Good Views From Summit

This was my first of three in one day in N. CA just west of Yreka in the  Scott Bar Mountains. It was a pleasant area to activate, forested knoll with some large open spaces to set up in and look down to Scott Valley to the SE. It was still early and we were in the clouds a bit so couldn't see the distant mountains such as the Marble Mountains and Shasta too well but probably you can on a clear day, and depending which side of the summit you are on.

Trailhead: Goose Lake TH, Google maps will guide you there. 2WD is probably fine for this road. 

2.5 miles; + 1,700 feet

Today I dragged my Dad, my kids and their cousins up to Gracie Point summit.

I had read another activator who took the southern approach, listed as 5 or so miles one way and a rather steep hike.  I figured that was a bit much for my crew so we went around back to the northern approach.  Starting on S Wenas Rd turning onto Sheep Company Road.  Discovery Pass is required.

Turns out with an Expedition (or other 4WD vehicle) you can drive/bounce slowly all the way to the summit.

We passed a pair of does and a 4-5pt buck.

Bunchgrass Mountain is a bushwhack through meadows of bear grass (presumably its namesake), and trees and brush up higher. It eventually reaches an unavoidable steep push to the AZ, which rewards you with impressive nearly panoramic views of Wolf Rock, Latiwi Mountain, and others to the east. This is across the road from Wildcat W7O/CM-082, and across the highway from Iron Mountain, so they make a good pair or trio if you have the time.

For my 2 year SOTA-versary and birthday this week I wanted to do something special,a couple days early because the wx looked perfect, I decided to try Grayback Mountain (W7O/SC-001) the HP for Josephine Co and South Coast that had never been activated. This was also my 50th First Activation.

This is a SOTA gem! A landowner blocked access to the original trailhead in 2011, but a new trail has now been established. The new trail has some challenges but is easy to follow, with signs of regular maintenance. The summit offers a wonderful 360-degree panorama view with Mt St Helens looming large just North of the summit.

W6PZA first activated this summit in May of 2020. I read his blog post  and it seemed informative on how to get to the summit. I attempted to summit using the directions from W6PZA from the East side on Forest Service Road 1270720. I attempted to find the grown over road that he used, but quickly found that it is even more grown over now. Bushwhacking is an understatement with this summit.

Baby Blue is a 2-point summit located near Sultan, WA.  Other summits have taken priority the last 2 years, but this summit was a great surprise due to views at summit and along the last ~1 mile of road hike.  Parking is located along Sultan Basin Road, and it was ~12 minute drive after turning from Hwy 2.  To get there, I followed Google maps to 47.9222, -121.7486.  A Discover Pass is required.  

From Kettle Falls, WA proceed west on 395 across the lake to highway 20, then south along the west shore of Lake Roosevelt on Inchelium-Kettle Falls Rd. Proceed southwest on County Highway 412 past Lake Ellen, turn right on NF-2014 (aka Barnaby Creek Rd), then right again on Cottonwood Creek Rd (NF-110). Park at this intersection if you don't have a 4WD which adds less than a mile. If you have a 4WD, take this road to its terminus and park where the road becomes blocked by downed trees. As you hike along the road, it will eventually become Huckleberry Jeep Trail only useable by UTVs.