Good Views From Summit

I went a different route than K7ATN and drove past the Crooked Creek TH and camp spot on 3615 (which by the way looks like a great spot to camp if not occupied), and drove up 3615-189 on the right. It did require a tight, high clearance trek up the road and moving one log. If you don't make it to the end of the road you may add about 1-2 miles to you trek but it isn't too bad since it is old road. I chose to hike up from the deadend of RD 189 somewhat east eventually making it to the more gradual NW ridge of the mountain and activated from the north peak that is in the AZ.

This was the first summit we did at the start of our 5 night camping trip, combining SOTA and CQP throughout the week. We camped just below the summit on road 3615-011. It was a beautiful drive in across a very large meadow then into the timber. From 3615-011 turn left on RD 208 and it is up to your vehicle how far you can make it up. We parked about 42.29882, -120.25346. Easy trek up an old road then a short final climb off track. Only about .75 mi RT. Great views of east through the timber, a little bit harder to see other directions.

Summary - Getting to the top of Elk Mountain, on Weyerhauser land west of Mount Saint Helens, is a either a steep two mile hike on an abandoned forest road or mostly a drive up with a short climb. It is the highest of a group of three summits about two hours from SE Portland. The summit is a nice operating position with views, a concrete communication shed, the remains of a lookout tower, and a hunk of airplane that crashed there years ago. Don't count on two meters to make your four QSOs, cell phone service is very marginal, and APRS pings get picked up.

Summary - 3387 is a drive up on Weyerhauser land west of Mount Saint Helens and a two hour drive from SE Portland. The summit is treeless and has a great view of Goat Mountain and Mount Saint Helen. Don't count on two meters to make your four QSOs, cell phone service is marginal at best, APRS two way works. Overall, a nice place for a longer activation and can be part of a three or four summit day with careful planning.

I accessed Johnstone Peak via trail 7121 just southeast of Ketchum. The trailhead begins at 6,528 feet and climbs for approximately 3-miles to a saddle at 8,628-feet (2,236-foot ascent – includes some undulating trail terrain). The trail is well maintained and a comfortable climb to the saddle where you leave the trail to begin the .80 mile / 1,337-foot ascent to the summit. This bushwhack climb is not for the faint of heart.

  Located approximately 50 miles South of Pocatello Idaho. Take the Downey Idaho exit from I-15 . Head south on Highway 91 which takes you through Downey. Turn right onto the old highway 191 (old Malad Hwy). Watch for Cherry Creek road which will be on your left and takes you to the Cherry Creek Campground/Trailhead. 

This is a short but steep hike between Dayville and Mt. Vernon Oregon. Mileage is 4.5 round trip and elevation gain is 1850 ft. Starting point is the McClellan Mountain Trailhead, located at 44.3219, -119.2659.

Directions to the trailhead are on the FS website here:

Monte Carlo is a nice trail to an open summit near Underwood, WA. This appears to be the shortest and easiest way to Monte Carlo - a hike of less than a mile and about 800 feet gain. 

Thatcher Hill is located in the Portneuf Mountain Range just south of Lava Hot Springs.  Access is off Hwy 34 south of Thatcher, Idaho. The road to access the summit is extremely difficult.  There were deep mud puddles, exposed watermelon sized rocks to negotiate and rock gardens suitable for only 4wd high clearance vehicles. I was mentally exhausted from driving on the road and decided to park the Jeep (42.39139, -111.84305) and hike along the road.

While the road up is rough, Kings Mountain is a great summit to setup and hang out for the afternoon near Usk, Washington. Take the road up from the Skookum Lake C.G. area, about 2 1/2 miles. The road could be a MTB ride as well; 4WD recommended due to erosion and rocks. There's room to park one or two vehicles at the top, plus a small area to turn around. Plenty of large trees for a arborist's throw line to rig your antenna.