Good Parking At Trailhead

Smith Mountain is one of several two-point summits accessible from Weyerhaeuser rec permit access gate 6110.  For permit information see: https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com.

Although this isn't a very spectacular summit, it is located on the Continental Divide and can be either a drive-up in the summer, or a ski-up in the winter.  There are also possibilities to snowshoe up in the winter.  Each of these options is summarized below.  During our activation we hiked up the "Northern Approach".  The activation zone for this summit is very large.

Northern Approach Directions (From Priest Pas)

4.4 Miles, +1,233 feet, -30 feet 

Winter Access Directions to TH:

From I-15 north of Helena – Exit at Lincoln Road (Exit-200) – Head West on Hwy-279 for 22.3 miles

Turn Left (west) towards Stemple Pass – drive 8.3 miles to the Pass (Pass is plowed in winter)

Park in the parking area on the left (west) side of the road at the pass.

Scout Mountain is a 13 miles round trip. It is located South of Pocatello and part of the Mink Creek Recreation Trail System. Its a nice 6 pointer with bonus points in winter.

As I mentioned in my previous report from Rattler Benchmark, my Dad and I followed that activation with a trip up to Cleman Mountain.  If you are coming down Game Department Rd from Rattler, you need to drive south back towards town for a while on N Wenas Rd until you reach the entrance. 

Unfortunately, the map shows many roads leading up the mountain but we were only able to find one that was passable at (46.833565, -120.711814). The signs at the gate read "Closed from Dec 9th thru May 15th."

For Thanksgiving this year, we drove to Yakima to visit with family and the day after my Dad and I drove up to Rattler Benchmark.  Starting in Selah, we took N Wenas Rd turning right on Sheep Company Rd up to where it turns (46.778909, -120.563142) to become Bell Telephone Rd (going straight eventually leads you to Gracie Pt aka W7W/CW-096, see my report here).  This is a goat trail with many ruts and requires steady nerves and high clearance.  Fortunately, my Dad has both.  This ro

Beartrap Ridge is a sparsely treed summit having spectacular views of the steep landscape into Owl Creek and the Salmon River. Adding to the view are large wildfire patterns of the mid- 2000’s and exposed geology.

This is a drive-up summit into the activation zone.  A couple of concrete blocks and a tall steel antenna mast indicate the site was a possible old Timber Company repeater station when the land was under different ownership. The summit ownership is now US Forest Service.

A near drive-up summit in the Coast Range. From Highway 36 around Milepost 20, take  BLM 17-8-31 Road, (Near 44.11999,-123.64626 and 17445 Oregon 36, Deadwood, Oregon).

Travel 4.2 miles on this Priusable gravel road and park when 0.2 miles from summit and walk up the road shown in the first photo. At the summit are remains of a fire lookout (see photos):
https://oregonlookouts.weebly.com/windy-peak.html

A near drive-up summit in the Coast Range. From Highway 36 near Milepost 18, take paved Nelson Mountain Road east. When the pavement ends just before 3 miles, turn uphill to stay on Nelson Mountain Road (my GPS called it Chickahominy). Do not go through the yellow gate - that's the 17-8-14 Road. Continue up to just past the 4 mile sign at a four way intersection turn right onto Walker Point Road.