NC-078 is in the middle of the Tillamook State Forest, far enough away from Portland to be a hassle, but close enough to the city of Tillamook that it's a pretty easy activate if you are already out on the coast. It's in the same neighborhood of the Kilchis River as NC-103 or Stanley Peak.
Drive on hwy from Portland: approx 50 miles, 1 hour
Drive on forest roads: 8 miles
Hike: 1/2 mile, 250 ft gain
My wife and I volunteered to help with the Volcanic 50K on Saturday at Butte Camp. It had been a few years since we climbed Mt St Helens, so we decided that would be a fun add on to the trip. I searched for alternative routes to Monitor Ridge and found a few references to an ascent from Butte Camp.
I did Eagle Rock late in the afternoon after both Ball and Willow Creek. It is basically a drive up. I am not sure on the accuracy of the elevation/topo for this mountain. I climbed through the buckbrush onto the high rocks where a lookout is collapsed into rumble and don't think I got above 6955'. Not a good place to activate on top. I just dropped down a bit into the AZ to activate using my best judgement. It was <1/4 mi hike from where we parked near 41.87825, -122.24398.
I did Willow after Ball. It is a trek up through the timber, navigating up a ridge around the lava rock and trees. Not bad at all. See my tracks. On top it is a little tight to set up because of the steepness and rock and brush but very doable in the AZ.
It had been 4 years since I went down to do Ball Mt and I'm not sure why I don't get down here more. Ball is a great <2mi RT hike on a gated lookout road. I love the lookout on Ball. There are great views with ample space and choice of location in the AZ, exposed around LO or go down into the trees a little. Each time I have gone I have also done Willow Creek Mt and this trip added Eagle Rock also. All can be done in a day if you plan accordingly.
Didn't activate but rode up on my motorcycle to see how passable the road is since the last report was quite old. The road is good most of the way, but it does have ruts in a couple of spots that would be difficult to navigate if in a low clearance vehicle. The last 1/4-1/2 mile is not drivable in anything but a very capabable 4x4 and would require an OHV permit as it is part of the Edison Butte OHV Trail #3. There is a tree down across part of the road here, and a good wide spot to park and walk from here up to the shelter or on to the summit.
Summary - Peak 4020 and Aurora Mountain, southwest of Mount Saint Helens (near Ape Cave), are easily accessible by 2WD. I did them as a seven mile RT traverse hike (two thousand feet of up) with a couple of short cross country sections. The summits are forested but the views of Goat Mountain and Mount Saint Helens along the way are terrific. From Portland, plan on spending roughly four hours round trip driving on good roads, have a backup plan if two meter contacts are sparse, and bring bug juice for Aurora. This is a fine hike and two peak activation.
Summary - The hike (at least from the north) through the burn area is a sufferfest of deep, continuous treefall, exposure, and route finding. The trail is mostly gone and you must have a GPS and map or be very good with compass and map to avoid missing several crucial turns. As with most summits in this area, plan on HF to activate unless you know there are other SOTA ops in the area. Bottom line: skip this one, at least from the northern trailhead.
In the past (and for a prior writeup), this summit was off-limits as part of a leased club parcel. Maybe Weyerhaueser couldn't find any clubs to lease it, or just changed their mind about how they wanted to manage the land, but it has ceased as a lease and become open to public access. It's a bit of a drive for one point, but a unique nonetheless.
Fox Butte is an easy activation IF you are equipped with HF. I wouldn't rely on 2M unless maybe you bring a yagi to help get your signal to Bend. The roads are in much better than expected shape, and other that the fact that it is a long drive, it was quite pleasant and any passenger car can make the trip.
Full report here