I did Willow after Ball. It is a trek up through the timber, navigating up a ridge around the lava rock and trees. Not bad at all. See my tracks. On top it is a little tight to set up because of the steepness and rock and brush but very doable in the AZ.
It had been 4 years since I went down to do Ball Mt and I'm not sure why I don't get down here more. Ball is a great <2mi RT hike on a gated lookout road. I love the lookout on Ball. There are great views with ample space and choice of location in the AZ, exposed around LO or go down into the trees a little. Each time I have gone I have also done Willow Creek Mt and this trip added Eagle Rock also. All can be done in a day if you plan accordingly.
Didn't activate but rode up on my motorcycle to see how passable the road is since the last report was quite old. The road is good most of the way, but it does have ruts in a couple of spots that would be difficult to navigate if in a low clearance vehicle. The last 1/4-1/2 mile is not drivable in anything but a very capabable 4x4 and would require an OHV permit as it is part of the Edison Butte OHV Trail #3. There is a tree down across part of the road here, and a good wide spot to park and walk from here up to the shelter or on to the summit.
Summary - The hike (at least from the north) through the burn area is a sufferfest of deep, continuous treefall, exposure, and route finding. The trail is mostly gone and you must have a GPS and map or be very good with compass and map to avoid missing several crucial turns. As with most summits in this area, plan on HF to activate unless you know there are other SOTA ops in the area. Bottom line: skip this one, at least from the northern trailhead.
In the past (and for a prior writeup), this summit was off-limits as part of a leased club parcel. Maybe Weyerhaueser couldn't find any clubs to lease it, or just changed their mind about how they wanted to manage the land, but it has ceased as a lease and become open to public access. It's a bit of a drive for one point, but a unique nonetheless.
Drive: distance to Mcminnville plus 16 miles
Hike: 1.45 miles with 800' gain one-way
GPX routes uploaded to sotamaps.
Fox Butte is an easy activation IF you are equipped with HF. I wouldn't rely on 2M unless maybe you bring a yagi to help get your signal to Bend. The roads are in much better than expected shape, and other that the fact that it is a long drive, it was quite pleasant and any passenger car can make the trip.
Full report here
This summit is located off of Highway 30 Northwest of Soda Springs ID. Turn North off of Hwy 30 at the Old Oregon Trail highway. Take this road a couple of miles until you reach Windmill Flat Rd on your right. Follow this road approx. 1.75miles stopping at the cattle guard. From here you will see an old 4 wheeler trail going up the fence line on your right which is now closed by the BLM. Follow the fenceline until the corner posts. Here you will need to bushwhack approx 1.3 miles to the summit. There is approxiately 1000 ft lift in this bushwhack.
The previous trip reports have described driving up to South Fork Mountain, and I wanted to add that there is a trail to the top off of the well-maintained forest road 45, which is also on the way to/from Wanderers Peak. Thus it makes for a great second activation with no additional driving miles.
It was a bit surprising that this summit had not been activated. It is a fairly easy hike but it does require a back country permit for access in the Three Sisters Wilderness, which may have put some folks off. Also, Todd Lake is quite busy in the Summer tourism months and permits are limited, though we had no trouble getting one a couple days prior to our planned outing.
This is a nice drive up summit with either a high clearance vehicle or ORV. From Idaho Falls, Idaho, take Hwy US 20 past Rexburg ID and turn off at Exit 339 toward ID-33 Driggs/Jackson Hole exit. Go through the small town of Teton and proceed East 16 miles to Canyon Creek RD on your right. You will merge onto N Canyon Creek Rd and pass Green Canyon Hot Springs. Stay on this road a couple of miles until you see a FS sign saying Relay Ridge trail 219 on your left. Stay on 219 approx 9 miles on this 4 wheel drive/OVR road and it will take you to Ryans Peak.