After wanting to get started activating peaks under the SOTA program, a push from Brett, KG7FFW got both of us out to do our first activation at Three Lakes Hill on Tuesday the 26th of April. A frustrating discovery that there were no good place to park that did not require a Discovery Pass, forced a quick trip into Monroe to purchase one. Upon returning, we discovered that someone had spread nails all about the parking area.
This is a pleasant, short hike that is accessible by most vehicles. The summit is an open, broad knoll that offers nice views in all directions. There is an exceptional profusion of Bitterroots (the Montana state flower) on the sum
This is a pleasant, short hike that is clear of snow early in the spring. The approach is on a dirt road that while suitable for most cars, may be impassible when snowy or muddy.
A nice drive-up summit - so long as you have a high clearance vehicle. Head north of Yakima on I-82.
3 X 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 = Three Activations in three days with three, 3X3 (weak signal) contacts, amongst about 50 contacts overall. During an early Spring vacation in the Bend, Oregon area, we enjoyed all that Central Oregon is famous for! Good spring skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, SOTA Activations, and a sampling of several of the more than 80 breweries that exist in the greater Bend area. This report, number 3 of 3, deals with the Activation of Lava Butte, 5,020 feet, 1,530 meters.
3 X 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 = Three Activations in three days with three, 3X3 (weak signal) contacts, amongst about 50 contacts overall. During an early Spring vacation in the Bend, Oregon area, we enjoyed all that Central Oregon is famous for! Good spring skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, SOTA Activations, and a sampling of several of the more than 80 breweries that exist in the greater Bend area. This report, number 2 of 3, deals with the Activation of Tumalo Mountain, 7,775 feet, 2,370 meters.
3 X 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 = Three Activations in three days with three, 3X3 (weak signal) contacts, amongst about 50 contacts overall. During an early Spring vacation in the Bend, Oregon area, we enjoyed all that Central Oregon is famous for! Good spring skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, SOTA Activations, and a sampling of several of the more than 80 breweries that exist in the greater Bend area. This report, number 1 of 3, deals with the Activation of Mount Bachelor, 9,065 feet, 2,763 meters.
Peak 5180 (one of four with the same name in Idaho) appeared to be a relatively accessible summit off Blacks Creek Rd, SE of Boise Idaho. After some discussions with a co-worker (AKA Erik the Mountain Goat) I learned that there was a developing trail around the base of Peak 5180. It's a 16 mile adventurous Mtn bike trail. Erik had also hiked this peak during the winter using a drirect route up the ridge (see links below). After a study of Google earth, I decided to take this trail for a mile or so and then turn up onto one of the ridges leading to the summit.
First SOTA Activation of Lookout Mountain, a smallish, somewhat obscure SOTA peak, above the town of Cle Elum. Lookout Mountain is 3,465 Feet in elevation (1,056 Meters), which makes it feasible even in winter, when the high country is still buried in snow. This Lookout Mountain is NOT to be confused with Lookout Mountain (W7W/CW-037). This joint Activation, together with my SOTA Buddy, Tim, KG7EJT, took quite a bit of reserach and planning to achieve. The easy / old way to reach the summit was from the South. However, over the last decade or so, the entire southern exposure of Lookout Mountain has changed hands in ownership, and is now a "gated" community of large land parcels & homes. This necessitated a cross country brush beat to summit from the North.