Activation Reports

Per WW7D there are numerous ways to get to Ski Acres Hill, including walking up the ski slopes. The ski area is open to hikers in the summer.  

The "back way" from Hyak involves navigating some gnarly FS roads and does not involve going on any private property. The PCT also passes 1/3 of a mile (and 1000' gain) to the west of the summit. One could take the PCT and bushwhack up to the summit.

For he last two activations the back way from Hyak was used.It was all FS roads to the start of the (same) short bushwhack. There were no closed gates either way. 

https://w7mtb.blog/2025/08/03/shukash-butte-first-activation-august-2025/

Sawtooth is a glorious peak; nice hike, interesting rocky summit and great 360 views.

There are multiple hikes to reach Sawtooth. I took a route from the west, following the High Divide trail to the Windy Pass trail. This was the approach with both the shortest drive time and hike (from Diamond lake). It was 4 miles and 1700ft one way. It does seem to be a less commonly followed route, though the trails are maintained.

There is a SW “short cut” for Huffman peak by taking the well maintained logging roads in Washington DNR land and following the unmaintained hiking trail 126. 1.5 miles and 1000ft total elevation one way. (Note that there is some up and down here, with 400 ft down included, meaning you’ll have that much on the way back).

Moderate bushwhack with almost 500ft of gain over 0.6 miles. It might be light bushwhack if you pick the right path, as I found the way down easier through more open forest when one could see it. There is *almost* a view peaking through the trees at the top. Enough space for an activator on the true summit, but multiple could potentially spread out a bit off to the side still in the AZ. 

Here is a shortcut to Big Huckleberry relative to that described here: http://www.pnwsota.org/node/371

Howlock Mountain had caught my eye during the 2023 W7O Campout. It was an unactivated summit off trail north of Thielsen and south of Tipsoo. For 2025, Adam K6ARK and Mark KD7DTS proposed doing the ridge traverse from Tipsoo (W7O/CS-195). After some VHF shenanigans on Tipsoo, we backtracked on the trail briefly before leaving it and descending south. 

4460 (2-point summit) is one of a cluster of summits south of Oakridge, OR in the Willamette National Forest. This summit is a short bushwhack/hike off of an "OK" road, but route selection to the top will likely affect your enjoyment. It can be combined with Holland Point and Timbered Knoll pretty easily in a single day.

Timbered Knoll (2-point summit) is one of a cluster of summits south of Oakridge, OR in the Willamette National Forest. This summit is a short bushwhack/hike off of well maintained road, but route selection to the top will likely affect your enjoyment. It can be combined with Holland Point and 4460 pretty easily in a single day.

Twin Lakes Mountain is a 4-point summit located in the Umpqua National Forest. It can be reached from Hwy. 138, approximately 58 miles east of Roseburg, OR. From there, 9 miles of forest road yields a 2.6 mile hike (each way) on well maintained trail, with views of Diamond Peak, Twin Lakes and other local features. This would be a good stop on the way to Diamond Lake and environs. This summit is close to Illahee Rock, which is on the north side of 138. Combining the two wouldn't be too much trouble.