Mount David Douglas is a bushwhack and a beautiful destination, on the way to the upper trailhead for Fuji Mountain by Waldo Lake and Maiden Peak. Combine this with a hike up Fuji (or just do Fuji if you never have; it's got a better trail, beautiful views, 100% one of my favorite SOTA hikes).
K7AHR's blog
Mount David Douglas, OR | July 2023
Whaleback, OR | July 2023
Turn off ORE-62 Crater Lake Hwy onto NF-68, and then just follow NF-68: right at 42.8641, -122.5061; bear left at 42.873, -122.4977; and follow the pavement to the end; the turns are mostly obvious after here, Caltopo's map is quite good to Abbott Butte Trailhead; when forest management crews haven't closed the trail for fire and burnt tree hazard mitigation, you can combine this with that hike.
Round Top, OR | July 2023
This is a quite decent set of forest roads up to a peak that'll require just a little bushwhacking.
Echo Mountain, OR | June 2023
I followed the advice of Peakbagger and used a collection of their suggestions, to end up doing a decent job following this at-times hard-to-follow route. This mountain is a beautiful place to see a diversity of plants, and the trail itself is a substantial challenge to follow compared to other hikes, but it is clearly a well-loved summit by locals, despite the plants trying to take the trail back.
Goat Mountain, OR | Jan 2023
I called Mt Hood Clackamas District Ranger Station and they said NF-45 is closed to vehicle traffic but open to hikers, so have at it, intrepid hikers!
Fuji Mountain, OR | July 2022
Fuji Mountain, gem of the central Cascades, and well-loved hike, is a fantastic choice if you're in the area. Only half an hour from the highway, and with a very pleasant and well-worn trail to the top, this is the easiest hiking of any of the SOTA peaks in the area that aren't drive-ups.
Groundhog Mountain, OR | July 2022
I headed out to do this one as a combo with W7O/CM-050; I did not due to heat and a boulder, but I recommend attempting it if you're in the area.
Wickiup Mountain, OR | November, 2021
Wickiup Mountain is a summit on the edge of Astoria's Bear Creek Watershed, from which they draw their water, as well as an active radio site. As such, access from the south is gated, and road access from the north stops just shy of the summit. What followed is one of the thickest, roughest bushwhacks, mile for mile, of my SOTA career, but it was nice to tick this one off the list. If you route find a little better than I do, you might have a better time, and if you hit it earlier in the year, the die-back of the brush might benefit you.
Timbered Peak, WA | September 2021
This is almost a drive-up, with a 200-ft scramble through what is currently totally-burnt forest. In a few years, this will probably be thick low trees. Drive as in my report of nearby Sister Rocks, but turn north onto NF-6406 to NF-214, which leads almost to the summit. All of these roads are passable to the average passenger car. Park at the end of the road, and head west up the slope. The route is steep and the soil is especially loose because of the burn, but you can get up it with care.
Sister Rocks | September, 2021
The trail has been reopened since the 2020 fire in the area. Logs have been moved from the trail, and it is in excellent condition. This hike is relatively flat, gently sloped, and beautiful, well worth checking out.