Easy Trail
Kings Mtn, WA | 19 Sep 22
While the road up is rough, Kings Mountain is a great summit to setup and hang out for the afternoon near Usk, Washington. Take the road up from the Skookum Lake C.G. area, about 2 1/2 miles. The road could be a MTB ride as well; 4WD recommended due to erosion and rocks. There's room to park one or two vehicles at the top, plus a small area to turn around. Plenty of large trees for a arborist's throw line to rig your antenna.
East Crater, WA (From East Side) | Sept 2022
East Crater Summit can be accessed from the Northwest via PCT (See http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7ahr/2020-october-10/east-crater-wa-september-2020 ) or from the east side via East Crater Trail #48 (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31748). This report is for the east side access.
Herschberger Mountain, OR Sept 2022
Herschberger is a lovely little lookout that you can drive nearly to the top, all but the final stairs and a little trail. The LO is basically right in the AZ so I operated sitting in the doorway (no chairs) for shade. There is zero data at the lookout but if you step out you might get lucky. Great view of CL Rim, Thielson, Rabbit Ears and many other ridges. The lookout was open and not manned. Not sure if this is common.
Old Baldy, OR 2022
Old Baldy turned out to be a popular summit at the 2022 Campout. Easy short trek up an old logging road (not obvious) after you park at a dead end that ends at a memorial.Open space on summit with rock and brush. Old ruins of lookout.
You can access the TH from two different directions. You can either take Dead Indian Memorial Rd to Big Draw, Rd 2520. Take Big Draw Rd to RD 600 and turn left, or I continue on up the main road to RD 640, turn left and it turns to 600.
Barlow Ridge, OR - short path | Aug 2022
In my continuing series on easier/shorter approaches to summits, I found a back-side social trail to Barlow Ridge summit.
Originally I was just going to bushwack it (0.6 mile and 400' elevation gain) but upon arrival I discovered this path.
Puffer Butte, WA | Sep 2022
Puffer Butte is located in Washington’s Field Springs State Park in the very southeast corner of the state. The hike is less than a mile and 400 feet. There are plenty of Trees on the summit for hanging wires. I had spotty Verizon coverage. For more:
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/puffer-butte#hike-full-description
Columbia Mountain, WA | 3 SEP 22
Columbia Mountain is easily my favorite hike in the Sherman Pass area. This 3.2 mile climb is not steep, almost always shaded and well maintained. The spring at the junction of trail 24 and the Kettle Crest trail still had a trickle in early September. There is a cabin at the top and several benches to set up. One of the few activations where I've been able to sit on a bench in the shade. I plan to return and camp at some point. Fun hike.
Runt Mountain, Idaho | September 2022
Runt Mountain is a SOTA peak at the top of the chairlift at Lookout Pass Ski area. Lookout Pass Ski area is on Interstate 90 at the Idaho/Montana border.
From Idaho, take exit 0 on Interstate 90 and turn right into the parking lot of the ski area. You will have to purchase a lift ticket ($13) for the ride up the main chair. I activated this in the summer as they open the area up to hikers and mountain bikers. You might be able to activate this in the winter but with much more difficulty with skiiers buzzing by you.
Burley Mountain, WA | Aug 2022
On a recent trip to Riffe Lake, I had the opportunity to activate this summit.