I can't believe I missed reviewing McDonald in the past. I love McDonald Peak. It is a beautiful stroll from RD 20 on a nice trail, great view, great flora in summer time. It was one peak I spent some time at in 2019 and realized SOTA was where I belonged in radio. Sitting in the flower covered slope enjoying the view. Easy set up among a mix of slopes and boulders.
I just noticed I never did summaries for some of my first summits especially if they had a previous review so with the 2022 campout coming soon I am trying to catch up on some. Mt Ashland is an easy, popular summit. Outstanding 360 view of NCA to CLNP rim to Josephine Co. Cool boulder stacks too. You can drive to the dome on the summit if you wish. Just go a little ways past the Mt Ashland campground and you will see the road on the right with a not so visible sign (it is on a tall post since it is used during deep snow).
I got on here to correct/ edit my previous blog but realized I never did a first! I've done Burton a few times and it isn't that significant in features. Just an easy stroll through the timber. Plenty of area to set up. A nice easy trek, shaded summit but no view. No established trail but the dead end road you can continue on by foot and there are other cleared out areas from logging roads many years ago. For some reason I get discombobulated easily coming down Burton and sometimes come to far left nearly missing the spur. If you are like me, keep a tracker going.
Great location and good access from FS Rd 33- Agnes Rd. Road paved for several miles then a wide, well-maintained gravel road. Ample parking across from the road gate. Easy 1/2-mi hike to the summit. Old fire lookout is decommissioned but easy to hang one end of your EFHW and sit at the picnic table. 360-deg view from the bald summit.
As we were driving through Winnemucca, NV on the way back from AZ, I seized the opportunity to activate W7N/HU-089, which is a paved, slightly potholed drive-up summit.
There are a lot of electrical wires going ever which way around the summit so I picked a somewhat open area towards the south side of the activation zone and tied my fiberglass mast to the fence surrounding the communcations towers.
I was able to quickly raise 11 QSOs on 20m and then switched to 40m for another 8 including a S2S with N6AN.
2m was pretty much dead with only 1 QSO to my dear XYL.
5.4 miles; + 2,077 feet; -608 feet; From the Petty Creek TH along Ford Creek
From the intersection of Hwy 287 and Main Street in Augusta, travel southwest on Main Street, turn right in 0.3 miles and follow the signs towards Benchmark. The trailhead is at the USFS Double Falls campground 19.3 miles from Augusta.
On a recent trip back from Arizona, we stopped overnight in Battle Mountain, NV. A 10pt summit (W7N/EL-017) was a mere 50 mins away so I made time to head up there. Previous reports indicated that it was an easy, if somewhat long, drive up to the summit and I found that the dirt road was still in excellent shape, though there are several tight switchbacks to be nagivated.
UPDATE: I loaded a partial drive and hike track. Also the road goes on through to west of the summit with a spur road that you can make this a drive up. Never bothered before. You can also exit west side (a bit rocky) to either go find your way to Grizzly Mt or get back to 66. Watch for wild horses and be aware they do not like dogs and will charge!
I've done Chase a few times as it is basically a drive up summit with other easy summits like Hamaker nearby to do the same day if desired. Already enough info on here to find your way up, self explanatory. I just wanted to add that the rf can be very bad on Chase. It seems like each time I go it is getting worse. You can still get your contacts but be prepared for a bit of noise!
de AG7GP
On a recent trip over to eastern Oregon, I had the opportunity to stop in Madras and a nearby summit Round Butte (W7O/CN-074) beckoned. The directions from Google Maps led me up the approach from the north which turns onto a dirt road. It is drivable in good, dry conditions but if you are at all worried there is another approach by continuing on west and around which finally climbs from the south. That road is paved all the way to the top. The paving is crumbling in places but still drivable.