Peak 7384 is the next SOTA Peak to the north of Granite Mountain W7I/SR-138. It is bushwhacking at its finest with endless deadfall on the main portion of the mountain. Limited views from the summit make this peak not the most enjoyable, but it is SOTA nonetheless and that is always good!
One of the nicest hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains, Waterman Mountain is certainly worthy of repeat SOTA Activations, and this was our third time in about 2 years. Being graced with a very reasonable access, well graded trail and magnificent specimens of Incense Cedar (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calocedrus ) and Ponderosa Pine (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa ) it’s a wonderful and popular SOTA objective. The trail is 6 + miles RT, with 1,200 feet elevation gain. The summit area is lightly treed, but still has views if you search them out.
Treasure Mountain is a non-descript forested summit that is located south of Elliston, MT. Head south on the Little Blackfoot road (which leaves the highway east of Elliston) and trend left up Telegraph Creek 3.0 miles later when the road forks. Follow the Telegraph Creek Road SSE for 4.9 miles, and take the major turn to the right (westerly). Continue across Telegraph Creek, and follow the road 0.6 miles to where it intersects the Treasure Mountain Road. The Treasure Mtn. Road may be driven at least another 1.8 miles, except Oct.
This is a GPS-required hike in order to return safely to your parked vehicle. This is a treed, non-descript summit. You can get within 1/2-mile on FR2505 then it's a bushwhack to the summit AZ. I parked at the rusted gate just before FR2505 becomes quite narrow. I followed the narrow road up for about 1/4-mile until it ended, then marked a waypoint and started the final 1/4-mile bushwhack to the summit. There is a decent forest road that leads the summit but couldn't determine where that road leads coming down from the summit.
[Left this in draft form too long, time to attach pictures and publish]
After a failed summit attempt the previous day, I was able to summit Buzzard Butte and make an activation. Although I was only able to make 2 contacts, I enjoyed the activity (first activation for this summit!) and look forward to future activations.
In the last few years, I've developed a desire to activate the top 10 summits in the
Willamette Valley region. Miller Mountain is in that list but I've put it off because
its so far from the valley. Its located in south-central Oregon, closest to the town
of Chemult. I guess the placement algorithm treated it like a lost sock that you can't
throw away but you're not sure where to put it.
My approach to Miller Mt. was to take US Hwy 97 south towards Chemult, Oregon. About
0.5 mile north of Chemult, FS 9772 heads west. This road is also marked "Walt Haring
Access Info: There may be other routes for this summit but I choose to park at the Stavebolt Creek gate off Logan Rd. Gated parking for about 4 cars at 46.0828, -123.8339.
The hike on good logging roads is about 3.5 miles to 46.0724, -123.8095. Then a well-traveled game trail begins a bushwhack of about 200 vertical feet to the summit. The AZ is all undergrowth with no real clear areas. Ugly, really.
Here's another summit in the Diamond Lake area to activate if you have a few hours to spare - it's a short hike, but there's no trail. And note that there are three Oregon summits with this same name.
Bates Point (Peak 2360) is a drive-up summit in the Coast Range of Oregon - specifically in the Tillamook State Forest. Roads in the Tillamook Forest are usually good - however the signage and documentation are remarkably poor. What's on the ground doesn't necessarily match your GPS map or what in Google Earth and vice versa.
Ben Smith (Peak 2592) is a summit with a short but steep hike in the Coast Range of Oregon - specifically in the Tillamook State Forest. Roads in the Tillamook Forest are usually good - however the signage and documentation are remarkably poor. What's on the ground doesn't necessarily match your GPS map or what in Google Earth and vice versa.