Climbing North Sister Volcano - Solo Summit

[@adrianreyes2126]

😮Looks pretty technical and intense

[@user-yg6dk9eh8g]

Incredible Bravery

[@illinitooregon]

I know N. Sis is no picnic but hard to get a grasp of what it’s really like with that lens that distorts the view - overdramatizing the situation. Would appreciate next time if they’d use a regular lens, I’m not a fish 😊

[@summitspecials]

I understand. POV never quite does the job. I use the wide setting with a bigger field of view bc it shows a lot more, but I don't do much head cam footage anymore bc even though it looks kinda cool, I think it can be disorienting. Would be best if I could film a second person, but I can still improve in deciding how to shoot things by myself. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate the feedback. Cheers!

[@user-yg6dk9eh8g]

Did you really say that?

[@illinitooregon]

@@user-yg6dk9eh8g yep, can you believe it? Constructive criticism and the author of the video was gracious enough to reply positively because he agrees and gets it. No one offended here? Both real men, confident in our abilities and opinions.

[@jaredempey5706]

love your videos. Was there another rap station besides the one shown at 13:50? It looks like it would take more than one rappel to make it safely down.

[@summitspecials]

Not that I recall. Although the whole bowling alley is unstable loose rock, it levels out toward the bottom. So one rap with a 50-60m rope would get you down the "rock climbing" pitch and you'd be back to a class 3 "scramble". I'm sure you could find another point to set up a second anchor, but at that point the risk of rocks rolling down and hitting you is higher than risk of taking a tumble imo. Hope that helps. Cheers!

[@jaredempey5706]

@summitspecials thanks for the information. Hoping to get out there in the next few weeks

[@andychu1549]

Thanks for the video very detailed. I’m looking to climb north sister this weekend, but wondering what gear you lacked when snow was covering the terrible traverse and you didn’t cross?

[@summitspecials]

Ah, yes... It was 03 July. After looking at the mountain from the trailhead, I foolishly decided last minute to use tennis shoes instead of boots, and left my crampons at the car. I did have a snow axe, but without crampons I wasn't up for the bit of snow on the traverse as it was really hard and I would have had to chop steps all the way.

[@rdub507]

who is your sister? ha

[@ListlessSilence]

Hey there! I gotta say this is a great video, I really appreciate the zoom ins detailing where you’re crossing for the traverse. Also wondering what Lexi poles you have?

[@summitspecials]

Why thank you!! For years I had Leki Legacy Ultralite, finally broke them and now using Leki Carbon TA XTG. Both good 👍.

[@cort1234]

as a blind man im doing this solo tommorw

[@summitspecials]

How did it go?

[@cort1234]

@@summitspecials im still up here

[@cort1234]

im in bend if you wana buddy to summit some stuff with

[@justinewingmedia]

Great video Alex! Hoping to do this on Saturday Oct. 15th. I know you talked about wanting to rap off the top. My question is where does rapping off the top put you? Do you rap down past the bowling alley or on the other side? Might take rope with us but much rather not use it if it’s not needed. Let me know if you have any info and thanks again for the great detailed video it is helping plan this easier.

[@summitspecials]

My intention was to go straight north off the summit block and know it would take at least 2 raps to get right back down to the ridge on the main path on the downhill side of the traverses. It would skip the bowling alley. I just wasn't sure about things and knew it would take more time to figure out. Right now I cant find the video I once found of somebody doing it.

[@justinewingmedia]

@@summitspecials thanks a lot. I think we might just give it a go. Might take our gear and have a look but from watching your video it doesn’t look horrible but if not careful it could end badly. Think taking our time and watching our steps could be quicker than trying to sort out where to rap down to. Thanks for responding. If your local maybe I’ll catch you on the trail sometime.

[@irodhd]

how steep is that ridge on 2:30? aspiring to summit this mountain when it cools down! great video!

[@summitspecials]

As I do not know the angle, I'll say it is not that steep in comparison to the upper mountain. Still, this ridge approach below the traverses can be a challenge because it is just a loose pile of crumbly basalt scree. The pacific northwest special! It is easy to slip and fall in that stuff or rollan ankle. Note that if you veer off the main route of the ridge it is steeper off either side. Also see links in bio for more route description. Cheers!