Climbed Tipsoo Peak via the Tipsoo peak trail. We then dropped off the backside down to the PCT and followed the trail for a few miles before going up Howlock Mountain to the eastern summit and signing the summit log there. Following another climbers route we left the PCT on the way back at about the 7200' elevation and went cross country until we hit the Tipsoo peak trail to lessen the overall mileage. Tipsoo Peak is very gentle and family friendly. Howlock is a moderate scramble with some dinner plate scree.
Vlog can be found at: https://youtu.be/GYc3amh8ky8
https://www.strava.com/activities/1683363796
locke456 - Oct 23, 2013 10:33 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2013
A Lot Of Bang For Your Buck
Easy drive to the trailhead in a 2WD sedan, short but beautiful hike that, near the end, starts to feel like you're climbing a "real" mountain...and then you suddenly leave the forest and have Howlock and Thielsen looming over you, and Crater Lake, the Sisters, Bailey, etc. in the distance. Would be a fun dayhike by itself, but tack on Howlock for an amazing day of incredible views.
Dennis Poulin - Sep 5, 2010 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
Tipsoo Trail
This is a great hike and fantastic views from the summit. The Tipsoo Trail is well maintained and goes right to the summit. Incredible views of Howlock and Thielsen.
SierraSunrise85 - Jan 21, 2010 5:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2008
Good Detour From PCT to Thielsen
Climbed this peak as a stop along the way to the Thielsen trail from the PCT around Thielsen creek. Great to get a view of Thielsen before you climb it. Easy walk up, recommended addition if you are climbing or hiking in the area.
alpinedon - Nov 23, 2009 12:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2003
Only Once, long ago
climbed this with an ex, thought the view of Thielsen were stupendous.
Hike-a-biked and rode up this very smooth trail. Rode about a mile of it. Very cool summit with great views of Howlock, Thielsen, Bailey and to the mountains to the north. The ride down was awesome, best one i've ever had off a mountain. 1:08 up, 12 minutes, 30 seconds down. The only way to fly!
calebEOC - Aug 3, 2008 9:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Grueling
Pretty easy walkup, but was really just a bump along the way to Howlock Mountain my primary goal for the day. Great red cindery summit.
mountaingazelle - Aug 13, 2005 8:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2005
Route Climbed: Tipsoo Trail Date Climbed: August 12, 2005
The switchbacks on this trail make the climb very easy. The view is what make the hike so great. We had a nice sunny day with no one else on the mountain. Now I have to go back to climb Mount Thielsen and Howlock Mountain.
Route Climbed: Tipsoo trail/bushwhack Date Climbed: July 2nd, 2005
What a nice surprise this peak was and a great day for a short trek, too. After summiting, we went south, cross country, in an attempt to get to Howlock but the four foot deep snowpack foiled our endevour.
Route Climbed: trail/west slope Date Climbed: June 28, 2005
Lost the trail under snow after less than a mile, so I just headed uphill through deep soft snow. Excellent views of the Sawtooth Ridge, Howlock, and Thielsen. A few hip deep post holes made it a bit more interesting. Lots of skeeters in the early season. Nice little peak.
Route Climbed: Tipsoo Trail Date Climbed: August 17, 2003
Fun easy hike with my friend, Brian, as the capper to our annual weeklong trip. Nice views up top but also lots of annoying flies and bees. Descended back to the meadow for lunch.
cascadescrambler - Aug 12, 2019 12:31 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
300Hiked this with my brother to bag his 300th summit
SkiValdez - Jul 26, 2018 3:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2018
Tipsoo Peak & Howlock MountainClimbed Tipsoo Peak via the Tipsoo peak trail. We then dropped off the backside down to the PCT and followed the trail for a few miles before going up Howlock Mountain to the eastern summit and signing the summit log there. Following another climbers route we left the PCT on the way back at about the 7200' elevation and went cross country until we hit the Tipsoo peak trail to lessen the overall mileage. Tipsoo Peak is very gentle and family friendly. Howlock is a moderate scramble with some dinner plate scree.
