This was part of a trip involving one county high point in Southeast Washington, as well as Morrow, Umatilla, Grant, Wheeler, and Crook in Oregon.
On my way from Black Mountain, I headed up here. I knew incoming weather was likely, but between its earlier-than-forecast arrival and the fact that I underestimated the time it would take for me to drive these roads, I found myself at the summit as the rain began and lightning and thunder rolled. I parked by the ranger's cabin and only stepped out briefly enough to say I set my feet on the ground. Then I headed on down, not wanting to drive these roads after they got too wet.
Even under the best of conditions you will need a high-clearance vehicle to get up there. Or you could not be a lazy shlub like me and hike it.
I spent the night at Union Creek Campground outside Baker City. This was a good and cheap place to sleep.
Dundeel - Jun 11, 2016 10:38 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2008
OR peakbagging
One of the last exploring trips I made with my Dad. He didn't want to climb the tower.
scgrant - Jul 26, 2014 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2014
Tower Mountain
Drove to the top. CoHP #4 this day. Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla.
Dean - Sep 19, 2011 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2003
Drive up
2003 was my Oregon county highpoint year as I picked off every single one except Mt. Jefferson (which counts for two county highpoints). Every weekend would find me out driving the roads and backroads of Oregon to "earn" these highpoints and this peak is definitely on one of the backroads in the middle of nowhere. Afterwards I headed for Spanish Peak which was next on my crazy list.
What a great peak with a great tower and corresponding view. Sure, it is a drive-up, but I am shocked that a page was not already created on SP for it before now.
This was the first of four peaks reached that day, with Black Mountain, Zero Butte, and the Gilliam CoHP being the others. This trip then became an adventure as soon after reaching the Gilliam CoHP and driving away, my front passenger-side tire blew out along Lone Rock Road shortly after turning off Lost Valley Road. It sucked because I was near the middle of nowhere. It double-sucked because it was dark. It triple-sucked because I still was not fully healed from my broken left wrist, although I still had one great hand/arm and two strong legs to help with the lugnuts! Needless to say, the highpointing aspect of the trip came to a sudden halt, and I drove (using my "donut" tire) to Goldendale where my wife picked me up to fetch a new tire from Yakima.
ericnoel - Aug 2, 2020 10:15 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2020
Tower MtnDrive-up from the North. Would be a tough drive in a car but supposedly the road from the South is better.
huskertriguy - Sep 12, 2019 1:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2019
Have You Ever Seen the Rain?This was part of a trip involving one county high point in Southeast Washington, as well as Morrow, Umatilla, Grant, Wheeler, and Crook in Oregon.
On my way from Black Mountain, I headed up here. I knew incoming weather was likely, but between its earlier-than-forecast arrival and the fact that I underestimated the time it would take for me to drive these roads, I found myself at the summit as the rain began and lightning and thunder rolled. I parked by the ranger's cabin and only stepped out briefly enough to say I set my feet on the ground. Then I headed on down, not wanting to drive these roads after they got too wet.
Even under the best of conditions you will need a high-clearance vehicle to get up there. Or you could not be a lazy shlub like me and hike it.
I spent the night at Union Creek Campground outside Baker City. This was a good and cheap place to sleep.
Dundeel - Jun 11, 2016 10:38 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2008
OR peakbaggingOne of the last exploring trips I made with my Dad. He didn't want to climb the tower.
scgrant - Jul 26, 2014 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2014
Tower MountainDrove to the top. CoHP #4 this day. Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla.
Dean - Sep 19, 2011 3:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2003
Drive up2003 was my Oregon county highpoint year as I picked off every single one except Mt. Jefferson (which counts for two county highpoints). Every weekend would find me out driving the roads and backroads of Oregon to "earn" these highpoints and this peak is definitely on one of the backroads in the middle of nowhere. Afterwards I headed for Spanish Peak which was next on my crazy list.
Redwic - Sep 19, 2011 12:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2011
First CoHP Of The DayWhat a great peak with a great tower and corresponding view. Sure, it is a drive-up, but I am shocked that a page was not already created on SP for it before now.
This was the first of four peaks reached that day, with Black Mountain, Zero Butte, and the Gilliam CoHP being the others. This trip then became an adventure as soon after reaching the Gilliam CoHP and driving away, my front passenger-side tire blew out along Lone Rock Road shortly after turning off Lost Valley Road. It sucked because I was near the middle of nowhere. It double-sucked because it was dark. It triple-sucked because I still was not fully healed from my broken left wrist, although I still had one great hand/arm and two strong legs to help with the lugnuts! Needless to say, the highpointing aspect of the trip came to a sudden halt, and I drove (using my "donut" tire) to Goldendale where my wife picked me up to fetch a new tire from Yakima.