2 Sisters on Adventures

Carrie and Molly engage in a frank discussion regarding forest recovery post-fire in Oregon—specifically the fire that burned portions of the Three Sisters Wilderness 12 years prior. The sisters discuss how fire has affected not only hiking, but also plant life and soil health. Based on their experiences, they voice concern about the western forests’ ability to come back from severe wild fires. The sisters present a major consideration for this loop and find out if they are going to the LA 2028 Olympics! Molly recalls the complexity of digging a cat hole in a burn area and why the last few miles were extra tough.

Carrie and Molly welcome you to join the first half of their final day backpacking the Three Sisters Loop. They recount highs and lows of camping at Golden Lake. The sisters double down on packing out toilet paper. They discuss considerations when hiking through a burned zone. After crossing the West Fork of Park Creek, they make a harsh transition from forest to burn. The sisters highlight important water sources on the trail’s east side.

Molly and Carrie meet fellow three sisters loop hikers and discuss the fun of late starts and similar moon surprises. They travel to Moraine Lake and are shocked by the view. A discussion on the formation of moraine lakes ensues. Molly deals with discouragement on trail. They make it to Green Lakes and discuss the requirements for a perfect alpine swimming lake. They take in the evening views on their way to Golden Lake and remember the cardinal rule of trying new foods on trail. Explore the Three Sisters Wilderness with them!

Molly and Carrie complete the first half of their second day on the loop around Oregon’s Three Sisters. They review a new type of coffee they tried on trail and marvel in the volcanic scenery. They notice an interesting method of carrying supplies on trail and recount some of their favorite views that day.

Tune in next week for the second half of day two!

Carrie and Molly hit the trail hoping to put in a long day with an afternoon start. They discuss what it is like to hike through this volcanic region and cover water sources for northern portion of the loop. The sisters reflect on the beauty of the Obsidian Wilderness. Molly and Carrie reveal their tried and true first-day backpacking food hack. They enjoy alpineglow on the South Sister and night hiking by moonlight. A perfect ending to the perfect day on trail has to include a slice of cake, right?

In this replay episode originally released 7/1/2025, Carrie and Molly answer this question by delving into their experiences as new backpackers. They discuss their biggest barriers when transitioning from day hikers to backpackers. The girls talk about the five items they purchased to begin backpacking and the root of Molly’s biggest backpacking fear. They discuss how they prepared for their first backpacking trip and what pushed them to take that first trip. They discuss food storage, tips for new backpackers, and how they moved past one of their biggest backpacking fears.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the rest of this series by searching “How to Start Backpacking.”

Join Molly and Carrie as they select their next backpacking trip—the Three Sisters Loop. Hear about their considerations for selecting this trail and the best time to go. Their backpacking trip is nearly derailed on the way there—and will they go to the Olympics? Tune in for a series we’re excited to share!

Carrie and Molly make use of their last morning in the Beartooths by completing a small off trail mission to a high point near their campsite. They find a good lake for swimming, but must keep moving to avoid being a mosquito’s meal. They visit with a group riding horseback and find themselves in an unintentional foot race with horses. Who will win? The girls learn about an animal which had been near their camp the night before, unknown to them. The girls leave you with a song recommendation that boasts a 100% bear deterrent success rate. Enjoy Montana’s backcountry with us!

Carrie and Molly awake to a sunny morning on Montana’s beaten path. The morning is made even more delightful by pop tart surprisey time in a bug free zone. They make decisions about their route and describe a stunning lake along the trail. The sisters reflect on their appreciation of out and back trails and swim at Dewey Lake as clouds gather. At their camp site, they watch “ice bergs” float in fossil lake and experience a strange animal encounter.

Today on the podcast—we travel The Beaten Path in Montana and experience the wild and scenic rivers of this trail. We talk about conditions that keep us in versus out of our tents, creek crossings, beating back bugs, and the never ending beauty of the Beartooth Mountains.

Carrie and Molly pivot between options in Montana’s Beartooth range due to weather conditions. The sisters make the trek over Beartooth Pass and arrive at Clark’s Fork to take in the rugged beauty of the Beaten Path Trail. Everything is going great until the sisters realize they cannot outrun the hungry mosquitos inhabiting the high alpine lakes of the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness. Join us as we experience this beautiful and wild place!

