Road still had a lot of snow starting 6 miles out, so I had to hike a bike 6 miles each way to get to the trailhead. Cool to be up on top with still quite a bit of snow, I doubt anyone has ever been up here this early in a normal snow year.
huskertriguy - Jan 5, 2019 1:29 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2018
Winter
This was a trip including Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Polk, Lincoln, Coos, Curry, and Benton counties. Left from Roseburg, where I had stayed the previous evening.
Familiar with the story of the ill-fated Kim family, I was prepared to turn around at the first sign of snow on the road, even with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.
The locals I spoke to at the Tri-City gas station strongly cautioned against driving up there. But knowing the forecast was clear, and with a full tank of gas and fully stocked in case of emergency, and with my wife knowing my full itinerary, I chose to go for it.
After leaving Bolivar, I saw a number of other vehicles on the road, including a caravan of several pickups towing fishing boats. Even on FR-2308 I encountered one pickup coming down. Although I encountered about an inch of snow 6-8 miles from the trailhead, tire tracks told me someone had been up and back recently. About .5-mile from where I'd intended to start walking, the tracks stopped, but I could see the road and was confident all would be well.
Indeed it was! I got first tracks in the snow (not deep nor solid enough to require microspikes nor snowshoes), and sunset from the summit was exquisite. Drove on to Lincoln City via Agness Rd. with no difficulties.
Exercise solid judgment and caution based on your level of experience.
Paul McClellan - Jul 15, 2016 4:57 pm Date Climbed: May 18, 2016
Enjoyed the late afternoon views
Hiked Bearcamp Ridge Trail and the unofficial Brandy Peak Trail from FR 2308 off FR 23. Enjoyed the late afternoon views. Was reluctant to leave, but needed to find a campsite for the evening.
Dundeel - May 17, 2016 1:49 am Date Climbed: Nov 9, 2009
A snifter of Brandy
Almost got locked in when the Bear Camp Road was locked while I was up there. Was able to follow the Peavine road as an alternate.
scgrant - Oct 6, 2015 9:18 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2015
Brandy
Nice trip down to the south western section of Oregon where we were able to hit back dirt roads and connect Mount Bolivar, Brandy Peak, and Grayback Mountain. Three Oregon CoHP's and three P2K's; not bad.
Tracy - Jun 11, 2015 8:53 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2015
not so quick side-trip
Took a LONG out and back detour on our way from Crescent City, CA to Coos Bay, OR and given the winding road I have to admit my wife is a good sport. She waited in the car while I hiked it.
Nick Turtura - Sep 30, 2012 1:10 am Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2012
Too much to bear
I went up with my three kids, 7,5,and 5 years in age. As we summited my son bent over to get the register and as he did so I saw a bear 15 yards beyond us. Needless to say we didn't sign anything that day. I grabbed the kids and slowly walked away while singing our favorite songs, very loudly. My kids didn't even see the thing and I wanted their first sighting to be a good experience (from a little further away.) So I didn't tell them anything. On the way down my son told my daughters "dad needs to go to the bathroom real bad. That's why we left too quick to sign the register." He was kinda right.
I started with King Mountain, Grayback near Glendale, then over to Bolivar, and around through Agness to pick off Brandy. It was a lot of backcountry driving on very windy roads but I met with success at all four peaks.
Redwic - Jul 2, 2012 9:35 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Nice Quick Jog
I was trying to wedge this CoHP in-between Mount Bolivar and Grayback Mountain, so I jogged up & down Brandy Peak to save time (30m up, 12m down). Unfortunately, I was was in such a hurry that it also caused me to forget to sign the register. I was not thinking straight, after driving many hours from Washington with virtually no sleep. Fortunately, my quick trips at Bolivar and Brandy did allow enough time to get to Grayback during daylight hours.
ericnoel - Apr 24, 2011 4:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2010
Brandy
Doh. I was stopped by a single lingering snow drift and forced to walk 3 miles to get to the TH. Then up to the peak. Then back. Pleasant hike other than the bonus roadwalk.
Brian Kalet - Jul 25, 2008 2:41 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2008
Hiked up the ridge trail until the GPS said we were close to te summit, then bushwacked to the top. I'm easy to please, but this one isn't worth it unless your into CHP or prominence peaks
Ryan Burd - Jul 3, 2008 4:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2007
Bear Camp Ridge Trail
With Dad, below.
Bob Burd - Jul 28, 2007 1:43 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2007
Bear Camp Ridge Trail
Easy hike with son Ryan in the morning. Did Bolivar in the afternoon. Trip Report
Dennis Poulin - Jan 17, 2007 8:31 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2002
Snow Hike
I hiked this one in the snow. It was foggy, cold, and wet. This was my 2nd CoHP that I intentionally went out to hike. I did Bolivar Mtn this same day.
Bob Bolton - Jan 17, 2007 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2003
Bushwhack
See Dean's entry below. Fortunately the following day was gorgeous as we completed our three-county-highpoint swing through SW Oregon on a positive note on Grayback Mountain.
Dean - Jan 17, 2007 7:59 am Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2003
Cross country
Bob Bolton and I had climbed nearby Mt. Bolivar earlier in the day and made our way around to Brandy Peak by taking road 23 up from the Rogue River. We used our map and GPS to figure out the best place to park on FS 2308 and then just hiked up in the rain on slippery vegetation to our second rainy summit of the day. No views. The James Kim tragedy made me remember the area and reminded me that mountains are not places to be unprepared in bad weather. My condolences and sympathy go out to the Kim family for the terrible loss they suffered.
triyoda - Jul 9, 2020 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Apr 24, 2020
Adventure routeRoad still had a lot of snow starting 6 miles out, so I had to hike a bike 6 miles each way to get to the trailhead. Cool to be up on top with still quite a bit of snow, I doubt anyone has ever been up here this early in a normal snow year.
huskertriguy - Jan 5, 2019 1:29 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2018
WinterThis was a trip including Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Polk, Lincoln, Coos, Curry, and Benton counties. Left from Roseburg, where I had stayed the previous evening.
