On Sunday, August 4, I hiked and scrambled up Broken Top South Peak in Central Oregon’s Cascade Range. This is the obvious, but not officially named peak 0.34 mile south of the actual summit of Broken Top. It has 454 feet of clean prominence and 9094 feet of elevation. It is most easily accessible from the Broken Top Trailhead which requires a high clearance vehicle to reach.
The Broken Top Trailhead is very popular since it provides access to the scenic “No Name Lake” below the east face of Broken Top. The parking spaces at the trailhead were full when I arrived, but I found parking beside the road nearby.
I descended west on the trail, then hiked across open country below the SE facing cirque of Broken Top to reach the south ridge of the South Peak.
I climbed the south ridge beside a snowfield, then climbed directly towards the summit.
The upper slope was loose scree but a path helped with footing. I scrambled the last 200 feet to the summit up loose and friable rock.
There were two candidate high spots and I thought the nearest one was highest. It provided a nice spot for enjoying the views and photography, though flying insects photobombed some of my photos.
I enjoyed the view of the Three Sisters. The air was clear and the cloud shadows provided contrast and a sense of depth. Green Lakes lay below and I remembered some of the many skiing and climbing trips I have made into that basin with friends.
I studied the view of Broken Top from the South Peak. I have climbed Broken Top several times, always up the Northwest Ridge. That route works along red ledges just below the summit. Those ledges seemed very exposed and loose from my viewpoint, but in my experience the rock up there is reasonably firm.
After taking several photos sitting on the first I decided I needed to tag the second candidate to be sure I got the highest. The scramble over to reach this second candidate was easy with good hand holds but loose footing above some exciting exposure. After a few quick photos I gratefully returned to better rock and had lunch.
Clouds were starting to build around me and it was time to return. The descent went more quickly since shifting scree is not as frustrating while going down than up. I took a more direct route down a steep slope to leave the ridge.
Indian Paintbrush blossoms decorated the lower slopes where snow had lingered into the summer. The seemed particularly vivid.
The sky was darkening to the south as I returned to my Jeep. Rain arrived by the time I had driven out to the Cascade Lakes Highway.
I am glad to have visited Broken Top South Peak and will remember this hike whenever I see the peak on future hikes and bike rides. But I doubt that I will return.
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