Welcome to the updated pnwsota.org!
Firstly, you will need to reset your password, we did not migrate those to the new site for you. And because our old site was running without HTTPS for so long, it is strongly encouraged that you do not recycle your previous password. Please pick something fresh and new! Head on over to the Password Reset page to get started (or click Log In and then Reset your password )
The pnwSOTA website was created to facilitate communication between SOTA operators in the Pacific Northwest region, as well as show off some of the activities of the top-notch folks we have in the area. On this site you will find information about getting started in SOTA as well as details about summits and activations contributed by people that are operating here.
Summary - If the gate is locked (and it probably is), this is a two mile logging road hike and summit hill bushwhack with modest elevation gain. On a clear day there are views from the north end of the summit. The bushwhack is relatively short with a few sections of thick brush. Round trip hike is under five miles with almost 1000 feet of elevation gain. Spotting with APRS or ATT cell service is possible. Bring HF gear as 2M contacts may be a chore. The hike and summit are on Hood River County Forest land with active logging sites.
Heads up… on Jan 10, 2026 when driving from W7O/NC-091 to NC-083 (as noted in the prior descriptions) I came across a slide located along the southeast side of the mountain - very close to the final turn up to the NC-083 summit. I had to backtrack and take the logging road that wraps around the north side of summit. Not sure how long this route will remain blocked, but it may be a low priority to clear.
DJ (WW7D) and I (WU7H) saved this one for our 2025/2026 UTC rollover activation. We have done Keechelus in the winter before and it is usually a very reliable winter summit -- there is a groomed snowmobile trail that gets you close enough to the summit to snowshoe up. We attempted to do this as a UTC rollover back in 2019 but it was raining heavily (even at 5000') and we were so wet, cold, and miserable we bailed before the UTC rollover. This year we got lucky - it was a bluebird day!