I approached from Duffy lake Trailhead. As I did Red Butte on the this trip. http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/kf7sey/2021-july-12/red-butte-or-july-2021. This area requires a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit.
Start at Duffy Lake trailhead. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=4296
K7ATN reported poor road/driving conditions when attempting to get to the Zig Zag Mountain trailhead on the south side of Zig Zag Mountain. This report shares activation information for the north approach from Riley Horse Campground. The drive can easily be done in a passenger car (recreation permit to park). There are two options from this point, I took Cast Creek trail, and it was 12.8 miles RT with 3900 ft vertical climbing total.
We have been planning this climb for over 18 months. Our entire family was going to do the adventure in June of 2020, but COVID closed the park. Really I began planning before that. Shortly after I started SOTA, I began refining my kit and learning CW with the intent of one day being prepared for this mountain.
Our group:
Trail access to Round Mountain is good, but the last 100 meters or so of vertical is not. Cell service at the parking lot and on the summit is present, but spotty in between. I heard good strong signals for APRS on the summit. A comfortable skill set with crampons and ice axle will certainly make the last 100 meters or so pleasant. I have summited twice, once in winter on skis, and once late spring. Lots of snow still in June hence my recommendation to use crampons and ice axe. Not totally necessary, but certainly easier and easier on the vegatation.
Today I dragged my Dad, my kids and their cousins up to Gracie Point summit.
I had read about the southern approach, from James WA7JNJ, which was listed as 5 or so miles one way and a rather steep hike. I figured that was a bit much for my crew so we went around back to the northern approach. Starting on N Wenas Rd turning north onto Sheep Company Road.
NOTE: A Washington DNR Discovery Pass is required. These can be ordered online the same day, if you forgot yours.
Sep 2023 Update: Buck Creek Road is closed a few miles from Highway 141 and so the shortest route to Monte Carlo described below isn't available just now. The longer routes appear to be acessable.
2023 Update:
See latest update from Guy N7UN about DNR altering some roads in this area!
http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/n7un/2023-october-22/new-access-information-mt-mitchell
2021 Trip Report:
Baby Blue is a 2-point summit located near Sultan, WA. Other summits have taken priority the last 2 years, but this summit was a great surprise due to views at summit and along the last ~1 mile of road hike. Parking is located along Sultan Basin Road, and it was ~12 minute drive after turning from Hwy 2. To get there, I followed Google maps to 47.9222, -121.7486. A Discover Pass is required.
Young Love is a fairly easy 1 point summit, located south of Sultan. The total hike is about 3.6 miles with ~1000' of gain.