Fire Lookout

Sonyok Mountain (W7M/LO-115) is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation of northwestern Montana in Sanders county. It has a lookout tower at the summit that apears to be in good shape but was not manned the day I was there. A recreation permit is required to recreate off road on the reservation and the cost is $100 a season. Any local sporting goods store will have them. Although I did not encounter another person on this drive and could have gotten away without the permit, you DO NOT want to get caught by the tribal police, who do patrol their lands, without this permit.

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.

This is an easy summit to activate. It's just very remote. A large fire lookout is on top of the peak but was not manned the day I was there. 

Driving directions: From Yaak, Montana drive 17.5 miles south on 58. Take a left turn onto FS Road 309 and drive 5.27 easy miles to the trailhead. Here there is a winter ski/snowmobile hut with toilets and a large fire pit. Apparently this is a popular winter headquarters for cross country skiing and snowmobiling. The summit is an easy but steep 0.75 miles past the gate on the Forest Service road.

Trailhead: Goose Lake TH, Google maps will guide you there. 2WD is probably fine for this road. 

Aldrich Mountain in Grant County has two fairly accessible summits that make a nice pair to activate as part of the same day trip.  These include Aldrich Mountain (W7O/NE-054) and 6401 (W7O/NE-205).  Both are 6-point and located in the far western part of the Malheur National Forest, with access from Hwy 26 and Forest Routes 21 (Field Creek Rd) and 2150.  Route 21 is paved while 2150 is a well-maintained gravel road.  Plan for a 15 mile drive on 2150.  There are campgrounds in the area. 

Jumbo Mountain (3.4 mi., 3,400 ft, 16-mile approach)

The approach and climb to Jumbo Mountain offers a scenic journey through the remote and spectacular Bob Marshall Wilderness.  We included this activation as part of a 9-day loop trip through the Bob Marshall Wilderness that included three SOTA activations.