[pct-l] Side trips

[Jo]

From Mt thielsen I could see Mt. Shasta to the south in California  and mt. Adams to the north in Washington-- all the western states-- I was fortunate to have a clear day. It was probably the scariest climb I ever made. The guide book said " non technical climb" -- I should have paid more attention to the "climb" and less to the "non-technical" -- worth it? Absolutely! 
Jo
 ( more on this adventure at http://postholer.com/journal/viewJournal.php?sid=ce2b9ea2f9f4a19507275d55d422c918&entry_id=688)
South sister is a non-technical walk-up (albeit a cinder slog). The access trailhead is on the south side, an easy detour east from the PCT. Both North and Middle sister are true technical climbs due to rotten rock. You can forget those. Mt. Thielsen, just north of Crater Lake, has a PCT junction with its climbing trail. All but the last few meters are reportedly accessible without climbing gear. It is worth noting that Mt Thielsen is called "the lightening rod of the Cascades" for a very good reason. Watch the weather and be ready to retreat if skies darken. None of the other Cascade volcanoes are climbable (summitable) without technical gear. In the Goat Rocks Wilderness of WA, you have the option to take the old PCT high trail that goes up and over Old Snowy rather than the current PCT across the Packwood Glacier. The junction is shortly before you reach what's left of the old Yelverton Shelter on the PCT. 

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