This summit was just added to the database and it was a great hike. A nice ~2mi RT hike on a decommissioned road and dirt bike trail. Plenty of room to operate, shade or sun. Outstanding view of the Applegate Valley, Mt Isabelle, and beyond. This is the same parking location for hiking Isabelle so if you're feeling adventurous you could do both. Really adventurous Wellington Butte TH is just a couple miles away.
We detoured to Schonchin after going birdwatching at Lower Klamath NWR and Tulelake NWR, disappointed with so few birds and little water (Tulelake dry). It took a commitment to get over the Cascades from the Rogue Valley as there is a lot of snow, but once we reached the east side, the snow was minimal.
Hershberger is a lovely little lookout with a great 360 view, Crater Rim, Rabbit Ears, etc. I went when it was very hot, after I did a difficult hike up Weaver Mountain. The lookout is just in the AZ and I took advantage of a bit of shelter from the sun and the rails to erect my mast. Poor data service at the LO but I think I had service if I walked a little ways away from it.
Two years late with summary so from foggy memory... Mount Stella was a straight forward hike up a blocked road. There is an old wooden lookout at the top. I did this on my way home from doing Mt. Scott and Dutton in CLNP with K7ATN and WW7D. If I recall correctly there is zero data service as this was not on my original agenda and I could not spot or do an alert. Luckily ATN and Darryl were still near and there were a group of hams contracted for communication repair at a fire lookout up north that could copy me also on my 2m HT. Plenty of room to set up.
Kinney Mountain is close to Applegate Lake and many other summits. The road was pretty good all the way to the starting point of the hike. No trail. Hike through the timber. The brush is not too bad. There is enough open space to get most of the way up and back without bushwhacking. Worst is at the very summit, at least where I landed. Thick oak that you have to push through to get to true summit. Might be able to set up below but I wanted to be facing east as much as possible. Good view NW and SE through the timber/brush.
Already directions to Drake but I did it slightly different. I hiked the south side of Light Peak sidehill from where the road to the Lookout switchbacks, until I got to the road going part way to Drake. There is decent trail or road most of the way just not the sidehill at the beginning and the last ascent, but pretty self explanatory. Robin N7HAP was on Light Peak, a drive up, and he picked me up on the east side of Light Peak so I got out of the final climb up Light. Took it easy on Light Peak for another activation.
I went a different route than K7ATN and drove past the Crooked Creek TH and camp spot on 3615 (which by the way looks like a great spot to camp if not occupied), and drove up 3615-189 on the right. It did require a tight, high clearance trek up the road and moving one log. If you don't make it to the end of the road you may add about 1-2 miles to you trek but it isn't too bad since it is old road. I chose to hike up from the deadend of RD 189 somewhat east eventually making it to the more gradual NW ridge of the mountain and activated from the north peak that is in the AZ.
This was the first summit we did at the start of our 5 night camping trip, combining SOTA and CQP throughout the week. We camped just below the summit on road 3615-011. It was a beautiful drive in across a very large meadow then into the timber. From 3615-011 turn left on RD 208 and it is up to your vehicle how far you can make it up. We parked about 42.29882, -120.25346. Easy trek up an old road then a short final climb off track. Only about .75 mi RT. Great views of east through the timber, a little bit harder to see other directions.
Herschberger is a lovely little lookout that you can drive nearly to the top, all but the final stairs and a little trail. The LO is basically right in the AZ so I operated sitting in the doorway (no chairs) for shade. There is zero data at the lookout but if you step out you might get lucky. Great view of CL Rim, Thielson, Rabbit Ears and many other ridges. The lookout was open and not manned. Not sure if this is common.
Weaver would possibly be a bit easier with some trail maintenance but the real challenge is the last ascent. Basically all of the 1000' gain is in the last half mile out of about 2 miles OW. Park at the trailhead for Rogue/Umpqua Divide Trail 43.04046, -122.45929. You will hike around the westside of Jackass Mountain then start hiking around the eastside of another peak between Jackass and Weaver. This is where it gets tricky. I continued down trail and then went off trail to summit and it was pretty difficult.