Good Parking at Trailhead

The trip report by K7ATN is good but there are no signs anymore. Check out the attached map from Google Earth for guidance. We were not sure what road to take but we eventually figured it out based on K7ATN's report.

I was at the Malheur Field Station, about 31 miles from the turnoff on Lava Beds Rd so I decided to activate this summit. All went well until I discovered that I left my radio at the Field Station.

The one steep area mentioned in the trip roport is quite steep for anything but a 4-wheel drive vehicle. I didn't make it up until I switch to 4WD.

Williamson Peak is a nice day hike in the Cascade Lakes region west of Bend - located in the Three Sisters Wilderness area near Lava Lake.  The best way to reach the mountain is from the Lucky Lake Trailhead, just off Cascade Lakes NS Byway/Lava Lake Road.  From there the hike up to the summit is a little under 4 miles via the Senoj/Six Lakes Trail.  The trail grade varies from near flat to moderate with a total elevation gain of around 1600'. 

North Chuckanut is a heavily treed summit with very limited views, but is a nice well-marked hike.  On a cloudy and rainy Saturday, the trail was well used.  To access the summit, use the Pine & Cedar Lakes trailhead which is easily accessed off I-5 near Bellingham, WA.  There is good parking and no pass required.

 Directions:

Camano Island is a 1-point summit accessed via a short and nearly flat elevation gain hike, or drive-up due to larger activation area.  Thank you Josh WU7H for blog comment about drive-up option, and difficulty trying to chase this summit.  Stopping on side of N Cross Island Rd just North of the summit appears to be one drive-up option (see picture below).

Park Butte was one of my favorite hikes this year, and is a 6 point summit located near Mount Baker in Whatcom County, WA.  Thank you to Todd W7TAO for his YouTube SOTA videos, which sparked my interest activating.  Definitely enjoyed hiking near Mt Baker, the views, and activating near the lookout.  Since it is a heavily trafficked trail, this was mid-week activation.

8/17/23 Update -  Not really a recommended summit due to new "Preferred Plan" with "sensitive" areas of park, along with varying topo maps regarding whether park is in the AZ...

Flagg Mountain is a great 4 point short hike (or drive-up) summit located west of Winthrop, WA.  For a day trip, it could be combined with Goat Peak Lookout summit W7W/OK-107.  

Directions/Access:

After the North Cascades Highway opened, enjoyed taking a mid-week day to activate this summit near Winthrop, WA.  Spring is a great time as temperatures were in mid-60's, there was no snow, and some flowers were blooming.  Both WTA and AllTrails have great trail information, and links are provided below.  Trailhead is located about 15 minutes (7.8 miles) from main 4-way stop in Winthrop.  Boatlaunch & Trailhead parking is at the Northeast corner of Patterson Lake, and a Discover pass is required for parking at the boat launch.

Road Access: Good to Trailhead. The last 1/4-mi to summit is a bushwhack over steep terrain and fallen trees, undergrowth dense in areas. High-clearance 2WD okay to the recommended parking area. Access: East from Yacolt on Sunset Falls Rd which turns into FR42. Travel the pot-holed FR42 until it intersects with FR53. Then travel NW for about 1/2-mi until the next intersection and a rock quarry. FR5304 is not marked but is the eastern most road. Travel about 1/2 mi NE then park at the "Y" fork in the road.

It took me 2 days to get my 4 contacts at Tolmie Peak. I drove an hour and a half from Buckley, WA down HI 162 to Mowich lake. I then hiked the 2.9 miles past Lake Euclid to Tolmie Peak and experienced strong winds and driving rain to get heard. 

I bought my Rainier park pass on the way to Mowich lake and a Fee Stop, $20. 

There is clean water at Lake Euclid and while the rain is falling so are the streams. there were 2 waterfalls along the trail.