Gate Restricted Access

WV-117 is a long walk along a mostly exposed route to a completely exposed summit.  In fact, it was a very sunny and very warm hike that was much longer than expected.  I estimated based on what I could see with my eyes from the Santiam Canyon (and what I could see in satellite imagery) that there'd be no shade, and possibly no trees either.  I guessed about a 3/4 of a mile shorter than reality.   But I was mostly right - there was only one treed spot along the 4.5 mile route up that offered any relief from the sun, and there were none for either shade or suitable a

I have noticed several posts lately and have experienced the dilemma myself several times of encountering closed Forest Service gates. A well planned expedition to activaate a summit can be ruined by an inconviently and unexpected closed gate.

 Update: I hauled my bicycle to the gate to do a biketavation of this summit. However, the gate was open and the sign restricting access was gone. This is as of 29-May-2021.  Not sure what has happened but I drove up without incident.  Missed the bike ride, but there will be others. Always a gamble driving past a gate.