We hiked 3+ miles up to Moraine Lake where we set up camp in view of the next day's journey up and up to the summit of South Sister.  Our campsite was spectacular and Moraine Lake was a delight!  We headed up early the next morning (no, not the 2 a.m. sunrise seeker ascent) and most of our hike was in the shade.  Lewis Lake was stunning.  Although the long slog had already begun before reaching Lewis, it definitely continued quite steeply after that for the remaining mile to the brink of the top.  I was led to believe that it was going to be like walking up a sand dune at this part… you know, two steps up and slide back a step… but actually that was not a good analogy.  Yes, it was scrabbly, pebbly and steep but no major backsliding. The day remained clear and virtually not windy at all.  Smoke from other fires was visible in the distance but stayed away for the entirety of our hike.  Once we made it to the top, we hiked the loop around to the high point.  For three of us, this was our first ascent up S. Sister.  One had been up twice before in the past 15 years and she commented on how the route up the final mile used to be an actual route with wider traverses before each switchback; she was appalled by the overrun network of scrabbly trails.  Yet, we had a great adventure and it was made even better by descending only as far as Moraine Lake for a celebratory swim and evening of freeze dried meals with a view of South Sister.  We celebrated a second time at a favorite bakery in Bend the next morning.