We parked just off the Mountain Loop Highway on at the gate on Rd. 4036. We went right at the first fork and right again at a junction with Rd 4039. At about 2500' we left the road and started uphill (north) to a 4000' saddle SW of the summit. Steep hard snow to the NE stopped us 800' short of the top. No views as the route is almost totally in the trees until just before the summit (or so I'm told).
February 9, 2006
Looking up from Rd 4039
Long Mountain
Warm sun and hard snow
Forested slope
Ice axe arrest practice
On the road home
Route Map
Directions:
Drive the Mountain Loop Highway east to Rd 4036 between Verlot and Silverton. We found the road gated a hundred yards off the highway, so we parked out of the way, short of the gate.