Easy Trail

This is probably the easiest summit to locate in Idaho.  It is a volcanic dome that rises 2500 feet in the middle of the Snake River Lava Plain. You can't miss it.  I accessed it from the ARCO approach, a drive of about 20 miles across a dusty BLM desert road which brought me to the base.  Here I unloaded my ATV and rode up the summit trail which is 5 miles one way. A really fine and popular ATV trail ride.  The trail ends at the very peak where there is a viewing platform and stinky outhouse.

With field day coming up next weekend, Taylor and I decided to make up for it with a skillfully executed a double-header activation. First, we went to Lakeview Peak, which is east of Kalama, just southwest of Mt Hood. This summit is on land currently controlled by a private party, but which must remain open to pedestrian traffic. Following the directions, we went as far as we could in the Jeep before reaching a gate. There is ample room there to stash a few vehicles for the hike up the forest road to the summit.

After attending Dan and Taylor's (KK7DS & K7TAY) seminar at SEAPAC, I was inspired to give SOTA a try.

My Adventures in fitness and SOTA continue!  This was a fun one, spur of the moment decision to do it.  Hours drive to the trail head, hour up, 30 minutes operating, hour down and an hour drive home.  The view from the top was really nice and there was a ledge with a really good drop off as well!

GPX and Google Earth files here.

I wanted to do an easy one on my own after my first activation with a group.  This summit was one that I knew I could drive up.  I hiked the last quarter mile to the actual summit and used my hand held for the activation.  Had fun and Yukon and I got a bit more exercise.

Finally stopped being only a shack sloth and decided to try to be a mountain goat for once.  I went with a group of friends and took my best friend and service dog Yukon with me.  It was a real blast with successful activation, Yukon and I can't wait till the next summit.  We decided to start small and plan on slowly working our way up to the tougher summits.  

2012-05-13 Huckleberry Mountain W7/KG-093 CN97FD27

Start elev.: 4291 ft (1308 m)
Max elev.: 4881 ft (1488 m)
Total ascent: 604 ft (184 m)
Trip odometer: 2.6mi (4.184km) Up: 1.5mi (2.414km) Down: 1.1mi (1.770km)
Total time: 7h20m Up: 1h37m Down: 36m
Video

Beacon Rock is an 848-foot basalt column (860 feet ASL) that formed the core of an ancient volcano. It is located in a Washington State Park of the same name about one hour east of Portland, Oregon.

Putney Mountain could be a minimalists activation dream if you live in Southern Vermont - it was for me as the B&B we stayed during my visit was just ten minutes from the trailhead - only a few miles outside of Putney, Vermont.

Today JD (K7JDF) and I headed out for an easy 1-point summit: Wildcat Mountain. This summit is on the eastern edge of the Tillamook State Forest and is very accessible from the Portland metro area and provides an excellent operating position at the top as well as a fantastic view.