Vlog can be found at: https://youtu.be/GYc3amh8ky8
https://www.strava.com/activities/1683363796
locke456 - Oct 23, 2013 10:33 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2013
A Lot Of Bang For Your BuckEasy drive to the trailhead in a 2WD sedan, short but beautiful hike that, near the end, starts to feel like you're climbing a "real" mountain...and then you suddenly leave the forest and have Howlock and Thielsen looming over you, and Crater Lake, the Sisters, Bailey, etc. in the distance. Would be a fun dayhike by itself, but tack on Howlock for an amazing day of incredible views.
Dennis Poulin - Sep 5, 2010 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
Tipsoo TrailThis is a great hike and fantastic views from the summit. The Tipsoo Trail is well maintained and goes right to the summit. Incredible views of Howlock and Thielsen.
Holk - Jul 29, 2010 6:46 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
My Launch Pad:On my way over to Howlock Mountain and Thielsen East Peak, but didn't make it to the latter. It was fun to scramble the Sawtooth Ridge. TR here: http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/642509/The-Holly-Sawtooth.html
SierraSunrise85 - Jan 21, 2010 5:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2008
Good Detour From PCT to ThielsenClimbed this peak as a stop along the way to the Thielsen trail from the PCT around Thielsen creek. Great to get a view of Thielsen before you climb it. Easy walk up, recommended addition if you are climbing or hiking in the area.
alpinedon - Nov 23, 2009 12:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2003
Only Once, long agoclimbed this with an ex, thought the view of Thielsen were stupendous.
cascadetraveler - Sep 14, 2008 12:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 1997
OBSIDIANS HIKEA great vantage point of the Sawtooth ridge and Mt Thielson. I did this as one of the many Obsidian club hikes back in the nineties.
BSPclimber - Sep 12, 2008 1:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2008
On bikeHike-a-biked and rode up this very smooth trail. Rode about a mile of it. Very cool summit with great views of Howlock, Thielsen, Bailey and to the mountains to the north. The ride down was awesome, best one i've ever had off a mountain. 1:08 up, 12 minutes, 30 seconds down. The only way to fly!
calebEOC - Aug 3, 2008 9:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
GruelingPretty easy walkup, but was really just a bump along the way to Howlock Mountain my primary goal for the day. Great red cindery summit.
mountaingazelle - Aug 13, 2005 8:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2005
Route Climbed: Tipsoo Trail Date Climbed: August 12, 2005The switchbacks on this trail make the climb very easy. The view is what make the hike so great. We had a nice sunny day with no one else on the mountain. Now I have to go back to climb Mount Thielsen and Howlock Mountain.
Don Nelsen - Jul 3, 2005 7:06 pm
Route Climbed: Tipsoo trail/bushwhack Date Climbed: July 2nd, 2005What a nice surprise this peak was and a great day for a short trek, too. After summiting, we went south, cross country, in an attempt to get to Howlock but the four foot deep snowpack foiled our endevour.
Cornvallis - Jun 29, 2005 11:13 pm
Route Climbed: trail/west slope Date Climbed: June 28, 2005Lost the trail under snow after less than a mile, so I just headed uphill through deep soft snow. Excellent views of the Sawtooth Ridge, Howlock, and Thielsen. A few hip deep post holes made it a bit more interesting. Lots of skeeters in the early season. Nice little peak.
Flanders - Aug 22, 2003 11:37 am
Route Climbed: Tipsoo Trail Date Climbed: August 17, 2003Easiest 6 miles in all of Oregon!
Brian Jenkins - Aug 18, 2003 9:29 pm
Route Climbed: Tipsoo Trail Date Climbed: August 17, 2003Fun easy hike with my friend, Brian, as the capper to our annual weeklong trip. Nice views up top but also lots of annoying flies and bees. Descended back to the meadow for lunch.