Blogs

This summit is a horrible bushwhack, and like many of the summits in this part of the Gifford Pinchot, it's barely worth the points considering the effort it takes to climb it. It's steep and brushy and about the only nice thing I can say about it is there's no devil's club to contend with. You would think, upon finally obtaining the activation zone, that the return trip would be easier, but it is not. It's worse because you can't see where you're putting your feet. 

Per WW7D there are numerous ways to get to Ski Acres Hill, including walking up the ski slopes. The ski area is open to hikers in the summer.  

The "back way" from Hyak involves navigating some gnarly FS roads and does not involve going on any private property. The PCT also passes 1/3 of a mile (and 1000' gain) to the west of the summit. One could take the PCT and bushwhack up to the summit.

https://w7mtb.blog/2025/08/03/shukash-butte-first-activation-august-2025/

Sawtooth is a glorious peak; nice hik

There is a SW “short cut” for Huffman peak by taking the well maintained logging roads in Washington

Here is a shortcut to Big Huckleberry relative to that described here: http://www.pnwsota.org/node/371

Howlock Mountain had caught my eye during the 2023 W7O Campout. It was an unactivated summit off trail north of Thielsen and south of Tipsoo. For 2025, Adam K6ARK and Mark KD7DTS proposed doing the ridge traverse from Tipsoo (W7O/CS-195). After some VHF shenanigans on Tipsoo, we backtracked on the trail briefly before leaving it and descending south. 

4460 (2-point summit) is one of a cluster of summits south of Oakridge, OR in the Willamette National Forest. This summit is a short bushwhack/hike off of an "OK" road, but route selection to the top will likely affect your enjoyment.

Timbered Knoll (2-point summit) is one of a cluster of summits south of Oakridge, OR in the Willamette National Forest. This summit is a short bushwhack/hike off of well maintained road, but route selection to the top will likely affect your enjoyment. It can be combined with Holland Point and 4460 pretty easily in a single day.