Summary - Saturday Rock is easy to get to, about two hours from Portland, has awesome views and a short, sometimes gnarly and steep, bushwhack. Park at 45.85645, -122.17190 and follow the ridge to the summit. The first clear area you encounter on the top isn't it, keep going! Trees to hang wires, easy 2M QSOs, good APRS connectivity, spotty cell service. National Forest parking pass required.
I approached from Duffy lake Trailhead. As I did Red Butte on the this trip. http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/kf7sey/2021-july-12/red-butte-or-july-2021. This area requires Cascade Wilderness Permit.
You could probally reach this one from Marion Lake via Marion Peak. There are some descriptions of others who have done it on summit post https://www.summitpost.org/saddle-mountain/742441
Start at Duffy Lake trailhead. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=4296
K7ATN reported poor road/driving conditions when attempting to get to the Zig Zag Mountain trailhead on the south side of Zig Zag Mountain. This report shares activation information for the north approach from Riley Horse Campground. The drive can easily be done in a passenger car (recreation permit to park). There are two options from this point, I took Cast Creek trail, and it was 12.8 miles RT with 3900 ft vertical climbing total.
We have been planning this climb for over 18 months. Our entire family was going to do the adventure in June of 2020, but COVID closed the park. Really I began planning before that. Shortly after I started SOTA, I began refining my kit and learning CW with the intent of one day being prepared for this mountain.
Our group:
Trail access to Round Mountain is good, but the last 100 meters or so of vertical is not. Cell service at the parking lot and on the summit is present, but spotty in between. I heard good strong signals for APRS on the summit. A comfortable skill set with crampons and ice axle will certainly make the last 100 meters or so pleasant. I have summited twice, once in winter on skis, and once late spring. Lots of snow still in June hence my recommendation to use crampons and ice axe. Not totally necessary, but certainly easier and easier on the vegatation.
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.
Even More Updated - A shorter way to Monte Carlo that is only about 1.5 miles RT, even if steep in places. This approach will work so long as DNR road B-1500 is passable all the way to 45.8695, -121.579. (NOTE: we did not go this way). Use most of the directions below, but you will go 6.5 miles from Highway 141 to make a sharp right turn onto B-1500 near 45.8449° -121.573° and go about 2.3 miles on this single lane dirt road. The small portions we could see could be traveled in a passenger vehicle. There's a pullout opposite the unmarked trail.
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.
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.