29 August 2025
4-Wheel Drive ~ Lush Green ~ Damp Forest ~ Boulder Strewn ~Whortleberry Aroma ~ Fire Tower Remnants ~ Interstate Drone
I say I’m not competitive, but I am. Mostly with myself. I really don’t like failing to complete something I have set out to do. Twice before I had attempted to activate Haystack Mountain, about an hour south of Helena, and twice I was denied. Both of those attempts were in the winter months and the snow conditions were not conducive for hiking or snowshoeing. So with the end of summer fast approaching I figured I better get this double missed attempt off of my back.
Haystack Mountain sits somewhat unassumingly east of Interstate-15 above the flat stretch of fields in Elk Park, about 25 miles northeast of Butte in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (POTA US-4499). The drive to the trailhead (TH) took me about an hour. From Helena, drive south towards Butte then double back at the Elk Park exit on the frontage roads to NFR-1538. When the road turns uphill and away from the interstate I recommend only driving this in a 4-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicle. Parking near the interstate and hiking the road to the TH adds about a mile each way. There is a sign as you start up that warns, “narrow rough road,” and it is not joking. Erosion in some spots makes the driving somewhat technical but doable. Other sections are quite narrow as young lodgepole pines line the road fighting for space to grow.
The day prior the region was inundated with a late season monsoon flow that provided a decent amount of rain. The trees and grass were dripping wet from the rain and the air was calm. The damp forest smelled fresh and amazing.
The hike to the top is about 2.8 miles each way. From my perspective it was about as perfect of a trail as I could ask for. The forest floor was boulder strewn and mixed with a green carpet of whortleberries throughout the stands of lodgepole pines and some fir. There were some moderately steep sections but nothing too challenging. Along the way I passed several little brooks with crystal clear water. Occasionally I would walk though a patch of air that smelled wonderfully unique. After stopping to pick a few berries I realized it was a combination of the classic pine forest smell and a waft of whortleberry aroma. I wish I could have bottled up that smell to save for later.
The trail was well maintained. While there were many downed trees mixed in with the healthy trees, I only had to step over one recently fallen tree along the trail. Those healthy trees masked my view of the summit but for only a few opportunities along the route. Nearing the top the boulders gained in size. Big boulders the size of cars were piled upon each other. Finally near the top the forest opened and I had a stunning view to the east over the expansive forest and Whitetail Reservoir in the distance.
At the top I found the fire tower remnants. The decaying stairs are all that really remain along with the foundation anchors. In between the large boulders that comprise the summit it was littered with scraps of metal, glass, and beer can pull tabs. This would have been an amazing perch to monitor for forest fires back in the day. To the southwest you can just look down into Butte and you have an unobstructed panoramic for one hundred miles.
It was nearly silent with just a light breeze through the tree tops, and the faint interstate drone of truck tires lumbering across the valley below between Butte and Helena.
First in the log again was Bill, N7MSI, on 2 meters. With as many mountains in between Helena and Haystack I was surprised how good his signal was for the 40-mile contact. I also found Bob, N7PTM, while he was driving around in Butte. On to HF with my QRP rardio, the LNR Precision MTR4B, and the fun continued. Chris, F4WBN, was my first contact on 20 meters. And as before on Moors Mountain, Waka, JG0AWE, also made a long distance contact with me. Thirty-two contacts in the log between 20 and 40 meters CW, with three summit-to-summits.
This was just an amazingly enjoyable trail and fun activation. It was well worth the wait to finally get this one done but I look forward to the opportunity to revisit this summit.
73, Allen
