Onion Mountain is a relatively easy trip for the traveler to Southern Oregon who wants to do a little SOTA while visiting. It's close to Grants Pass, has a fairly good road, and only requires a mile or so of hiking. To boot, it offers great views.
Well, so much for trying to get on Scott Mountain on my birthday! It started to rain yesterday (Saturday), and it rained with a vengeance all night last night. Also, the fog first covered the mountain and then the Tenas lakes, where we were camped. This morning it was very evident that there was no way we were going to try to summit. How ironic--last year we summited and had no QSOs, and this year we were well advertised and had no summit!
This is a GPS-required hike in order to return safely to your parked vehicle. This is a treed, non-descript summit. You can get within 1/2-mile on FR2505 then it's a bushwhack to the summit AZ. I parked at the rusted gate just before FR2505 becomes quite narrow. I followed the narrow road up for about 1/4-mile until it ended, then marked a waypoint and started the final 1/4-mile bushwhack to the summit. There is a decent forest road that leads the summit but couldn't determine where that road leads coming down from the summit.
Burley Mtn is a drive-up to an open fire lookout with expansive views of Rainier, St. Helens, and Mt Adams. You can stay overnight at the lookout on a first-come basis. But bring some sheets as the two beds and mattresses are grundgy. There is a wood stove for heat so also bring some firewood to take the morning chill off. This is an exposed area so it can be quite windy. There is a picnic bench and some trees for your antennas. Best terrain takeoffs are to the east and south...a radio repeator tower is on the west side of the peak.
Plan a clear day for this trip since the mountain views (St Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt Hood, Mt Rainier) are spectacular from the summit area. The views of the Mt St Helens north crater and blast zone are iconic. This hike should be on the "must do" list in order to gain insight into the blast and destruction caused by the 1980 eruption.
Pansy Mountain is a challenging activation with a steep cross-country approach for the last half mile. Be sure to use a GPS or have a fantastic sense of direction so you can find you way BACK to the trail.
[Left this in draft form too long, time to attach pictures and publish]
After a failed summit attempt the previous day, I was able to summit Buzzard Butte and make an activation. Although I was only able to make 2 contacts, I enjoyed the activity (first activation for this summit!) and look forward to future activations.
Chelan Crest SOTA Outing July 23-25, 2016 – Part 3. See separate report on PNWSOTA website with background on outing and day 1 description. The total trip was approximately 25 miles RT, with approximately 7,000 feet elevation gain, including ups and downs in between the various peaks. This is report 3 of 4, "Olivia Mountain". On maps, this summit is shown as Point 7,492 (feet), lying about 1.06 miles SE of the Big Boy of the neighborhood - Pyramid Mountain. I suspect "Olivia Mountain" is the SOTA name for the peak. We Activated "Olivia Mountain" on the same day as Graham Mountain.
You can get to Mt. McLoughlin by taking OR 140 west from Klamath Falls for about
36 miles. Turn right onto FS 3650, which is also the turn for the SnoPark. The
trailhead is up this road 2.4 miles and is well marked and has a toilet. FS 3650
is also about 0.5 miles west of MP 33 on OR 140.
The round-trip distance to the summit and back is 11 miles. The first few miles
are through very pretty forest. The gentle trail gradually then more abruptly
becomes quite rocky and rugged. It took me 4 hours, 40 minutes, all stops included,
I just wanted to add a few things to K7ATN's great write up about Hogback Mountain.
This hike is initially quite steep with about 1800 feet of elevation gained
in a short distance (<2mi?). There are dozens of informal trails up the ridge
that I saw. As such, there are an abundance of loose rock and eroding soil.
Its a shame that nobody has taken the initiative to put up a proper trail as
this area gets lots of visitors.
I went up directly from the spot K7ATN shows in the church parking lot. I