Join Carrie and Molly on this replay episode from their 2024 series as they recap their 5th day on the Wonderland Trail. The more time goes by, the more the sisters look back at this being perhaps the best backpacking trip they’ve ever done!

The cool morning begins with Molly discovering an unpleasant surprise. The girls set out and are thankful to find a small water source before beginning a long, dry stretch of trail. The girls contemplate a “universal truth” which occurs whenever you haven’t seen a person a trail all day. They ascend into the clouds, facing some unfortunate realities when they get cell service. Forging on, the sisters admire the beauty of Indian Bar in the fall. Molly is reminded of the importance of paying attention to the trail, and is left with a bloody knee. That evening’s menu includes hot electrolytes and the return of Rachel’s fateful chocolate cheesecake.

If you enjoy this episode, search “Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier” for the full series.

On a beautiful morning at Colchuck Lake, Rachel notices something strange in the water. A goat wanders through camp, the trip back is easier for a surprising reason, upon arriving at the car, something unexpected awaits. Misadventures abound as members of the group try to make their flights. We wrap up the series in this episode you won’t want to miss!

Join Carrie and Molly as they awake at Colchuck Lake after a chilly night. Their group makes the trip up Asgaard pass, using a team oriented approach to tackling the grueling ascent. After a few false summits, they arrive at the top of the pass and are welcomed by one of the ambassadors of the enchantments core. They reflect on how different the core looks covered in snow, and the group must come to a decision on their day’s itinerary. Carrie and Molly discuss which is worse on Asgaard: ascending or descending.

The first night at Colchuck lake brings wild thunderstorms and the group wakes to find the mountains socked in. They take their time in the morning, enjoying Aeropress coffee and weighing their options. In the end, a statement from one member causes them to pivot to their backup hike for the day. The Stuart Lake trail brings them new trail characters and a new way to describe fallen trees via the “pilate ball theory.” Rachel experiments with Vienna sausages and creates a new rating system, the group becomes separated, and discovers that eating “garden fresh” food is not always as good as it sounds. Tune in to hear this and much more!

Carrie and Molly set off for Colchuck Lake with their group, navigating the elevation while offering grapes to all they meet. They notice something many day hikers need. Upon arriving at the lake, Molly learns why she doesn’t prefer to hike with two packs. The group rushes to find a suitable camp site as large rain drops fall.

Molly and Carrie agree they’ll join a friend backpacking the enchantments if she wins a permit—but when their friend ACTUALLY wins they must kick it into gear to experience their earliest season backpacking trip ever.

Carrie and Molly invite you to join this throwback episode, bringing you stories from their fifth day in Wyomong’s Wind River Range! You’ll hear a ballad which Carrie deems an instant classic, inspiring your very own theme song for the Winds. Revel in the incredible granite peaks for a phenomenal alpineglow while camping at Shadow Lake. Then—of course—the rain is back! Bringing lightning, thunder, and hail!

Molly and Carrie depart Sherman crater and begin ascending the Roman Wall. They discuss the conditions they experienced on the wall that day. The sisters reflect on the fun people they met while climbing. After the girls tag the summit, they begin the descent — remember, the summit is only the half way point! Molly doesn’t know which way is up. Carrie adjusts the route based on snow conditions. The sisters step off the glacier and experience the best rest break. As they return to the trailhead, Molly experiences a struggle. Carrie and Molly provide final reflections on their Mount Baker climb.

Carrie and Molly gear up for an early start on the mountain. They reveal the specific formula they use for their pace to assess their start time. They cover their preferred breakfast for an alpine start and what they would have done differently to set themselves up for a more successful start to their climb. They enjoy a full moon as they communicate and cross crevasses. They discuss the joys of being passed by 10 men and realize that setting the track was actually more draining than they had realized. They reach the Sherman Crater and revel in the beauty of Mount Baker as they prepare to undertake the last obstacle to the summit of Mount Baker—the Roman Wall.