Good Parking At Trailhead

This was the first summit we did at the start of our 5 night camping trip, combining SOTA and CQP throughout the week. We camped just below the summit on road 3615-011. It was a beautiful drive in across a very large meadow then into the timber. From 3615-011 turn left on RD 208 and it is up to your vehicle how far you can make it up. We parked about 42.29882, -120.25346. Easy trek up an old road then a short final climb off track. Only about .75 mi RT. Great views of east through the timber, a little bit harder to see other directions.

On a recent trip to Idaho, I had the opportunity to activate Bernard Peak which is a drive up 45min or so from Coeur d'Alene.

The drive up was uneventful, though some sections of the road have quite a few potholes and washboards.  I managed it in my wife's Toyota Highlander.

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.

  Located approximately 50 miles South of Pocatello Idaho. Take the Downey Idaho exit from I-15 . Head south on Highway 91 which takes you through Downey. Turn right onto the old highway 191 (old Malad Hwy). Watch for Cherry Creek road which will be on your left and takes you to the Cherry Creek Campground/Trailhead. 

This is a short but steep hike between Dayville and Mt. Vernon Oregon. Mileage is 4.5 round trip and elevation gain is 1850 ft. Starting point is the McClellan Mountain Trailhead, located at 44.3219, -119.2659.

Directions to the trailhead are on the FS website here:

This activation begins by getting to the Joaquin Miller Trail Head off of US-395 south of John Day Oregon. Interestingly Google Maps shows this trailhead and the roads to it, but does not provide driving directions to it. My Garmin road GPS did get us there and the driving directions are on the FS website here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/malheur/recreation/hunting/recarea/?recid=39958&actid=54 .

East Crater Summit can be accessed from the Northwest via PCT (See http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7ahr/2020-october-10/east-crater-wa-september-2020 )  or from the east side via East Crater Trail #48 (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31748).  This report is for the east side access.

Herschberger is a lovely little lookout that you can drive nearly to the top, all but the final stairs and a little trail. The LO is basically right in the AZ so I operated sitting in the doorway (no chairs) for shade. There is zero data at the lookout but if you step out you might get lucky. Great view of CL Rim, Thielson, Rabbit Ears and many other ridges. The lookout was open and not manned. Not sure if this is common.

Weaver would possibly be a bit easier with some trail maintenance but the real challenge is the last ascent. Basically all of the 1000' gain is in the last half mile out of about 2 miles OW. Park at the trailhead for Rogue/Umpqua Divide Trail 43.04046, -122.45929. You will hike around the westside of Jackass Mountain then start hiking around the eastside of another peak between Jackass and Weaver. This is where it gets tricky. I continued down trail and then went off trail to summit and it was pretty difficult.

Old Baldy turned out to be a popular summit at the 2022 Campout. Easy short trek up an old logging road (not obvious) after you park at a dead end that ends at a memorial.Open space on summit with rock and brush. Old ruins of lookout.

You can access the TH from two different directions. You can either take Dead Indian Memorial Rd to Big Draw, Rd 2520. Take Big Draw Rd to RD 600 and turn left, or I continue on up the main road to RD 640, turn left and it turns to 600.