would be a good destination/area for a first-time trip? I think the style of trip will be a 4-5 day backpack, putting in some good miles (7-10) a day. We could bag peaks, see waterfalls, whatever works.

Would the northern Cascades be a better destination? We were thinking of driving, but may end up flying if we were heading further north than Oregon.

Mostly, I just need any info, advice, tips, etc.”

“Check out the trailhead information for Maidu Lake Trail and PCT. There are many lakes and ponds with fishing. This is in the Mt. Thielson wilderness area.

To get there you go to Miller Lake turn-off which is between Bend and Chemult on Hwy 97. The last time I went the road was 12 miles of unpaved washboard but worth the trip. There is also a campground at the lake for your jumping off point.

Weather there is very unpredicatble even in the summer..kinda like the High Sierra. Oh yeah....Mosquitos are so big that they carry forks and napkins.”

“mmm, big mosquitos. I'll bring a fishing net and we'll eat the buggers.

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out.”

“If I could go back I would do the PCT around the Three Sister Wilderness..

'32oz”

“I third that. I'd do something near Bend (a great town). Three Sisters or Mt. Washington Wld, something like that. There are lots of guide books for the area. You might contact REI in Bend and see if they recommend a book.

The only backpacking I've done in OR is the Timberline Trail around Mt. Hood. That was cool, but I recommend further south. I was at Crater Lake last July and couldn't leave my tent for the mosquitos. They said August was better. But there was still lots of snow on all the volcanoes, so that was nice.

Mt. Jefferson Wld. looks like a place where you could have epic adventures. I'd want to be really prepared before I tried it.”

“I live in the Bend area. I've done a few hikes around the Three Sisters area, but not enough to say I'm an "expert" on all the trails. That said, if you're thinking of hiking in this area, I'd recommend "100 Hikes In The Central Oregon Cascades", by William L. Sullivan. It covers not only the Three Sisters area, but some other areas in the central Oregon Cascades as well.

Depending on the year, you can expect to encounter snow on the trails leading into the higher elevations well into mid July or early August. Again, this depends on that years' snowpack and how quickly things begin thawing out in the spring. It's good to check in with the ranger stations/forest service offices by phone for latest info.

Here's a page with some contact info for the Sisters Ranger District and Deschutes National Forest offices. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/contact/

Hope that helps!

~Nocona~”