Access is gained by taking the Woodruff/Samaria exit from I-15 South of Malad ID (also see below for W7I/SI-084) and heading west on Woodruff Ln. This comes to a tee and becomes a good dirt road, you take a right (north), This continues for a bit then turns west again (no other option) and heads to the base of the mountain. You pass the last farm just before the base. Just after that you pass over a cattle guard and you will be on BLM land.
Also known as Samaria High Point. Access is gained by taking the Woodruff/Samaria exit from I-15 South of Malad ID and heading west on Woodruff Ln. This comes to a tee and becomes a good dirt road, you take a right (north), This continues for a bit then turns west again (no other option) and heads to the base of the mountain.
Please follow K7ATN's previous report for directions to this summit.
In 2022 the tower lookout is Michelle who has been there for 8 seasons. Very friendly and ham-radio accomodating. Like other fire tower operators, announce yourself so Michelle knows you are there. There is a public port-a-potty and a picnic table that can be used. With permission, i hung one end of my EFHW from the tower structure, actually my rope supporting the EFHW.
A third summit I worked with my Dad while at Lemolo Lake KOA.
This summit is a careful drive-up with a nice turnaround at the top.
I put up the mast and EFHW antenna and proceeded to work a nice combination of 40/20m stations.
No 2m stations were heard.
We packed up and headed on to Bunker Hill (W7O/CS-090).
These 4 Lemolo Lake summits could be easily done in a day if you have the time.
I split them into 2 mornings as we were visiting Crater Lake during this trip.
Cady Mountain, W7W/RS-084 has been on my radar for a while. My wife's family owns a home in Friday Harbor so I have always wanted to activate this summit. I was bummed by ATN's report that it would be difficult to activate from the south side because of private property, so I did not think I could. I arrived here on Saturday and I started looking at GAIA GPS. I could see there was public property owned by the San Juan County Land Bank to the north of the summit that was still in the AZ. I could see a hiking trail just below it. I decided to give it a try.
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.
Follow other blog entries for accurate directions to the access road. The first gate at FS60 road is gone, at least destroyed. A second gate about a mile in was also open but might be locked later in the season.
Normally, from FS60, this is a 3.3 mi/ 1600 ft elev gain hike but I was able to drive to with 1/2 mi of the summit where I hit snow drifts covering the road. I would expect these to melt out over the next 3-4 weeks or so, making the summit potentially a drive-up where parking would be available.
I can't believe I missed reviewing McDonald in the past. I love McDonald Peak. It is a beautiful stroll from RD 20 on a nice trail, great view, great flora in summer time. It was one peak I spent some time at in 2019 and realized SOTA was where I belonged in radio. Sitting in the flower covered slope enjoying the view. Easy set up among a mix of slopes and boulders.
I just noticed I never did summaries for some of my first summits especially if they had a previous review so with the 2022 campout coming soon I am trying to catch up on some. Mt Ashland is an easy, popular summit. Outstanding 360 view of NCA to CLNP rim to Josephine Co. Cool boulder stacks too. You can drive to the dome on the summit if you wish. Just go a little ways past the Mt Ashland campground and you will see the road on the right with a not so visible sign (it is on a tall post since it is used during deep snow).
