Saturday, August 24, 2013

Three Fingered Jack-August 2013

Three Fingered Jack

Backpack in from Jack Lake


This hike comes highly recommended. The trail is easy and the climb rewarding. This is a great adventure for kids 7+. A good destination for this hike is Canyon Creek Meadow only 2 miles in and less than 1,000 feet up.

You'll need your NW Forest Pass or pay for a day permit. You'll also need a wilderness permit. This area has seen heavier use since the Pole Creek Fire of 2012 devastated nearby backcountry. Be very mindful of camping 30+ adult paces from water. Rangers roam the meadow and we received a tongue lashing for utilizing a highly impacted site that was just that distance.

The hike starts at the far end of the parking lot and wraps around Jack Lake. Look for a nice framed shot Three Fingered Jack just above the lake.

Travel thru' mixed conifer forest that transitions from lodgepole to fir and from sagebrush to manzanita as you climb.
Canyon Creek Meadow is awesome and makes a nice spot to take a break.


 Vistas start to really open up in what I call the upper meadow.
We got a glimpse of the Mountain Goats that had been released in this area as they clung to the east face of 'Jack.
Look REALLY close at the cliff and you'll see the 'dots' that are Mountain Goats.
Mountain Goat
Vistas open up on the southeast shoulder rim. From left to right we see, Broken Top, Mt. Bachelor (tiny in the distance), The Three Sisters, and Mt. Washington

Watch a short film on the jaunt here:


You can find the trailhead by turning off Highway 20 west of Sisters onto FS Rd 12. Follow that north for a few miles. Take a left onto FS Rd 1234 after crossing Jack Creek. Follow that road about 7 miles to the trailhead at Jack Lake.