Three Sisters Backcountry is Making Cascades Magic

Put down that beat-up Harry Potter paperback. With the right guidance, the forests of Central Oregon can put a spell on you, no wands or wizard hats required.

Just ask Three Sisters Backcountry about the “magic that exists” at their two mountain yurts. They’re located at the base of what the outdoor recreation company calls a “magical wrinkle in the land” – Tam McArthur Rim, a cliff feature near the dramatically eroded volcano Broken Top, a few miles east of the company’s namesake peaks.

The heated yurts – nicknamed Owl and Raven – were built by hand close to 20 years ago in west Bend by Shane Fox and Jonas Tarlen, and have hosted countless skiers since. This year will be Three Sisters Backcountry’s 17th season operating the facilities.

In 2015, the company added two Nordic huts as lodging options; plus, the huts are part of a skiing adventure they offer to customers. The Skyline Hut to Hut Ski Traverse is a three-day experience that takes participants past scenic views in the Deschutes National Forest, and through some of its gnarliest powder.

Tarlen and his wife Anna consider themselves to be “the luckiest folks on Earth” to have managed the yurts for years “up in the snow with such a beautiful array of people,” and to have “poured all the passion we could muster into this special place.” But, they said, “To keep pace and continue elevating our tradition of backcountry skiing, we felt it was time to pass the torch to some new blood.”

That’s where another married couple, outdoors enthusiasts Syver and Lisa Pearson, came into the equation. The Tarlens will still operate the Nordic huts and the Traverse experience, but the Pearsons (plus their dog Ursa) are now the owners and “stewards” of the Tam Rim yurts, which include:

Maps and photos of local terrain
Current avalanche forecast reports by the Central Oregon Avalanche Center
A Forest Service outhouse
Kitchens stocked with three-burner cast iron cook-stoves, cast iron pans, dishes, utensils, cookware, french press and firewood for the stove
A running freshwater spring 500 feet up the hill
A woodstove sauna shared by both yurts
A big shared outdoor fire pit
Custom woodwork and welding, new additions every year
A snowmobile shuttle ride about 6 miles and 1,100 feet up from Three Creek Sno Park into the yurts with all gear transported on welded sleighs

An unsure meteorological future won’t stop Three Sisters Backcountry. “With or without snow, the yurts offer an amazing getaway,” reads a company statement provided to the Source. “Snowpack is variable year to year. We hope to offer yurt stays in the shoulder seasons as opportunities for friends and families to get out into the wilderness… We are excited about what the future has in store.”

“Lisa and I are incredibly excited and grateful to carry on the torch and traditions of Three Sisters Backcountry,” said Syver Pearson. “We look forward to hosting everyone and continuing to foster folks getting into spectacular backcountry terrain; whether just for the pure joy of disconnecting and sharing a memorable time, or educating our community through avalanche courses. We have some exciting ideas we will be putting in the works, including Intro to Backcountry courses, Yoga & Wellness retreats, and Wilderness Medicine refresher courses on skis.”

Pearson concluded, “Three Sisters Backcountry has been in close partnership with the Central Oregon Avalanche Center in continuing to build community and safety in the backcountry. We look forward to collaborating with more school groups and non-profits.”

This article appears in the Source December 11, 2025.