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Mt. Digital, WA - July 2022

ND7Y's picture
Summit: 
W7W/LC-109
Voice Cellular Coverage: 
No service at all
Data Cellular Coverage: 
No service at all
Cellular Provider: 
Other
APRS Coverage: 
Full two-way messaging

Located just SSE of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Digital is an easily handled 4-pointer that could be added to multi-summit day along with Marble Mtn, Coaxial Mtn, Break-In Peak (I did this the same day as a drive-up), or Aurora Mtn. All accessible from NF83 and it's branches.

The most common drive to this area will be from I-5 in Woodland. Follow SR 503 east, continuing on the Spur route to Cougar. Shortly after Cougar, this becomes NF90. On 90, just past the Swift Reservoir overlooks, take a left on NF83 (signs to Ape Cave / Marble Mountain). Continue on 83 past the Marble Mtn Sno-park, as if going to the Lava Canyon Trailhead. Just before this trailhead (you can see the Lahar Overlook signs) you will turn right on NF8322. A short distance down 8322, the main route heads left, continue to the right on NF2588. At 46.14058, -122.06731 you will park at the base of what once was NF2588520, but is now guarded by 2 very serious trenches across the roadbed.

Your hike starts here. Follow this old road up the hill. There is a small section of alders to bushwack through as you pass a clearcut at the start, but after a short distance you are hiking on old roadbed. There are cuts across it every 50 yards or so, to discourage vehicles and manage runoff. At 46.14645, -122.06344 you will depart this "modern" roadbed, and cut through a stand of vinemaple onto an even older decomissioned road. While generally easy hiking, there are sections of vinemaple to push through, and fallen trees to hop over. Follow this road up to it's end, and bushwack your way to the summit. My hiking time was just short of 30 minutes.

About 50' below the summit, there is an old logging landing. I chose to use the upper edge of this clearing to operate from. Since this is Mt. Digital, I gave a shot to using my newly built QDX and the FT8 Radio app to run some digital contacts. After some frustrations and no contacts, I switched to using the app with my G90 (manual mic/speaker audio coupling mode) and got 2 that way. I finished off using 20m SSB.

I had very sparse cell service at the parking spot, and when activating had absolutely no cell signal (T-Mobile / Google Fi). Do not rely on cell service for spotting. There is an APRS iGate operated by K7TME just to the SW, so APRS coverage is excellent. I got no 2m contacts from Portland, my only 2m contact here was NS0TA, operating from Squaw Butte, about 12 miles to the east.