In a normal year, this would be an easy 4-point drive-up. Driving access is via Forest Road 8303 (Ape Cave Rd.), 8303340, and 8303341. From the end of 8303341 the summit is ~500' to the NW, where the trail ducks off the ridgeline you would just continue straight to the summit.
A storm in recent years has washed out a section of FR 8312 just beyond the Marble Mountain Snowpark. At the edge of the parking lot, where the road begins, the Forest Service has placed several jersey barriers and a locked gate. It appears that there are no plans to repair this section of the road. The only other access to Marble Mountain is from the south, via timber lands owned by Pope Resources / Rayonier. All of the access roads from the south are gated and open only for logging activity, or the few residents that live in the middle of the timber land.
Spencer Butte is the site of a former fire lookout in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, just north of the town of Northwoods. At the time of my attempt, the simplest access is to go north on FR 25, turn onto FR93 (if you go through the winter gates on 25, you just missed it), and follow 93 to the trailhead. This route is mostly paved, just a short section of gravel from the Muddy River up to the junction with road 9039.
I referenced K7ATN's blog post from a couple years ago and found some revised signage, new road clearing efforts and noted some additional GPS turn coordinates. Here is an updated trip report for Monte Cristo HP in the Trout Lake area of WA. And here's the previous trip report: http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7atn/2018-november-16/monte-cristo-hp-wa-nov-2018.
After two previous attempts I finally made my first SOTA Contacts.
I have to say, this was a fun hike, it's really my style. It is truly a bushwhack hike, there is no trail, and you will not be afforded a road or any kind of guide. A GPS waypoint of the peak is absolutely necessary, and even that won't help you at points from getting into trouble with really dense, thick undergrowth. Be prepared to climb over and through stands of pine trees, manzanita, and deadfall. This area is littered with old logging roads, which have given rise to dense thick stands of 1" pine trees 6 inches apart. The path you will likely take crosses t
In March 2019, I nearly reached the summit of Stimson before turning around when it started hailing Was still newer to SOTA, and in hindsight almost wished I waited the weather out and activated the summit.
In March 2020, planned to activate again and there is a new sign located at primary access gate (Firegate #13) located just off "N Cedarvale Loop Rd" and SW of the summit. There is now a "Do Not Enter", "Private Road", "No access to state trustland through private property" sign.
I have to say, this summit is now at the top of my list. I went expecting an easy drive to 8 pt summit, but there was still about 3-5 ft deep snow drifts about 1 mile before summiting, but boy was the hike nice. The view is incredible. You can see just about all the regional highlights, snowy side of Mt. McLauglin with Fourmile Lake at its base right beside you, Crater Lake Rim, Thielson, Shasta, Upper Klamath Lake, Siskiyou Crest, Red Buttes, Aspen Butte, some big ones west of Crater Lake I did not get the name for, lava flows, and natural lakes.
On my way home from activating Pelican Butte I took a detour to see if Rye Spur was accessible for a future date. Take the turn towards Fourmile Lake (FS RD 3661) off of 140 the turn right on FS RD 360, then right FS RD 363. It turned out we were able to drive the FS RD 363 pretty close to the summit and chose to hike the short walk up and do a very quick activation. It was probably about a half mile up with a gradual, easy ascent. The last of the road going in is very tight and a bit rough. It dead ends at a good turn around with fire pit.
Granite Peak is a picturesque summit with huge granite boulders with interesting eroded patterns. It is a great operating location with outstanding views of the Great Burn of 1910. The trail is easy to follow and in-season wanders through some good huckleberry patches.