Trailhead parking or use of the trail requires a permit, pass or other for-pay document
Winchester Mountain Lookout was a dramatic hike with views of Twin Lakes and the surrounding mountains. The hike is 3.4 miles and 1,300 feet of gain, and I tracked a approximately 4.1 miles total due to last remnants of snow right before the trailhead in July. A NW Forest Pass is required.
Summary - This is an easy climb up a series of switchbacks cemented to the side of the basalt plug that is Beacon Rock. Given the proximity to Vancouver and Portland, the short hike, and the fabulous view, this is a very popular destination. For uninterrupted operating time you'll want to combine arriving early, bad weather, and mid-week day. HF operation is possible, 2M contacts are easy, APRS and phone service are good. Parking requires a Washington Discover Pass or a ten buck day pass.
Summary - An easy to reach trailhead (2WD friendly), a nice trail, easy bushwhack, and not much of a summit view. 2M contacts are likely to be difficult, APRS okay, and cell service marginal to nonexistent. The summit is small and brush covered; there are lots of places for putting up a HF wire. Stop in the meadow on the way back down to catch a view of Mt Adams. One of my favorite hikes in this area. By the way, you can ignore this sign at least as far as West Soda Peak:
NOTE: Forest Road 9341 is blocked by a rockslide at 46.23071, -121.82871 and there is an additional 3 mi approach to the trailhead on pavement.
This was summit 2 of a 2 First Activation day.
This summit was a bit of a challenge with 11 miles round-trip trail and ~2500' elevation change. It took us 4hrs to hike in. (NOTE: no dogs on trails in the MSH National Volcanic Monument.)
This summit is a quick 1/2 mile hike up ~500' elevation gain along what one of the rangers described as "social trails" which is to say there is no maintained trail but folks have bushwacked up to the top. After parking in the Mowich Lake lot (pass required) and walking a short distance, I found a spot by the turn-around (and a no-parking sign) which has a section where one can get up off the road and into the forest. There is a short path that peters out but if you keep going upwards you eventually get to the peak. I availed myself of the SOTA Goat app to keep me pointed
The trail is a relatively easy 7 mile hike round-trip with elevation gain of ~900'
There is an excellent view from the summit of Tolmie Peak towards Mt. Rainier on a clear day.
It can get super busy on weekends with folks dragging their picnic baskets up to the top, especially around the firewatch tower.
9/25/2021 had a favorable weather forecast and also happened to line up with the first weekend where permits are no longer required. Casey (non-ham) drove out from Eugene and met me at the Devils Lake trailhead at 10pm (9/24). We slept a couple hours and started the climb at 2:10am.
Here's a wilderness peak where backpacking is a good choice - it's a long seven miles one-way and about 2700 feet of gain - it would be a lot to do in one day. It would even be possible to camp on the summit - but be ready to carry your water.
