Three Sisters Wilderness AQRV Description

ODOR

Much of the wilderness experience in the Cascades is influenced by the sights, sounds, feelings, experiences, and even the smells that visitors might encounter. In places close to metropolitan areas, one of the significant changes for the city resident is the smell of the great outdoors. Whether it is a whiff of a pine forest, the aroma of a rain forest, or the briskness of the clean crisp high mountain air rising up over the Cascade Range, natural smell is a value that can only truly be appreciated when it is compared to the odor of mechanized civilization.

FAUNA

A large variety of wildlife live within the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Columbia black tailed deer, mule deer Roosevelt elk and black bear are common. Smaller fur bearing animals such as the mink, marten, weasel, raccoon, bobcat, and coyote also make the area their home. Blue and ruff grouse can be found in the timbered areas. Several threatened and endangered birds can be found within the Three Sisters Wilderness. These include the Federal and Oregon State threatened status bald eagle, the Federal and Oregon State endangered status peregrine falcon, and the Oregon state threatened status spotted owl.

FLORA

The geographic diversity of this large area makes it home to more plant species than any other Oregon wilderness. Timber species include Douglas-fir on the western slopes and ponderosa pine in the East. In the lower elevations western white pine, Engleman spruce, western hemlock, white fir, western red cedar, and true fir exist. At higher elevations mountain hemlock, alpine fir, lodgepole pine, and white bark pine can be seen. In the numerous flower filled meadows blue lupine are often interspersed with spectacular displays of red indian paintbrush during the short snow-free summer months. Heather, arnica, larkspur, bluebells, wild sunflower, columbine, alpine dandelion, anemone, Jacob's ladder, cat's ears, swamp laurel, snow plant, avalanche lily, elephant head, shooting star, mimulus, and yellow monkey flower can also be seen. The snowmelt zones teem with white avalanche lily, marsh marigolds, and fuzzy pasque. Pink rhododendron displays brighten the lower slopes in the spring, while ripe huckleberries line the forest trails above 5,000 feet in late August. The Three Sisters Wilderness supports several plants that are on the State of Oregon threatened, endangered, or sensitive list. These include: The Oregon State endangered listed Tall agoseris and Oregon Grape fern. The Oregon State threatened listed sierra onion and stiff club moss and the Oregon State sensitive listed Mt. Lassen draba and Adder's tongue.

WATER QUALITY

The waters of the lake systems within the Three Sisters Wilderness have low alkalinity levels and are believed to be especially sensitive to acid deposition. Many of the lakes are popular fishing destinations and are stocked with eastern brook trout, rainbow trout, or cutthroat trout. The mountain snowpack exceeds 20 feet at higher elevations, and as with other Central Oregon Cascade highlands, feeds the tributary streams of the Willamette and Deschutes Rivers, which are the major north-south drainages along the east and est sides of the cascades into the Columbia River. These river systems are the major spawning grounds for several species of salmon, steelhead, and trout. The relatively undisturbed vegetative cover and soil mantle within the wilderness currently produces the highest quality water that supports these great Oregon river systems.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Located centrally in this wilderness are three volcanoes over 10,000 feet. Known as the North, Middle and South Sisters these volcanoes have the most developed system of glaciers so far South in all of North America. Broken Top, another volcano to the east of South Sister, gives visitors an excellent example of the advanced stages of glacial erosion. In contrast, the much younger South Sister maintains it's uneroded conical shape and supports the states highest lake in it's crater at over 10,000 feet. Glacial erosion of all of these mountains has enhanced their beauty by revealing their colorful inner structure. The states largest glacier, the Collier, lies between the North and Middle Sisters on their western slope. Fourteen other glaciers can be found within this wilderness lying below the majestic mountain summits. For those wishing to view the spectacular alpine scenery of this wilderness the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses the wilderness from north to south for 40 miles along the west side of the Three Sisters. To the south in the forested portion of the wilderness lie hundreds of sparkling mountain lakes that offer visitors numerous possibilities for recreational activities.