Broken Top Loop Day 1

Jul 16

Tam McArthur Trailhead to Green Lakes

Every great journey begins with a spark of inspiration and a dash of planning. This adventure was no different. Driven by a desire to challenge my physical limits and discover uncharted vistas, I set my sights on Central Oregon, where the rugged beauty of the Broken Top Loop near the Three Sisters Wilderness called out to me.

With Gaia GPS, Alltrails, and Caltopo, I sketched out a rough route, tracing the contours of the land to gauge the miles and elevation that lay ahead. As if by fate, I learned that friends from the Mazamas would be climbing Broken Top and South Sister that same week. The thought of meeting up at Green Lakes added an extra layer of excitement.

The plan was to trek the Broken Top Loop clockwise, beginning at the Tam McArthur Rim Trailhead, with a special overnight at the summit of South Sister.

There was one more surprise to this journey— I planned to capture the elusive NEOWISE comet that made an appearance in 2020, streaking across the northern skies, while I camped under the stars atop South Sister.

With the dawn of July 16, 2020, I found myself at the Tam McArthur Trailhead ready to begin the journey.

The trail starts with a steady incline, quickly gaining elevation towards No Name Lake. The initial climb provided stunning views of Three Creek Lake, and soon I found myself on an unmaintained trail.

Though the path was clear, I frequently referred to my map to ensure I was on track.

Ascending the ridge that connects Broken Top with McArthur Rim, I passed Broken Hand and met some friendly hikers along the way.

Shortly after, I arrived at No Name Lake, which was still partially snow-covered. It was the perfect spot to rest, enjoy lunch, and take in the breathtaking views of Broken Top, its vibrant cliff sides, and the surrounding mountains. On this clear day, I could see Middle Sister, North Sister, Mount Washington, Three Fingered Jack, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Hood.

As I prepared to continue, I met another hiker on his first trip around the Broken Top Loop. He was on a cross-country road trip from New York, seeking solitude and peace in nature amidst the ongoing pandemic. We chatted for a bit, then continued on our separate ways. Interestingly, we crossed paths several times over the next hour, both taking a wrong turn at one point. Eventually, we hiked together until our routes diverged.

With a few more miles to go, continued my way around Broken Top as I pushed on towards Green Lakes. Just before nightfall, I reached Green Lakes.

I searched the nearby campsites for the Mazamas climbers and was pleasantly surprised to find them!

The team had just returned from climbing Broken Top while I went around it, and had secured a great campsite. I pitched my one-person tent nearby and joined them for a friendly chat. After dinner and refilling my water, I was ready to rest for the night—a long day awaited me in the morning.

The next day, I planned to summit South Sister via Devil's Lake, while the Mazamas would take the Green Lakes route.