Blogs

Today was to be my second activation of Mount Maria just north of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho.  A different, more direct route up the south ridge was planned.

Summary - Red Mountain is an easy two mile, 1400 foot climb from the gate to the summit along a poorly maintained road. There is a lookout tower and a couple of VHF/UHF installations on the open summit. The views are amazing! FSR6048, the road to the summit, is in poor condition but passable with 4WD and clearance. The gate location shown on the USFS maps is incorrect, it is actually at 45.920, -121.824. There is only room for one vehicle near the gate.

17.6 miles; + 5,900 feet; -1,900 feet; From the TH near Gibson Dam

Aschoff Buttes is located within the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit (BRWMU) and is restricted to the general public by federal law. Locked gates are at all road entry locations. Authorized access is required to enter. The BRWMU is patrolled by Portland Water Bureau security personnel. Electronic surveillance is used to keep an eye on things.

The City of Portland offers guided tours June through October. Unfortunately, none of the tours include any of the SOTA summits.

Bear Mountain is an easy hike with a reasonable approach. The hike is about a 4 mile round trip with around 800 feet of elevation gain.

Hickman Butte is located within the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit (BRWMU) and is restricted to the general public by federal law. Locked gates are at all road entry locations. Authorized access is required to enter. The BRWMU is patrolled by Portland Water Bureau security personnel. Electronic surveillance is used to keep an eye on things.

The City of Portland offers guided tours June through October. Unfortunately, none of the tours include any of the SOTA summits.

Despite many past descriptions on the Internet of access to the summit of Grayback Mountain on foot or by bike, as of Spring 2021 private property rights are being enforced and the route is posted "No Trespassing" in multiple places.

This Wildcat Mountain is the one south of Mt. Hood and is just an hour east of Portland, reachable on a paved road. The 2 mile (OW) trail is pleasant with a bit over 1000 feet of gain. In a few places along the trail there is some nice scenery but the summit itself is surrounded by trees and thus has no views.  

Lookout Point is located on the western edge of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit (BRWMU) and is restricted to the general public. Locked gates are at all road entry locations. Authorized access is required to enter any road access location.

Peak 2730, NC-077, is an unnamed peak in the coast range. It is on Stimson land and so is accessible in accordance with their recreational use policies. I’m calling it Gold Creek Peak, because it is the high point between Gold Creek and North Gold Creek. It is also called that on Peak Bagger. It is located between SOTA summits: Gold Peak, NC-020, and Edwards Butte, NC-007.