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Elephant Mtn, WA | August 2013

K7ATN's picture
Summit: 
W7W/MC-076
Voice Cellular Coverage: 
Decent, workable
Data Cellular Coverage: 
Decent, workable
Cellular Provider: 
T-Mobile
APRS Coverage: 
Don't know

Elephant Mountain - interesting name for a small peak in central Washington, not too far from Yakima. For the right vehicle it might be a drive up - our rental car found the steep road to be a bit much and we hiked the rest of the way to the summit.

We climbed a little less than a mile and 500 feet to the top and then perhaps 50 yards farther east. The views once past the repeater sites are excellent and if you are thoughtful about supporting your antenna using a small shrub, you are set.

If your GPS or map can find Moxee Dump Road it will be easy to get there. Otherwise, from the junction just east of Yakima of I-82 and Highway 24, go about 5.5 miles east to Fauchner Road. About 1.5 miles south will lead you to Moxee Dump Road that crosses an irrigation canal. Go south along the canal to a large laydown area and then east to a closed, but unlocked gate. We got about half a mile up the road after that - there are only a few places to pull over. The road past the gate is not appropriate for most passenger cars...not even our rental car. (See the map for guidance.) The orchards themselves are posted but access is possible to Elephant Mountain and all the radio sites on the summit.

K7WIX did his first ever activation here on 20m and 40m SSB, followed by yours truly on 40m and 20m CW. There's a 2m repeater on the summit so the LOS coverage should be excellent but we did not try 2m simplex - perhaps next time.

Pictures: 
Elephant Mountain from the south
Unlocked gate east side of orchard
SSB operator - K7WIX
CW operator - K7ATN
Looking back at the summit from the operating position
Elephant Mountain map - gate marked with a G