I just noticed I never did summaries for some of my first summits especially if they had a previous review so with the 2022 campout coming soon I am trying to catch up on some. Mt Ashland is an easy, popular summit. Outstanding 360 view of NCA to CLNP rim to Josephine Co. Cool boulder stacks too. You can drive to the dome on the summit if you wish. Just go a little ways past the Mt Ashland campground and you will see the road on the right with a not so visible sign (it is on a tall post since it is used during deep snow). The AZ starts basically at the bottom of the final bit of driveway up to dome and lifts. Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting WJ7WJ and Mary Ann at Mt. Ashland. The road up to the top from RD 20 was the best I have ever seen it. They upgraded to gravel, which I think is new, used to be just dirt/natural rock.
With my MTR3B and trapped ef, I experienced some rfi from the equipment but was able to work around it. One interesting thing was my cell service was poor. The service was very intermittant. Good when it was on but would kick me off frequently. I also was unable to receive on 2m very easily with my HT. I had friends that could hear me in KF and Montague but I could not hear them. I had to try hard just to get a s2s with Bill on neighboring Mcdonald Peak.
You can easily do Mt A and MCDonald in the same day. If feeling adventurous, keep going to Big Red or Wagner (long hike on Wagner), and/or Dutchman. All the same ridge of the Siskiyou Crest, and all treks less than 2mi RT other than Wagner. Pics from 2022 and 2019
de AG7GP
RD 20 is gated past lodge area during winter months. Usually opens beginning of June.
