This was a day-hike in Central Oregon, part of the 24-mile Three Fingered Jack Loop, starting from the Santiam Pass Pacific Crest Trailhead and hiking north past the Climber's Trail & the base of Three Fingered Jack ultimately up to what I call the “Moneyshot”, the highest point of the entire 24-mile Loop, an epic Three Fingered Jack Mountain Face Viewpoint Zone at the top of a switchback-laden Pass that serves ultimately as our turnaround spot for the 14 Mile, 1600 FT Elevation Gain hike (This day-hike is one of three amazing day-hikes I like to break Three Fingered Jack Loop into - also Santiam Pass PCT to Square Lake & Booth Lake, as well as Jack Lake Trailhead to Canyon Creek Meadows, Cirque Viewpoint, over to Wasco Lake, and PCT to bottom of switchbacks of "Moneyshot" - these three day-hikes essentially capture all the highlight sections of Three Fingered Jack Loop).
I would recommend doing this earlier in the day with fluids on your person because the vast majority of this 5 - 7 hour hike is FULLY EXPOSED to the SUN.
The temperature was classic late Summer weather, in the 40's early in the morning with a high in 70's in the heart of the day.
This was hiked on 9/9/2022 and there were fortunately no mosquitoes.
As far as road conditions, in my opinion, any car can easily make it, the road most definitely does not require 4-Wheel Drive, it is highway to a paved parking lot, no real off road or challenging road driving required - do watch for road conditions, particularly snow/ice depending on the time of year.