Forested Summit

In the last few years, I've developed a desire to activate the top 10 summits in the
Willamette Valley region. Miller Mountain is in that list but I've put it off because
its so far from the valley. Its located in south-central Oregon, closest to the town
of Chemult. I guess the placement algorithm treated it like a lost sock that you can't
throw away but you're not sure where to put it.

My approach to Miller Mt. was to take US Hwy 97 south towards Chemult, Oregon. About
0.5 mile north of Chemult, FS 9772 heads west. This road is also marked "Walt Haring

Access Info:  There may be other routes for this summit but I choose to park at the Stavebolt Creek gate off Logan Rd.  Gated parking for about 4 cars at 46.0828, -123.8339.  

The hike on good logging roads is about 3.5 miles to 46.0724, -123.8095.  Then a well-traveled game trail begins a bushwhack of about 200 vertical feet to the summit.  The AZ is all undergrowth with no real clear areas.  Ugly, really.

Here's another summit in the Diamond Lake area to activate if you have a few hours to spare - it's a short hike, but there's no trail. And note that there are three Oregon summits with this same name.

Bates Point (Peak 2360) is a drive-up summit in the Coast Range of Oregon - specifically in the Tillamook State Forest. Roads in the Tillamook Forest are usually good - however the signage and documentation are remarkably poor. What's on the ground doesn't necessarily match your GPS map or what in Google Earth and vice versa.

Ben Smith (Peak 2592) is a summit with a short but steep hike in the Coast Range of Oregon - specifically in the Tillamook State Forest. Roads in the Tillamook Forest are usually good - however the signage and documentation are remarkably poor. What's on the ground doesn't necessarily match your GPS map or what in Google Earth and vice versa.

This is an easy drive up 6 pointer. Take highway 58 east then turn off on Cascade lakes National Scenic Byway. After a few miles turn left on NF-4672(Royce Mountain Loop) 43.5499 -121.8594. Continue for 4.5 miles then turn right at 43.5172 -121.91358. The last portion of this road is rough and would recommend SUV's only to make the summit. Once at the end of the road the true summit is roughly 200 ft. which is where I operated from. End of the road is still within the activation zone.

During my first activation of Sunset Mountain (2015), I spied Peak 7460 down the Hungarian Ridge trail leading from the summit of Sunset Peak.  An out and back activation was realized in 2016.  It didn't see like it was going to be a big deal hiking down from Sunset peak and then back up to Peak 7460, but it turned out to be quite the effort!  6.2 miles round trip and 2410ft of climbing. 

This is an easy summit to get to. Can get there from Falls City but its is easier to come in from highway 410 near Logsden. Use Big Rock Creek Road to access. This is also on private timber land and is closed during fire season. I will upload a google track in the download section for help. The name came from the summit area. The summit is in dense forest and during activation Mosqutio's were horrible and we forgot repellent. Needless to say we were in a hurry to collect chasers. Thanks to all the chasers that came to my aid.

I decided to activate this one after looking at it for a long time. This peak is somewhat out of the way on timber company land. Roads are normally open except during fire season. After activating, I decided I wanted to name this peak after a ham that recently became a silent key. Bob Boswell, W7LOU, was an inspriation to new and old hams. He was an elmer to many inculding myself. He also was the founder of the R.O.A.D's group(Radio Operators Association of Dallas) in Dallas , Or. He will be missed by many.

Githens Mountain in the Clackamas River drainage is a short, one mile hike and only about 500 feet of gain. It can be activated along with nearby Tumala (Squaw) Mountain from the same trailhead. Finding the summit may require a GPS, as it's not on the trail and isn't particularly distinct.