After arriving Thursday afternoon at the W7O Campout, Ryan NN7M invited me to join him and his dog Tori for a hike to Tipsoo Peak. This summit was recently added as a new SOTA summit in Feb 2023, and was excited to hear this would be a first activation (Mark K7MAS also activated the summit the next day...and was part of the first UTC day activation)
Directions:
McMurray Benchmark is a 1-point summit located near I-5, just northeast of Stanwood, WA. I had driven by the entrance (where you turn north onto 12th Ave NW) in the past, but saw a no tresspassing sign and wasn't sure about driving up the road. This time, after I turned onto 12th Ave NW and drove 0.5 miles to the parking area... I was surprised at how many cars were parked at the trailhead. As long as you fill out the waiver form near the entrance, you are not tresspassing when you hike to the summit. Below is a link with more information about the area.
McClellan Butte had been on my list the last year or so as challenging hike, due to the last section required to get within the activation zone. I've watched the video below multiple times, and it provides helpful trail and summit information...along with an alternate parking/hiking to shorten length. The video also captures the summit scramble and views from the summit.
Winchester Mountain Lookout was a dramatic hike with views of Twin Lakes and the surrounding mountains. The hike is 3.4 miles and 1,300 feet of gain, and I tracked a approximately 4.1 miles total due to last remnants of snow right before the trailhead in July. A NW Forest Pass is required.
When planning a trip to see family in Idaho, I was looking for summits around Spokane that could be "quick side-trips". Mount Spokane W7W/WE-006 was my first choice, and the summit that I activated on the way there. Steptoe Butte was chosen for the drive back home. Both have been activated multiple times, are easily accessible (drive-up or near drive-up), and have great views.
Baby Blue is a 2-point summit located near Sultan, WA. Other summits have taken priority the last 2 years, but this summit was a great surprise due to views at summit and along the last ~1 mile of road hike. Parking is located along Sultan Basin Road, and it was ~12 minute drive after turning from Hwy 2. To get there, I followed Google maps to 47.9222, -121.7486. A Discover Pass is required.
French Point is the site of a former lookout west of Darrington in Snohomish County, and a 1 point summit. I decided to activate later on a June day, after activating two other summits near Darrington. The hike is 2 mile round-trip, with ~500 feet of gain. While a relatively short hike on a decommissioned service road, it's made a bit more difficult with what summitpost.org called "tank traps". There are multiple deep ditches dug across the road to limit access, and it was more of an annoyance as parts of the road continue to grow over. This was the first SOTA
Eagle Point was a very enjoyable 6-point summit located just southeast of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center in Olympic National Park. After activating the very popular Hurricane Hill W7W/NO-086 last year, I wanted to explore a few summit options nearby along the Obstruction Point Road. This road is a well maintained dirt road and is generally open from mid-July through October (it is alway good to check road access via the link below). The road is accessed by turning a sharp left just before the parking lot to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
In March 2019, I nearly reached the summit of Stimson before turning around when it started hailing Was still newer to SOTA, and in hindsight almost wished I waited the weather out and activated the summit.
In March 2020, planned to activate again and there is a new sign located at primary access gate (Firegate #13) located just off "N Cedarvale Loop Rd" and SW of the summit. There is now a "Do Not Enter", "Private Road", "No access to state trustland through private property" sign.
There are many Blue Mountain's, and this one is located in Snohomish County, WA and just east of Sultan. From parking gate to summit, it involves a 3 mile road hike (6.1 miles round-trip), and ~1,300 feet of gain. There are some views along the way, and limited views from the summit. With the summit being heavily wooded, I activated near the tower (west / northwest of the summit and ~40 feet below summit per CalTopo map). Was able to spot from the summit, but AT&T service was not consistent.
Directions: