First the TL;DR: This is a five star bike ride. I HIGHLY recommend this route. This route passes many different trailheads and parking areas along the Deschutes River, so it is possible to put together a ride that is shorter and easier. Much of the route is gradual uphill with Lava Butte itself being the real kicker.
Git Out Ridge is a a 2 point summit located about 5 miles north of Gold Bar. The 6.8 mile (roundtrip) hike begins at Spada Lake and is mostly a walk on a gravel road. About 1/3 of the hike is on an abandoned section of road that goes through the forest. Total elevation gain is ~1300'.
Driving Directions:
Take Highway 2 to Sultan. Take the Sultan Basin Road north. Most of the way is paved, but the last 1/3 of the road is gravel. We went in a Prius and had no trouble - the gravel road is in good shape. Keep following the road until you arrive at Spada Lake Dam.
Looking over the map and seeing a named peak with no activations is just more than I can handle, especially when K7ATN's blog post left the slightest hope that there may be a way to get there. After hours of poring over maps, I came up with a plan.
3537 is a 4-pointer right off Marble Mountain Sno-Park, and despite the busy climbing season it is easily possible to get in here and activate it. You might combine this with a summit of nearby LC-075, if you are feeling especially ambitious.
To get here, take I-5 to Woodland, then SR 503 which becomes SR-503 Spur, which turns into NF-90; turn left onto NF-83 and drive 6 miles to Marble Mountain Sno-Park.
It appeared to me that access to Grayback Mountain was possible to summit from the South staying off of Yakima Nation Lands. I also found a trail map with access and photos of the summit from 2019 here: http://www.willhiteweb.com/washington_fire_lookouts/grayback_mountain_lookout/map_300.htm
NOTE: Conditions on Mt. Hood can change weekly, even daily. Consult up-to-date weather, avalanche, and beta reports.
On March 31st, 2021 I took advantage of a weather window and reasonable avalanche forecast to activate Mt. Hood (W7O/CN-001) via the standard South Side route.
Drive-Up on a spur road from the Magruder Corridor
16.2 miles, +4,300 ft; -4,200 From Elk Mountain TH
1.2 miles, +300, - 200 ft ft from Trail 562 Junction
I activated this on the 14th day of a 15-day backpacking from the Elk Mountain Trailhead, via Mink Ridge & Marten Creek with a side-trip up Marten Creek to Marten Hot springs; but the route description is the more direct route across Goat Creek and along the Square Rock & Moose Ridge.
18.5-miles, +4,700 ft; -5,300 From Elk Mountain TH
3.5 miles, +800, - 1,500 ft ft from Trail 562 Junction
I activated this on the 13th day of a 15-day backpacking from the Elk Mountain Trailhead, via Mink Ridge & Marten Creek with a side-trip up Marten Creek to Marten Hot springs; but the route description is the more direct route across Goat Creek and along the Square Rock & Moose Ridge.
