My wife and I had been coming up to Oregon for Hood to Coast for a couple years and in 2022, we came a week early to celebrate our anniversary. She had done the Six-Pack of Peaks in California and so planned a hike up South Sister during our stay. It was EPIC! The change of biomes and trail conditions, in addition to 25lb packs, made this hike the most challenging I have done so far. But the experience was worth it. It took us all day to get to the top just before the sun was starting its decent. I found a suitable windbreak on the east side of the summit so we would have a nice view of sunrise in the morning. Wife heated up our small dinner and we shared a Wanderlust IPA. I was happy to find 3 small logs that a previous camper was unable to use, so put my boyscout skills to work. It was cold and windy as hell, but we were exhausted, so had no issues sleeping. The next morning, after breaking down our camp, we spent the morning greeting hikers on their way up as we headed back down. Feeling famished, exhausted and triumphant, we drove to Deshutes Public House in Bend for a hearty lunch…might have been the best burger I ever ate!