Spring is here and it's time to get back out there and activate. We thought it would be fun to meet up with fellow Activators and to encourage new Activators. There are a number of SOTA peaks in and around Portland and we'd like to get activators up on all of them at the same time. We could all work each other on the air and then meet up after for an 'eyeball' QSO.

If anyone is up for some VHF fun over the next few weeks, try some SSB tonight around 144.200 starting at 7pm local time - or some 2m FM perhaps on 146.55.

Peterson Butte on the west side of Lebanon, Oregon is private with limited access. The Lebanon Trails Committee (http://buildlebanontrails.com) schedules occasional hikes on Peterson Butte - the last hike was planned for 12 April 2014 (http://buildlebanontrails.com/2014/03/14/april-12th-hike-at-peterson-butte/).

Ridgeway Butte, accessed by Ridgeway Drive on the east side of Lebanon, Oregon has signs indicating 'private property' and 'no trespassing'. The Lebanon Trails Committee (http://buildlebanontrails.com) schedules occasional hikes on Ridgeway Butte that are lead by the property owner, Rick Ely. The next hike is planned for October 2014.

On 27 March Etienne (K7ATN) and I activated Silver Star mountain. The weather report called for rain with a break around mid day. We headed to the trailhead, Route: Washougal, WA to Washougal River Road (approx. 10 mi), to Skye Rd to 412th AVE to Skamania Mines Rd. Follow the signs to silver star. We reached the TH at about 0840 and started up the trail. At about 1/8 of a mile the trail splits, take the right split. We found out the hard way and got about 1/4 mile down the trail before I checked the map and realized we were on the wrong trail.

I did this summit on 26 March as it was close to where I was staying. It poured rain on me the whole time but I came out with 14 quick contacts including a S2S with Etienne K7ATN on 146.52. I drove up the road and until my truck would not make it any further (4WD) and then hiked up the rest of the way. If you look at my everytrail tracks the "GO" marker is where the dirt road starts and the "END" marker is where I parked the truck. You could drive further then this if it was a dry day or if you had a jeep or 4 wheeler.

Check out my blog at http://kf7pxt.blogspot.com/2014/03/larch-mountain-w7wlc-103-sota.html for additional information.

Here is my everytrail post with downloadable GPX tracks - http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2713566

A very long day to get ten points - the usual for the Northwest.

On a quck training hike for our Switzerland Hiking / Climbing tour next July / August, I carried along my trusty ICOM - IC - V85 2M HT because it has an output of 7 Watts.  Together with my old AEA "Hot Rod" telescoping vertical antenna for 2M, it seems to work very well on 2M FM.  Squak Mountain, 617 Meters, 2,024 Feet elevation is an easy 4.2 miles RT hike gaining 1,274 feet to the summit.  It is easily accessible from my home QTH in Bellevue, WA.  Park on SR900 (Issaquah - Renton Road) or, as we did, at one of the higher trailheads on Mountainside