Summary - Mount Beachie, on the edge of the Beachie Creek Lionshead burn, is hiked from a trailhead above Elk Lake. The fire burned over the top here, so it is a little desolate on top. 2M contacts, with a better-than-stock antenna, are possible. I did not turn on APRS. The trail is rough the whole way and by turns, steep, rocky, buggy, boggy, and overgrown.
Shady Trail
Buckles Mountain, ID | May 2024
This summit is a good pairing with Cedar Mountain (W7I/NP-119), though a bit of a long hike around 8 miles RT for both.
Cedar Mountain, ID | May 2024
This summit was a bit of a drive up from Highway 95. Turn east onto E Ohio Match Rd and follow until E Forest Service Rd 1552. This becomes gravel and then dirt and then rather rutted dirt. A car might be able to navigate the ruts with careful driving but a high clearance vehicle or 4x4 would be better. The upper portion of the road gets better. Park at (47.87615426731026, -116.63432109643475) and follow the spur road around to the summit. Hike is around 2 miles and 800' elevation OW. The spur road had a couple tank traps in it and appears to dwindl
Puffer Butte, WA | May 2024
1.3 mi, +513 feet
This is a super pleasant hike on nice trails. It would also be a great winter activation with skis or snowshoes. There is a very nice enclosed warming hut near the top (within the activation zone) with a wood stove and a picnic table.
Spence Mountain, OR | May 2024
The Spence Mountain Trail climbs about 1800 ft in 7 miles. Its not ever terribly steep but climbs steadily without much relief. There are plenty of gorgeous views to the South and West.
Quartzite Mt, WA | May 2024
Starting from State Highway 231 northbound towards Chewalah and turn right on Hafer Rd. The turn left on Cottonwood Creek Rd and then right on Horseshoe Lake Rd. Finally, there is a left turn on Mud Lake Rd. This is somewhat rough and I would not do it after a heavy rain. Alternatively, follow 231 into town and turn right on Flowery Trail Rd to the other end of Mud Lake Rd. In any case, you can park at the Quartzite Mt Trailhead. There are several spots available up and down the road.
1620, WA | March 2024
The weather this week was looking like it would be good, so I wanted to get in my March summit. I wanted to make it a challenge of some sort, so I decided to go for my first first activation. The Olympic Peninsula has a fair number of unactivated hills still, and a lot of them are on USFS land. I started exploring and found Peak 1620.
(New) Frog Lake Buttes, OR | NYE Dec 2023
Due to the recent relocation of Frog Lake Buttes from one butte to the other earlier this year, I was anxious to do another double activation on New Year's Eve. See my previous report for details on the route. The only difference is you must continue on from the radio towers down to the saddle and on up the other butte. Still very worth it for 14 pts.
Nineteen Mountain, WA | Nov 2023
Nineteen Mountain is one of several two-point summits accessible from Weyerhaeuser rec permit access gate 6110. For permit information see: https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com.
Windy Peak, OR | Nov 2023
A near drive-up summit in the Coast Range. From Highway 36 around Milepost 20, take BLM 17-8-31 Road, (Near 44.11999,-123.64626 and 17445 Oregon 36, Deadwood, Oregon).
Travel 4.2 miles on this Priusable gravel road and park when 0.2 miles from summit and walk up the road shown in the first photo. At the summit are remains of a fire lookout (see photos):
https://oregonlookouts.weebly.com/windy-peak.html