huskertriguy - Mar 31, 2019 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Mar 30, 2019
Fun Snow Ascent
The road to Indian Rock is still impassable for all but the most intrepid of drivers and high-clearance of 4wd vehicles as early as Satus Pass, so Jeremy Benezra and I formed a backup plan.
I must admit I was only half-committal to this trip as I was not convinced we would make it far enough up the road to consider it worth attempting. So we lollygagged on the drive over and got a late afternoon start, finishing well after dark.
Having said that...it was great, and I cannot recommend a winter ascent highly enough.
Note that FR 4109 is in quite deeply rutted, and only high-clearance 4wd vehicles should even attempt it. We were in a high-clearance SUV and only made it about 1 mile up, leaving 1.5 miles to walk from vehicle to trailhead. Some teenagers had made it 1/4-mile farther up the road than us in a midsize SUV on a regular chassis, and we could not figure out how they pulled it off. If you park at the bottom of this road it will add 5 miles RT.
We had snowshoes on us but did not use them, finding it more efficient to kick in steps where necessary and plunge-step on descents.
The route is pretty apparent, including on the ridgeline. We did miss the trail junction in the saddle between Silver Star and Sturgeon but managed to connect back up with the route easily enough. Attempts on our part to beeline up to the basalt cliffs to shorten the route were misled. You are better off sticking to the standard route (though it is not necessary to take the longer route to the base of Sturgeon Ridge).
We found no benchmarks nor summit registers at the the top. We hit the full summit and were sure to scramble around the outcrops on the county line to be sure we hit the Clark County high point.
Descent was quick and easy as we had pizza calling our name.
awilsondc - Jun 17, 2014 12:56 am Date Climbed: May 24, 2014
Warm up hike
Just a little hike to get the legs in shape after a winter of laziness. I had done silver star years ago and thought this would be a good low elevation snow free peak that I had not done before, as well as a county high point (if I ever decide that such lists have interest to me). I remember seeing sturgeon rock from the summit of silver star years ago and thinking that I should go there some time... so I did.
Bob Burd - Sep 20, 2012 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
From the north
Out CoHPing with Adam on a rainy day. Trip Report.
TyC - Aug 12, 2011 11:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2011
Dominated
My friend and I went up to Silver Star today and the weather was perfect. The flowers were still out in force. After hitting the summit of Silver Star we headed over to Sturgeon rock. I think it has better views than SS. Great hike!
ericnoel - Apr 24, 2011 5:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2008
Sturgeon
I did this in summer but the flowers were still out. Fun little scrambling on the side of the "peak".
Dundeel - Jan 20, 2011 11:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2004
Sturgeon Phishing
Second attempt. First time, blew a ring in my engine and trailed smoke all the way home. WA Cohp 15/39
Brian Jenkins - Jun 7, 2010 1:43 am Date Climbed: Nov 29, 2002
side trip
A long time ago. Who knew I was on a summit at the time?
Redwic - Jun 6, 2010 1:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2010
A Great Day For County Highpointing!
I summited Sturgeon Rock with the initial goal being "Sturgeon Fin" (the Clark CoHP). "Sturgeon Fin" was my 19th WA CoHP. I also made a side-trip for nearby Silver Star Mountain. A lot of snow on the trail between 3700'-4200', but the summits were bare. Great views in all directions. This area was packed full of hikers, although I was the only person on Sturgeon Rock until I met two other parties while descending from that peak. One party was going up the non-technical way, and one party was going up the "Sturgeon Stairway" route. No animals seen, but plenty of grouse heard in the surrounding forests. I also summited Goat Mountain (the Cowlitz CoHP) earlier during the same day.
huskertriguy - Mar 31, 2019 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Mar 30, 2019
Fun Snow AscentThe road to Indian Rock is still impassable for all but the most intrepid of drivers and high-clearance of 4wd vehicles as early as Satus Pass, so Jeremy Benezra and I formed a backup plan.
I must admit I was only half-committal to this trip as I was not convinced we would make it far enough up the road to consider it worth attempting. So we lollygagged on the drive over and got a late afternoon start, finishing well after dark.
Having said that...it was great, and I cannot recommend a winter ascent highly enough.
Note that FR 4109 is in quite deeply rutted, and only high-clearance 4wd vehicles should even attempt it. We were in a high-clearance SUV and only made it about 1 mile up, leaving 1.5 miles to walk from vehicle to trailhead. Some teenagers had made it 1/4-mile farther up the road than us in a midsize SUV on a regular chassis, and we could not figure out how they pulled it off. If you park at the bottom of this road it will add 5 miles RT.
We had snowshoes on us but did not use them, finding it more efficient to kick in steps where necessary and plunge-step on descents.
The route is pretty apparent, including on the ridgeline. We did miss the trail junction in the saddle between Silver Star and Sturgeon but managed to connect back up with the route easily enough. Attempts on our part to beeline up to the basalt cliffs to shorten the route were misled. You are better off sticking to the standard route (though it is not necessary to take the longer route to the base of Sturgeon Ridge).
We found no benchmarks nor summit registers at the the top. We hit the full summit and were sure to scramble around the outcrops on the county line to be sure we hit the Clark County high point.
Descent was quick and easy as we had pizza calling our name.
awilsondc - Jun 17, 2014 12:56 am Date Climbed: May 24, 2014
Warm up hikeJust a little hike to get the legs in shape after a winter of laziness. I had done silver star years ago and thought this would be a good low elevation snow free peak that I had not done before, as well as a county high point (if I ever decide that such lists have interest to me). I remember seeing sturgeon rock from the summit of silver star years ago and thinking that I should go there some time... so I did.
Bob Burd - Sep 20, 2012 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
From the northOut CoHPing with Adam on a rainy day. Trip Report.
TyC - Aug 12, 2011 11:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2011
DominatedMy friend and I went up to Silver Star today and the weather was perfect. The flowers were still out in force. After hitting the summit of Silver Star we headed over to Sturgeon rock. I think it has better views than SS. Great hike!
ericnoel - Apr 24, 2011 5:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2008
SturgeonI did this in summer but the flowers were still out. Fun little scrambling on the side of the "peak".
Dundeel - Jan 20, 2011 11:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2004
Sturgeon PhishingSecond attempt. First time, blew a ring in my engine and trailed smoke all the way home. WA Cohp 15/39
Brian Jenkins - Jun 7, 2010 1:43 am Date Climbed: Nov 29, 2002
side tripA long time ago. Who knew I was on a summit at the time?
Redwic - Jun 6, 2010 1:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2010
A Great Day For County Highpointing!I summited Sturgeon Rock with the initial goal being "Sturgeon Fin" (the Clark CoHP). "Sturgeon Fin" was my 19th WA CoHP. I also made a side-trip for nearby Silver Star Mountain. A lot of snow on the trail between 3700'-4200', but the summits were bare. Great views in all directions. This area was packed full of hikers, although I was the only person on Sturgeon Rock until I met two other parties while descending from that peak. One party was going up the non-technical way, and one party was going up the "Sturgeon Stairway" route. No animals seen, but plenty of grouse heard in the surrounding forests. I also summited Goat Mountain (the Cowlitz CoHP) earlier during the same day.