N7UN's blog

General: As a Klickitat Cunty highpoint, this is surprisingly activated often by the PeakBaggers. I saw a lot of boot traffic. See https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=310 for a lot of trip reports and .gpx tracks.

Directions: From Goldendale WA, take SR97 north 14.5mi to Ski Lodge Rd. West exit. Go past the old Ski Lodge and west past Simcoe Butte/MC-051 which is on Yakima Tribal Lands. Side trip: drive up the narrow road to the summit for spectacular view of the Yakima and Simcoe valleys.

USFS-Yakima Tribal lands bisect this summit.  Activate to the west to be on USFS properties.  See the attached map.  Beautiful views of Mt Adams to the north but an exposed summit, i.e. can be windy.

The summit is in the middle of a Christmas tree farm owned by Fox Farms.  There is a graveled road (about ½ mi) to the top.  There is several commercial comms at the summit and all protected by cameras.  The access road is “generally” wire rope gated.  The property is not posted.

28Dec2023:  Active logging has begun in this area. 

Davis Peak is the site of a regional broadcast NOAA Weather station operating on a freq of 162.525 at 100w to a gain vertical antenna.  See  https://www.weather.gov/nwr/sites?site=WNG604

Consequently, expect front-end overload with your 2m handheld.  I have used my SotaBeams 2m RF bandpass filter with very good results. See https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/bandpass-filter-for-2m/  Cost for a USA purchaser is $48.

Maryhill Benchmark is on the east side of SR97 and in the middle of a giant windm9ll farm.  From what I can find, all access is blocked by gates and no tresspassing signs.  Undoubtedly for security purposes.  

The Larch Mtn access road will be closed for paving "most of 2023".  See https://www.multco.us/roads/webform/larch-mountain-road-paving-and-repair for the details.

The Weyerhaeuser gated entrance is about 3 miles east of the Dole Valley Rd turn from the NE Sunset Falls Rd.  It appears that Jack Mountain is located on Weyerhaeuser private property and based on the below picture of the signs, access is not allowed without a Weyerhaeuser Recreational Access Permit.  Jack Mountain is in the Yacolt Permit area.  Their website says the permits are "Sold Out".  I also saw a permit price of $300 which is beyond my SOTA budget!

Davis Mtn could be activated with Purcell, W7W/PL-057, via the same access Davis Creek Road.  Davis Creek Road goes north from SR12, a few miles east of Randle. Davis Creek Road becomes NF63 which is easily driveable by street vehicles, i.e. "priusable" for about 8 miles.  Turn right at 46.58361, -121.81340 onto a high-clearance, at least an AWD, heavily rutted road.

The Lookout is a "first come, first served" and, therefore, not reservable at recreation.gov.  Consequently, a mid-week visit with an early arrival will generally net you an opportunity to spend the night.  Most folks spend one night, as a courtesy to others.