As part of our annual summer trips Paula, N6VGW and myself (WA6ARA) try to go different routes and have fun along the way. As part of our 2014 excursion we stopped by Crater Lake in Oregon for a few days. While there we did a a couple of Summits On The Air, or SOTAs. These were Wizard Island and Mt Scott. While Mt Scott has been activated often, Wizard Island had never been activated. Wizard Island, is in the middle of Crater Lake so you can’t walk there, it is a boat trip and reservations are usually needed.
Exposed Summit
Silver Star, WA | November 2016
Silver Star is a classic hike in SW Washington that should be on everyone's list to do at least once.
Bull of the Woods, OR | August 2014
Bull of the Woods is a pleasant and popular hike south of Estacada of about 6.5 miles and 1300 feet of gain. There's an unused (but locked) fire lookout at the summit, giving you a chance to be out of the sun (or rain) to activate by standing under the structure.
Oak Grove Butte, OR | October 2016
Here's a near drive-up south of Estacada with a hike as short as a quarter mile and 200 feet of gain.
Mount Lowe, OR | October 2016
UPDATE 2021 - Mount Lowe may have been damaged in the September 2020 fires. Check for access.
Naomi Peak, UT | October 2016
Naomi Peak is a great hike along a well-marked trail from the Tony Grove Lake area. Tony Grove is a popular site seeing destination 28 miles NE of Logan Utah. The summit has views in all direction and is highly recommended as a day hike or a SOTA adventure.
Mount Pisgah, OR | October 2016
Mount Pisgah is a 'near' urban summit just east of Eugene. It is known as Mount Pisgah Arboretum and as the Howard Burford Recreation Area. It's a short 1.5 miles, but steep with 1050 feet of elevation gain from the parking lot to the summit. It features some of the last remaining oak savanna that once dominated the Willamette Valley and the summit has good views.
Round Butte, OR | December 2015
Here's a pleasant and easy pavement drive-up activation just east of Madras in Central Oregon. You might consider it as you travel between Bend and Portland sometime. There are nice views from the top, good parking, and trees and sagebrush to support most antennas.
Juniper Butte, OR | October 2016
Here's a quiet Central Oregon summit for those with a high clearance vehicle - or anyone that wants a bit of hiking as one could walk the rutted dirt road or even go directly cross-country to the summit (although direct would be a bit steep).
SOTA Activation: Waterman Mountain, Los Angeles County, California - September 29, 2016
One of the nicest hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains, Waterman Mountain is certainly worthy of repeat SOTA Activations, and this was our third time in about 2 years. Being graced with a very reasonable access, well graded trail and magnificent specimens of Incense Cedar (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calocedrus ) and Ponderosa Pine (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa ) it’s a wonderful and popular SOTA objective. The trail is 6 + miles RT, with 1,200 feet elevation gain. The summit area is lightly treed, but still has views if you search them out.