On Monday, June 24, I climbed Hunt Mountain in the Elkhorn Range northwest of Baker City, Oregon. Hunt Mountain has only 425 feet of topographic prominence, but it has 8225 feet of elevation and appears quite prominent from the Baker Valley. Hunt Mountain has called for me to visit every time I have looked up at it from the valley. It has been the most insistent of several peaks I hoped to visit soon in the Elkhorn Mountains.
Hunt mountain is protected from the east by extensive private property without public access. A possible southern approach from Pine Creek requires a long, steep, off-trail climb through forest. My preferred route has been from the north and west, via Rock Creek and the Highland Mine ruins. I turned back on my last attempt of Hunt Mountain two years ago due to the length of this approach. I planned to make a more serious attempt this time.
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