Blogs

K7MAS's picture

SOTA Activation: San Gabriel Peak, Los Angeles County, California - May 23, 2014

Summit: 
W6/CT-019

On a brief vacation in Southern California to visit family, I managed to activate three (3) SOTA peaks.  This is report 1 of 3 for this trip.


San Gabriel is 1,878 Meters, 6,161 feet elevation.  It is a 6 point SOTA Summit.

N7KRN's picture

Chuckanut Mtn 20 May, 2014

Summit: 
W7W/SK-155

Identified by SOTA as Chuckanut Mtn, this peak is better known as Blanchard Mountain and is part of the Chuckanut Range. it is located on State Trust Land managed by the DNR. More information about the area may be found at:

www.blanchardmountain.org

A DNR Blanchard Forest Block map can be downloaded at:

K7ATN's picture

Peak 4620, OR | May 2014

Summit: 
W7O/CN-090

When the snow is gone, this is a easy two point summit not far off of Highway 26 east of Mount Hood.

K7MAS's picture

SOTA Activation: Rattlesnake Mountain, King County, Washington - May 15, 2014

Summit: 
W7W/KG-113

On a training hike for our Switzerland Hiking / Climbing tour next July / August.  Accompanied by my wife Sharon and our Labrador Retriever Dexter.  Rattlesnake Mountain is a relatively easy 9.2 miles round trip (including preliminary walk to trail head from parking lot), gaining 2,500 feet +/- to a summit elevation of 3,517.  TH is is easily accessible from my home QTH in Bellevue, WA.  I-90 east to exit 32 in North Bend, then good but windy paved road to Rattlesnake Lake area.  The hike is through mostly wooded terrain, with some sections

N7KRN's picture

Lopez Hill Activation 4/26/14

Summit: 
W7W/RS-090

All of our trips to Lopez Island seem to involve a bike ride, and today was no exception. After a brisk ride in this year's annual Tour de Lopez, KG7JEH and I left the latex-clad crowd at the finish line for some SOTA de Lopez action. As it turned out, that action didn't last too long before my battery was down to 10 volts and I called it a day.

N7KRN's picture

Mt Constitution Activation 4/25/14

Summit: 
W7W/RS-065

This Friday afternoon activation happened on a cool day with the sun breaking through a few clouds for a beatiful sky above the epic scenery. It takes a ferry ride from Anacortes to Orcas Island to get here, but it's sure worth the trip! The main road goes from the ferry dock right through Moran State Park. Turn left at the Y onto the Mt Constitution road, which can take you all the way to a sizeable parking lot at the top.

N7KRN's picture

Mt Pickett Activation 4/25/14

Summit: 
W7W/RS-073

An early ferry ride out of Anacortes took me to Orcas Island and, after a short drive, I arrived at the Cascade Falls trailhead by about 7 AM. My plans included biking in about 3 miles and hiking up the last 3/4 mile to the summit. Wrong. I was 1/2 hour into the ride when 2 facts became clear: 1. My hybrid bike was not up to the task of handling that muddy, rocky, slippery road - no matter how much air I let out of the tires. 2. My lungs, legs, and nerves weren't up to the task either. I took the bike back down to the truck and began again.

K7ATN's picture

Big Huckleberry Mtn, WA | April 2014

Summit: 
W7W/LC-069

There are at least four trails that approach the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain - we choose the Pacific Crest Trail from the south for about 8.6 miles round trip and 1400 feet of net elevation gain (1900 total).

From Portland, take I-84 to Cascade Locks and cross the river for two dollars (2019 price).

K7ATN's picture

Red Mountain, WA | April 2014

Summit: 
W7W/LC-036

Here's a six point summit to tackle on a nice summer day - we tried it with lots of snow and found a blizzard at the top in mid-April. The trail is on a road of about 7 miles round trip and about 1800 feet of gain.

K7ATN's picture

Peterson Butte, OR | Limited Access

Summit: 
W7O/WV-089

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/).