KI7EMX's blog

This was the first activation of Middle Stack Mountain in Nevada.  A huge lesson learned (again) is that map resources conflict when it comes to roads, both roads that do not exist, and roads that do not appear on maps. Even when cross referencing maps with Google Earth you can’t be certain that a geological feature that “looks” like a road actually is one!  As a first activation, there was no SOTA summit access information, though there were a couple of Peakbagger trip reports.

I accessed Johnstone Peak via trail 7121 just southeast of Ketchum. The trailhead begins at 6,528 feet and climbs for approximately 3-miles to a saddle at 8,628-feet (2,236-foot ascent – includes some undulating trail terrain). The trail is well maintained and a comfortable climb to the saddle where you leave the trail to begin the .80 mile / 1,337-foot ascent to the summit. This bushwhack climb is not for the faint of heart.

Thatcher Hill is located in the Portneuf Mountain Range just south of Lava Hot Springs.  Access is off Hwy 34 south of Thatcher, Idaho. The road to access the summit is extremely difficult.  There were deep mud puddles, exposed watermelon sized rocks to negotiate and rock gardens suitable for only 4wd high clearance vehicles. I was mentally exhausted from driving on the road and decided to park the Jeep (42.39139, -111.84305) and hike along the road.

There is no public access to Cleveland Hill.  The summit is on private property.  In an attempt to get permission, we talked to a friend of the owner, and he said the owner “never” allows non-family/friends on the property.

The effort to access this summit was hard to justify 2-points!  Looking at the summit from the road below made me think about abandoning the "planned" 1.50-mile hike and just biting the bullet and going straight up the mountain (.30 miles/739-foot gain).  I made the better choice by opting for the longer hike. Looking at the contours, traversing the side-slope and making gradual elevation gain seemed like a good option.

This was a fun drive and activation.  There had been rain recently and Coal Bank Road was peppered with water hazards and rocky runoff portions.  Though easily passable in a high clearance 4wd, it was NOT Prius friendly. The summit was large and flat with a few trees scattered around for attaching antenna masts.

FAIL - Not Recommended: Unless you happen to be traveling along Highway 46, I would not plan on activating this summit.

Graham Peak had been activated twice before, but a report has not been posted. The peak overlooks The City of Rocks National Preserve with stunning views of the incredible rock formations.  If you visit the Preserve and don’t summit this peak you’ll really miss out!  Though the pictures don't show it, the views were still great even with the wildfire smoke.

This summit is a drive-up, albeit a butt clincher at times. Here is an excerpt from summitpost.org:

“Ellen D has an elevation of 8,633 feet, and with a prominence of 2,053 feet, makes the list of Nevada’s 172 prominent peaks. . . .

“An unimproved maintenance road leads to the top of Ellen D Mountain, where you’ll find an impressive array of radio towers, solar panels and maintenance buildings. . . .

I left, by accident, my phone (camera) and my antenna mast at the Jeep.  By the time I realized it I was too far up the mountain to retrieve them. Luckily I was wearing my Garmin watch and was able to record the route and elevation data. Though not too tall, there are some scrub oak at the summit.  This most likely compromised my inverted “V” antenna quite a bit since I could only get on a branch about 6 feet off the ground.