First report on a route of this magnitude. I completed the Oregon Volcanic Skyline Route, which I had designed and submitted earlier this year, on July 19, 2025 after 12 days, 17 hours, and 12 minutes. It was a supported attempt.
The logistics took months. Route planning was complex due to the mountain climbs involved. There is no time of year when all of the mountains are considered at “prime climbing” time. Three required crampons, ice axe/tool (Hood, Jefferson, and North Sister) due to snow slopes ranging from 45 to 85 degrees. I used partners for protected climbing on specifically part of the traverse on Jefferson (we brought one rope, protecting from below the red saddle to an anchor created on the west side below the 5th class climb; we solo’d up a shale bench and then onto more steep snow before gaining the pinnacle rock climb popular on the west side above the chute), the crawl on Three Fingered Jack (I solo’d the chimney and summit proper), and the remaining patch of snow on North Sister’s traverse (one rope, solo’d the bowling alley and summit scramble).
I climbed with partners on Hood and Washington but solo’d these up and down. Thielsen was a climb alone. The rest of the peaks are class 1 (Mt Scott) to class 4 (north ridge of South Sister). South Sister’s north ridge was notable for the poorest rock quality rivaling only Mt. Hood, which I had never seen so melted out and late season.
The order of climbs was:
Hood (day 1)
Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack (day 3)
Washington (day 4)
Broken Top and Bachelor (day 5)
Maiden and Diamond peaks (day 7)
Thielsen (day 8)
Bailey (day 9)
Scott (day 10)
McLoughlin (day 12)
North, Middle, and South Sisters (day 13)
I had a crew comprised of crew “captains” who drove the support van and met me at trailheads, as well as packed and hiked out camping gear to me at times where the van couldn’t get out to me via road. I had climbing partners arranged who packed out camping, climbing, and resupply. The schedule was dictated somewhat at the northern end of the route by being strategically close to the base of climbs (Hood, Jefferson, North Sister) to be on the snow as early as possible and avoid the snow getting too soft; this and climbing partners’ schedules and permits dictated the pace of the route during the first 5 days.
Speaking of permits: multiple permits were required:
Mt. Hood climbing permit
Jefferson Wilderness (Breitenbush)
Jefferson Wilderness (Pamelia Lake - crew)
Mt. Washington Wilderness (self-issue day permit)
Three Sisters Wilderness (PCT north)
Three Sisters Wilderness (Obsidian- crew)
Crater Lake National Park (crew vehicle and individual on foot permits)
I was able to purchase the wilderness permits from Rec.gov on the rolling release basis 7 days prior to the dates needed; I also utilized a permit checked out of the public library which covered the Jefferson, Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness areas for day and overnight for up to 12 people. I highly recommend utilizing this resource as it is the most flexible option (and free).
I traveled North to South, with one section that I flipped ahead and came back to. Specifically, I left the trail at McKenzie Highway and flipped to Green Lakes to skip the 3 Sisters as I didn’t have a climbing partner until the 19th, and felt it was very necessary due to the snow traverse. In addition, many fires were popping up in southern Oregon and I wanted to expedite completion of that section. I returned to the McKenzie Highway on the afternoon of the 18th, getting out of the car on the same side I exited, crossing the road and hiking in to the base of North Sister. I completed the three sisters traverse, ending with my 40th summit of South Sister, via the north ridge, making it the 8th time south sister has been part of an FKT for me. It’s time to move on, I do think.
I descended into Green Lakes basin where a group of friends and family was waiting to camp with me. They accompanied me to the south end of the basin where I linked up with the trail I had hiked in previously to climb Broken Top, connecting the entire route as one solid line with 15 summits.
There are so many more details to share, many of which can and will continue to be shared via Instagram @emilyin.thewild . I am indebted to my crew, my gratitude is bottomless. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done by far, mentally as well as physically. It was insanely complex to combine running with technical climbing, day after day after day. Please feel free to contact me with questions, I am an open book and so hopeful that someone else will take this on.