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
UPDATE: There may be No Trespassing signs on this approach now.
Re Horse Ridge Initial Activation 23 Feb 2014.
Ray KG7AV, Max KF7MAX
Tom, Dick & Harry Mountain is a nice late season snowshoe near Mount Hood. It's about 4 miles one-way and 1850 feet of gain to bag this four-point summit with iconic views of Mount Hood. It's a bit of work with some route-finding on snowshoes, but hopefully this trip report will help you get there.
Gales Peak is probably on the "not recommended" list for activations near Portland. Although access is possible, you are not allowed to do it with a motor vehicle, making the six mile round-trip on a logging road fairly unattractive.
Peak 3534 is a near drive up in the Tillamook State Forest west of Portland off Highway 6.
These eleven miles (RT) seem much farther when you are on snowshoes - take that into account if you should decide to try this winter activation.
Along Highway 22 between Salem and Detroit there is a near drive-up summit. In 2013 the road was passable (with some care) in a passenger car. (It may be a bit overgrown now.) This summit could be a back up plan when nearby Rocky Top can't be accessed due to snow.
Here's another suburban SOTA summit with little to offer but a narrow road shoulder for activation space.