Activation Reports

1470 is an unnamed summit near Granite Falls, WA. It is an easy 3 mile walk (6 mile R/T) up a good gravel road. Around 1000' of gain. This is a good candidate for a mountain bike trip. Some nice views of Pilchuck near the top.

Ball Mountain is a relatively easy drive-near summit in the Oregon coast range, east of Lincoln City. Your passenger vehicle will get you close to the summit, followed by a short walk and then a bushwhack, neither of which is challenging. The summit area itself is treed in with ample space to set up and plenty of trees for antennas.

This is a burned-over scattered forest summit with few live trees.  Parking at the trailhead is limited but several places within 200’ exist.  Finding a place without snags limited parking to a couple of areas west of the trailhead at the curve in the road.  The one above the road is near an Idaho/Montana boundary post.  That post was placed in 1905 at mile 393.121 per information received from W7LIX. 

Goble Mountain is one of several two-point summits accessible from Weyerhaeuser rec permit access gate 6110.  For permit information see: https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one.  For this three-summit “expedition” I drove to within a few miles of each summit, parked and mountain biked to each of the summits.

Nineteen Mountain is one of several two-point summits accessible from Weyerhaeuser rec permit access gate 6110. For permit information see: https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one. For this three-summit “expedition” I drove to within a few miles of each summit, parked and mountain biked to each of the summits.  There is a small access road that kicks up steeply to the summit and really tested the lowest gear on my bike but once at the top of it, you are at the true summit.

Smith Mountain is one of several two-point summits accessible from Weyerhaeuser rec permit access gate 6110.  For permit information see: https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one.  For this three-summit “expedition” I drove to within a few miles of each summit, parked and mountain biked to each of the summits.  The Smith Mountain AZ extends to the road that passes nearby.  I did not bushwhack up to the treed “true” summit on this one and activated from the road. 

Although this isn't a very spectacular summit, it is located on the Continental Divide and can be either a drive-up in the summer, or a ski-up in the winter.  There are also possibilities to snowshoe up in the winter.  Each of these options is summarized below.  During our activation we hiked up the "Northern Approach".  The activation zone for this summit is very large.

Northern Approach Directions (From Priest Pas)

2.24 miles, 1,223 feet – Best Approach for Snowshoeing

4.4 Miles, +1,233 feet, -30 feet 

Winter Access Directions to TH:

From I-15 north of Helena – Exit at Lincoln Road (Exit-200) – Head West on Hwy-279 for 22.3 miles

Turn Left (west) towards Stemple Pass – drive 8.3 miles to the Pass (Pass is plowed in winter)

Park in the parking area on the left (west) side of the road at the pass.

Snowshoe/Ski Directions:

Ski or snowshoe (westerly) on the Marsh Creek Road (FS-485)  3.0 miles to the Granite Butte Lookout road.

Howard Mountain is a 2 pointer near Pocatello.. This road is closed to motorized vehicles from Nov 15 until April. This is a very family friendly hike about 3 miles round trip. Sometimes snow shoes are not needed but when in doubt secure them on your pack. There is a nice TH at the gate.

Scout Mountain is a 13 miles round trip. It is located South of Pocatello and part of the Mink Creek Recreation Trail System. Its a nice 6 pointer with bonus points in winter. There is a large turnout with ample day parking.https://visitidaho.org/things-to-do/nordic-skiing-snowshoeing/mink-creek/