The Best Hike is the One That Doesn't Kill You

As the temperature finally starts to cool down, our favorite time of the year to hike is warming up! We were lucky enough to score permits in the Three Sisters Wilderness this past weekend for an adventure to Broken Hand via the Tam McArthur Rim Trail—and it was nothing short of spectacular.

And so it begins.....

Loaded with bug spray,

sandwiches, and our new foam seat pads (because all the cool kids are sporting them for summit lunch breaks), we set out for the trailhead. As per the norm, Ty drove his WRX like a racecar on the dirt road, dodging potholes and ruts like the crazy man he is. Miraculously, we arrived without incident and launched into our 10+ mile hike.

The trail itself began alongside Little Three Creek Lake, where we watched fishermen out on the water, hoping to catch a little dinner. It was a steady, beautiful climb with varied terrain — one minute you're in the middle of a peaceful forest, the next you're surrounded by dirt and rocks. The day was ridiculously perfect: warm sunshine and a clear sky for miles.

A quick break to soak in the view above Little Three Creek Lake.

The Shortcut of Shame (A.K.A. My Near-Death Experience)

Things were going smoothly, one might think too smoothly, until we began the final approach to Broken Hand. Here, a fork in the trail gave us two clear options — to the right, a gentle path looked like a short spur for a quick view, while directly in front of us, a path shot straight up and looked like the real, direct route. We consulted our Garmins, checked our egos, and confidently chose the logical path... toward the peak.

The fork where it all went wrong.

Well, that "logical path" was by far the more gutsy (read: dangerous) option. We quickly realized that the gentle path we had dismissed had actually been the real trail. Unfortunately for me, that revelation came about 10 minutes too late.

We soon found ourselves climbing toward the transition line, where the solid, jagged bedrock meets a treacherous pile of loose, unstable rock known as a scree slope. My best guess is that that someone, somewhere, decided that saving ten minutes by skirting along this very thin path of doom was worth their life (or at least mine).

Still thinking this was the official trail, we dove in. We quickly found ourselves perched precariously on a ridiculously steep slope of unstable lava rock. Ty, of course, was bounding across the thing like a sure-footed mountain goat, completely unbothered. His only worry was me, and that worry was legit.

Taken on the trek back, from the much friendlier trail below. Our little path of doom was right along the line of the deep red - the color of my terror!

I found myself at a crisis point. It was like rock climbing, where every foot placement is critical, and I was officially stuck. The next needed step was a tiny ledge, and the foot I needed to step with was in the wrong spot. Every movement felt like one little slip could send me tumbling into the abyss. I thought, "This is it. This is how my adventure blog ends."

I was so terrified of sliding down that slope I literally gripped onto the rock wall next to me. The lava — sharp and unforgiving — happily sliced up my fingertips. I started to sweat, my breathing sped up, and my poor little heart was racing. I was stressed! By some miracle, I scrambled off that terrifying stretch, slightly bloodied but otherwise intact. Ty breathed a huge sigh of relief, and we immediately made the decision to take the non-mountain-goat trail back!

Worth Every Slice: The View from the Top

After that little adrenaline spike, the final push felt like a gentle stroll. We were treated to a full 360-degree panorama of every gorgeous mountain you could imagine. Below us, the impossible turquoise of No Name Lake shimmered beneath the dramatic colors of Broken Top. The air was a sharp contrast to the warm ascent; the summit of Broken Hand was cold and wonderfully breezy, a perfect reminder that we were standing on top of the world. Shivering slightly, with our hearts finally slowing down, we pulled out those cool-kid seat pads and windbreakers to soak it all in.

Broken Top and No Name Lake (yes, that's actually the name)

Our lunch spot was still a bit precarious, but the two guys parked there immediately made room for us to join. We had great conversation, chatting about the cool things they had experienced on their multi-day backpacking trip. Though they were much younger than us, we became fast friends over lunch.

Lunch with a view!

It was a welcome reminder of how easy it is to be good to each other. When you spend all week watching news headlines filled with division, hostility, and anger, you forget what genuine, simple connection feels like. Yet, here on the trail, it was the default.

We celebrated another amazing adventure at Three Creeks Brewing in Sisters. Maybe it was because we had just hiked 10 miles, or maybe there was still some extra adrenaline lingering, but Ty’s IPA and my chocolate porter were the best beers ever!

Three Creeks Brewing - good beer and good vibes!

Even with the fabulous views, the near-death experience, and the great beer, the best part of our day was the people we encountered on the trail. We didn’t pass one single person who wasn’t positive and friendly.

And isn't that what it’s really all about? Getting out, unplugging from the fight, and finding the better version of America — the one where we're all rooting for each other to make it to the top.

Until next time, cheers! To finding ways to connect with nature and people, every single day! ❤️