Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake

This trail was not easy to find. Starts at the back of the Devil's Lake parking lot. Trail goes underneath the highway. From there its a rocky trail with little shade from the Lodge Pole Pines. Ran across some hiker doing the Pacific Crest Trail. After awhile I reached part of the forest that actually provided shade but then I had to deal with mosquitoes. Not the worst I had to deal with as long as I kept moving. 

Once I reached the first plains I was greeted by cool wind blowing from South Sister and I did not have to worry about the mosquitoes after that. I also ran across a few patches of snow the first time. This is also where the Pacific Crest Trail splits from the Moraine Lake trail near the edge of woods Once I was back in the woods the grade of the trail increased a lot. Once over the hill I was met with another plain and then another steep climb and to yet another plain.

South Sister again

The snow patches became more numerous and larger but it was not too bad to walk through. Once you reach Moraine Lake there a trail that continues to the summit of South Sister. I never hike to the lake looking like it would take another 20 minutes to get down there and I was running out of time. Of course there was a more direct route from where I took my first photo but the slope was too steep. 

Broken Top above Moraine Lake