Return to California and then off to New Zealand!

After spending most of the summer in the Pacific Northwest, we wrapped up the trip with a climb up South Sister which is part of the Three Sisters and is the third highest peak in Oregon. It's a real slog of a climb as you ascend nearly 5,000 feet from the trailhead (5,500') to the summit at 10,363'. The first few miles were pretty nice as we were in the forest and the gradient was fairly gradual. Then there's this exposed sandy plateau for the next couple miles which isn't too steep and provides some great views of the summit and surrounding mountains. Then the real fun begins with a really grueling climb up rugged volcanic rock and loose scree for the final mile and a half. We had a fair amount of company on the climb so we were all providing each other emotional support and encouragement. The view was definitely spectacular at the top although I'm not sure it was worth all of the effort. However, if you don't think you'll ever make it to the moon, you...