Past Activity

Mount Bailey Climb w/ Mount Scott Option – Happy Fathers Day!

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Start date: 06/21/2026
Start time: 12:00 AM
End date: 06/21/2026
End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

We'll celebrate Father's Day and Summer Solstice on top of 8369 foot Mount Bailey. The climb is mostly on a maintained trail that steepens upwards toward the summit. The first 2 miles are an excellent trail at a moderate grade. The next 3 are steep, have many down trees to navigate, and quite loose and rocky for the last 1-1.5 miles. We break above timberline about a mile from the summit and follow a rocky path with a short (5 ft) scramble to the top. As of 6/7 there is a significant icy snow patch that requires microspikes to navigate; it offers serious exposure and some participants may wish to stop instead of crossing it (there's a nice place to hang out a little ways back on the trail). Participants should be in excellent physical condition as this climb is similar in length and elevation gain to the Hardesty Mtn. trail.

We will start this non-technical, climb at the trailhead at 6:00 AM with the hopes of returning to the vehicles in time for an optional hike to the top of Mount Scott, the high point of Crater Lake NP. However, as of 6/7, the East Rim Drive is not open and Mt. Scott is still quite snow-bound, so this may not be an option.

For those who wish to share transportation the suggested donation to drivers is $28.60.
Sign Up opens May 23.

Photo by: Marti Gerdes

Event Leader: Steve Davis
Event Leader Phone: 832-527-1756
Event Leader Email: lunaripple1@gmail.com
Assistant Leader:
Event category: Climbs
Area Type: Mountain
Departure Location:
Rating: Difficult
Roundtrip total drive miles: 260
Season:
Permits Required:
- NW Forest Pass
Event Status: Passed
Supplies and Equipment Required: Hiking boots or shoes, microspikes (required), wool or synthetic fabrics (no cotton), clothing layers and outerwear for all types of weather, trekking poles (optional), 2-3 liters fluids, food and snacks for about 6-7 hours hiking, sun protection, Obsidians 10 essentials, personal first aid kit.
participant prerequisites: Excellent physical condition, capable of sustained, steep, uphill hiking for 3-4 hours. Must be comfortable on rocky, steep, loose terrain with minor scrambling near the summit.
Conditions:
Total Distance: 10 mi
Member Fees: —
Elevation Gain: 3200 ft
Non-Member Fees: 35
Committee: Climbs
Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

6 eager and robust Obsidians climbed Mount Bailey on a sparkling clear mountain day. After hiking the increasingly steep and rocky trail to timberline we stopped to admire a beautiful small volcanic crater for a few minutes. From there we ascended to the summit ridge and followed the climbers trail, gingerly in places, to the summit. While on the summit we admired views stretching from Mt. Jefferson in the north to Mt. McLoughlin in the south to Mt. June in the west. Hundreds (thousands?) of California Tortoiseshell butterflies fluttered around and past us the entire time we were on the summit. On the descent a few of us took a short side excursion to see the Hemlock Butte Ski Cabin, then continued down the trail past some freshly sprouted Sugar Stick saprophytes. Great day in all!

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