Blogs

K7ATN's picture

Juniper Butte, OR | October 2016

Summit: 
W7O/CE-223

Here's a quiet Central Oregon summit for those with a high clearance vehicle - or anyone that wants a bit of hiking as one could walk the rutted dirt road or even go directly cross-country to the summit (although direct would be a bit steep).

 

K7ATN's picture

Haystack Butte, OR | No Access

Summit: 
W7O/CE-221

Haystack Butte in Central Oregon is fenced and posted as "Fee Access Only." Don't despair for summits to activate nearby however, as two other accessible peaks are within a few miles. W7O/CE-223 - Juniper Butte right across Highway 97 and W7O/CN-074 - Round Butte, a pavement drive-up a few miles north east of Madras.

NO6E's picture

An Easy one in Southern Oregon

Summit: 
W7O/SC-099

Fielder Mountain, near Rogue River, Oregon is a relatively easy trip.  The driving portion is only about 30 minutes from its start, the corner of West Evans Creek Road and Fielder Creek Road in unicorporated Jackson County, Oregon.  Follow the road to the yellow gate, park, and walk the last mile or so to the peak.  There are several large commercial communications sites, including cellular, VHF/UHF, microwave and FM broadcast (though I  believe it's a translator, not a full-power FM).  I noticed inteference only once, on 18 mHz.

AE7AP's picture

Pole Mountain, MT | Oct., 2016

Summit: 
W7M/HB-085

(1.4 miles, +2,000 feet)

 

KG7EJT's picture

First Activation of Ball Butte W7O/CM-007

Summit: 
W7O/CM-007

Couldn't resist the quick walk-up summit of Ball Butte on our return to the trailhead from a day hike to the base of Broken Top Mountain in the Sisters Wilderness.  Although there's no human created trail to the summit, other than animal tracks, the route from the Broken Top Mountain trailhead is obvious - ascend the gentle, partially treed Southeast face to a saddle approximately 200 vertical feet below the summit ridge, then hike climbers left to the summit ridge. Non-technical, except for some minor exposure along the ridge.

K7MAS's picture

SOTA Activation: Waterman Mountain, Los Angeles County, California - September 29, 2016

Summit: 
W6/CT-012

One of the nicest hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains, Waterman Mountain is certainly worthy of repeat SOTA Activations, and this was our third time in about 2 years.  Being graced with a very reasonable access, well graded trail and magnificent specimens of Incense Cedar (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calocedrus  ) and Ponderosa Pine (see:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa  ) it’s a wonderful and popular SOTA objective.  The trail is 6 + miles RT, with 1,200 feet elevation gain.  The summit area is lightly treed, but still has views if you search them out.

K7MAS's picture

First SOTA Activation: Pyramid Mountain - Chelan County, Washington - July 23-25, 2016 - Part 4 of 4

Summit: 
W7W/CH-040

Chelan Crest SOTA Outing July 23-25, 2016 – Part 4.   See separate reports on PNWSOTA website with background on the entire outing and day 1 & 2 description, with 3 other First SOTA Activations. The total trip was approximately 25 miles RT, with approximately 7,000 feet elevation gain, including ups and downs in between the various peaks. This is report 4 of 4, "Pyramid Mountain".  Pyramid was the apex of our 3 day 2 night SOTA outing, both in elevation and distance from the TH.  This 10 point SOTA Summit is 8,245 feet high, and affords some fantastic view of the Central and North Cascades, Lake Chelan and Eastern Washington.

K7MK's picture

Kepros Mountain, ID | Sept 2016

Summit: 
W7I/SR-142

This was my second activation of Kepros.  This is a long hike where you just need to keep going...  When it seems like you should be at the summit, it is still way off in the distance.  When you finally get to the base of the actual mountain, you have gone 4 miles, gained a bunch of elevation, but had just descended to almost the elevation of the car!  The final push to the summit is steep, but you are on a double track.  A set of hiking poles may expedite the steeper sections.

AE7AP's picture

Treasure Mountain, MT | Sept, 2016

Summit: 
W7M/GA-109

Treasure Mountain is a non-descript forested summit that is located south of Elliston, MT.  Head south on the Little Blackfoot road (which leaves the highway east of Elliston) and trend left up Telegraph Creek 3.0 miles later when the road forks.  Follow the Telegraph Creek Road SSE for 4.9 miles, and take the major turn to the right (westerly).  Continue across Telegraph Creek, and follow the road 0.6 miles to where it intersects the Treasure Mountain Road.  The Treasure Mtn. Road may be driven at least another 1.8 miles, except Oct.

K7ATN's picture

Cady Mountain, WA | 2014

Summit: 
W7W/RS-084

The summit proper of Cady Mountain is privately owned and not accessible. 

It may be possible to activate from the narrow dirt road in lower portion of the Activation Zone, but it would be challenging.