Familiar with the story of the ill-fated Kim family, I was prepared to turn around at the first sign of snow on the road, even with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.
The locals I spoke to at the Tri-City gas station strongly cautioned against driving up there. But knowing the forecast was clear, and with a full tank of gas and fully stocked in case of emergency, and with my wife knowing my full itinerary, I chose to go for it.
After leaving Bolivar, I saw a number of other vehicles on the road, including a caravan of several pickups towing fishing boats. Even on FR-2308 I encountered one pickup coming down. Although I encountered about an inch of snow 6-8 miles from the trailhead, tire tracks told me someone had been up and back recently. About .5-mile from where I'd intended to start walking, the tracks stopped, but I could see the road and was confident all would be well.
Indeed it was! I got first tracks in the snow (not deep nor solid enough to require microspikes nor snowshoes), and sunset from the summit was exquisite. Drove on to Lincoln City via Agness Rd. with no difficulties.
Exercise solid judgment and caution based on your level of experience.
Paul McClellan - Jul 15, 2016 4:57 pm Date Climbed: May 18, 2016
Enjoyed the late afternoon viewsHiked Bearcamp Ridge Trail and the unofficial Brandy Peak Trail from FR 2308 off FR 23. Enjoyed the late afternoon views. Was reluctant to leave, but needed to find a campsite for the evening.
Dundeel - May 17, 2016 1:49 am Date Climbed: Nov 9, 2009
A snifter of BrandyAlmost got locked in when the Bear Camp Road was locked while I was up there. Was able to follow the Peavine road as an alternate.
scgrant - Oct 6, 2015 9:18 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2015
BrandyNice trip down to the south western section of Oregon where we were able to hit back dirt roads and connect Mount Bolivar, Brandy Peak, and Grayback Mountain. Three Oregon CoHP's and three P2K's; not bad.
Tracy - Jun 11, 2015 8:53 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2015
not so quick side-tripTook a LONG out and back detour on our way from Crescent City, CA to Coos Bay, OR and given the winding road I have to admit my wife is a good sport. She waited in the car while I hiked it.
Nick Turtura - Sep 30, 2012 1:10 am Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2012
Too much to bearI went up with my three kids, 7,5,and 5 years in age. As we summited my son bent over to get the register and as he did so I saw a bear 15 yards beyond us. Needless to say we didn't sign anything that day. I grabbed the kids and slowly walked away while singing our favorite songs, very loudly. My kids didn't even see the thing and I wanted their first sighting to be a good experience (from a little further away.) So I didn't tell them anything. On the way down my son told my daughters "dad needs to go to the bathroom real bad. That's why we left too quick to sign the register." He was kinda right.
calebEOC - Sep 10, 2012 8:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 8, 2012
After BolivarI started with King Mountain, Grayback near Glendale, then over to Bolivar, and around through Agness to pick off Brandy. It was a lot of backcountry driving on very windy roads but I met with success at all four peaks.
Redwic - Jul 2, 2012 9:35 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012
Nice Quick JogI was trying to wedge this CoHP in-between Mount Bolivar and Grayback Mountain, so I jogged up & down Brandy Peak to save time (30m up, 12m down). Unfortunately, I was was in such a hurry that it also caused me to forget to sign the register. I was not thinking straight, after driving many hours from Washington with virtually no sleep. Fortunately, my quick trips at Bolivar and Brandy did allow enough time to get to Grayback during daylight hours.
ericnoel - Apr 24, 2011 4:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2010
BrandyDoh. I was stopped by a single lingering snow drift and forced to walk 3 miles to get to the TH. Then up to the peak. Then back. Pleasant hike other than the bonus roadwalk.
Brian Kalet - Jul 25, 2008 2:41 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2008
Bear Camp Ridge Trail35 minutes roundtrip.
Cornvallis - Jul 21, 2008 12:47 am
TrailHiked up the ridge trail until the GPS said we were close to te summit, then bushwacked to the top. I'm easy to please, but this one isn't worth it unless your into CHP or prominence peaks
Ryan Burd - Jul 3, 2008 4:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2007
Bear Camp Ridge TrailWith Dad, below.
Bob Burd - Jul 28, 2007 1:43 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2007
Bear Camp Ridge TrailEasy hike with son Ryan in the morning. Did Bolivar in the afternoon. Trip Report
Dennis Poulin - Jan 17, 2007 8:31 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2002
Snow HikeI hiked this one in the snow. It was foggy, cold, and wet. This was my 2nd CoHP that I intentionally went out to hike. I did Bolivar Mtn this same day.
Bob Bolton - Jan 17, 2007 3:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2003
BushwhackSee Dean's entry below. Fortunately the following day was gorgeous as we completed our three-county-highpoint swing through SW Oregon on a positive note on Grayback Mountain.
Dean - Jan 17, 2007 7:59 am Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2003
Cross countryBob Bolton and I had climbed nearby Mt. Bolivar earlier in the day and made our way around to Brandy Peak by taking road 23 up from the Rogue River. We used our map and GPS to figure out the best place to park on FS 2308 and then just hiked up in the rain on slippery vegetation to our second rainy summit of the day. No views. The James Kim tragedy made me remember the area and reminded me that mountains are not places to be unprepared in bad weather. My condolences and sympathy go out to the Kim family for the terrible loss they suffered.