The Cedar Creek Fire is threatening the Waldo Mtn Lookout. The Middle Fork District (Willamette Nat'l Forest) wrap the lookout with a fire-resistant laminate foil. Hopefully the lookout escapes the nearby fire...
Pretty cool video of the wrap process: https://fb.watch/eNAnhAXa1-/
Please follow K7ATN's previous report for directions to this summit.
In 2022 the tower lookout is Michelle who has been there for 8 seasons. Very friendly and ham-radio accomodating. Like other fire tower operators, announce yourself so Michelle knows you are there. There is a public port-a-potty and a picnic table that can be used. With permission, i hung one end of my EFHW from the tower structure, actually my rope supporting the EFHW.
Great Vistas from the Termination Point summit!
Termination Point was the site of a now abandoned FS Lookout. Kreske's book says it was built in the 1930s but later abandoned. The view of Adams, Rainier, and St Helens are majestic and with a little hike to the south, Mt Hood. The summit is small, about 20' x 20' but with steep dropoffs to the east - great RF takeoff angles.
Follow other blog entries for accurate directions to the access road. The first gate at FS60 road is gone, at least destroyed. A second gate about a mile in was also open but might be locked later in the season.
Normally, from FS60, this is a 3.3 mi/ 1600 ft elev gain hike but I was able to drive to with 1/2 mi of the summit where I hit snow drifts covering the road. I would expect these to melt out over the next 3-4 weeks or so, making the summit potentially a drive-up where parking would be available.
FS6801 Rd is not obscure to find and clear of windfall until about 1 mi. in. Directions to FS6801 are available by other blog entries. Going east on FS60, if you get to the PCT, you've gone too far.
From where I parked (see map below), it was a 2.75 mi road hike. Even if the windfall logs (4 of them) were cleared, the maple, alder, and doug fir are growing into the road space, meaning a few scratches on vehicles. The road ends at a turn-around location with great views of Mt. Hood to the south. There was a 1000 ft elev gain for this track.
Great location and good access from FS Rd 33- Agnes Rd. Road paved for several miles then a wide, well-maintained gravel road. Ample parking across from the road gate. Easy 1/2-mi hike to the summit. Old fire lookout is decommissioned but easy to hang one end of your EFHW and sit at the picnic table. 360-deg view from the bald summit.
Silver Star Mtn in southwest WA has incredible views of Portland and Vancouver, including the 5 major peaks. On a clear day, you can easily see Saddle Mountain in the coast range.
See my trip report on the Wash Trails Assoc website, including my .gpx track. I came in from the west from Rock Creek Camp. Great 2wd road, good parking and a 2.0 mile hike to the summit. Much, much better than the Sunset Falls north access road.
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.