Summary - This is another one of my traverse hikes, linking 4180 (LC-071) and Big Huckleberry (LC-069) over the Pacific Crest Trail in the GPNF. After a ninety minute drive (with a toll bridge) from Portland to the trailhead, you'll find both an easy forest road hike and bushwhack to the summit of 4180 and a PCT hike over to Big Huckleberry. You will cover about eleven miles with 1700 feet of gain, do an easy if steep bushwhack on 4180 bushwhack, and collect big views on Big Huck. The final stretch of road up to the trailhead is rough but 2WD-okay. You will need APRS or an inreach to spot from 4180; cell service on BH is good.
Long Version - I've done most of the summits in this area, so given the drive times from Portland, I've been looking for outings that involve new approaches or new combinations of hills. My basic criteria: a new approach and eight points or a new approach and at least one unique. This hike meets the former, combining two summits I've done before with a eleven mile hike and a not-often-used approach.
The trailhead on FR6801 is about ninety minutes from Portland on mostly good roads. This is a popular area; be wary of fast moving trucks and on-the-road hikers and bikers. To get to the start, take FR65 off of the Wind River Highway, turn right on to FR60 and then right again on FR6801. If 6801 is clear of trees (it was when I was there), you can park at lat long (45.88050, -121.79149) where the road to the summit of 4180 heads NE and 6801 goes south. The hike from here is roughly two miles with a thousand feet of elevation gain. Follow the road as it wraps around the mountain to the end then head straight up the fall line to the summit, lat long (45.88732, -121.78966). The summit is forested but there are good views from the open hill you've just climbed.
I didn't have cell service here and spotted using inreach. I had no luck on 2M but HF contacts were easy. When you finish head back down the way you came, for the second part of the hike to Big Huckleberry. You will have a short cross country jaunt over to the PCT...
The PCT is east of the road heading up to 4180 and there is an unmaintained trail between the two about fifty yards from where you are parked. It is not hard to find but is probably not marked. If you can't find it, just point yourself east for a short brush bash over to the PCT, which is less than 1000 feet away. From there, follow the PCT east then south to the summit trail of Big Huckleberry at lat long (45.84671, -121.78684). The PCT meets the Grassy Knoll trail here, too. A short steepish two hundred foot climb will bring you to the open summit.
Big Huck is a popular weekend destination but there is plenty of room for everyone. Cell service is good for spotting and I worked HF with an EFRW about seven feet above ground without any issues. Enjoy the views, get your QSOs, and head back the way you came. If you miss the turnoff at the other end of the PCT or just like to hike cross country, head west at lat long (45.88024, -121.78917) to get back to 6801. You will have hiked another 8ish miles with about 1600 of elevation gain.
This is a nice combination. The trail up to 4180 is in good shape as is the PCT. Big Huckleberry is one of those summits that is easy to spend a couple of hours on, at least when the weather is nice, and 4810 is an easy bushwhack. There are good views along the way though most of the hike is through old forest. You will probably encounter other folks on Big Huckleberry but they will likely have hiked up from the south, so you will have the trail to yourself.