Phil crossed over into the rarefied SOTA air of Super Sloth-dom today with more than 10k Chaser points!  Wow!

Great job Phil!  Now onward to double SuperSloth!  

73, Guy/N7UN 

Activated W7I/CI-139 Kimama Butte on 7 Jan 2013 on the way to SLC for work.  Kimama Butte is the remnant of an old volcanic hill located 21 miles SE of Craters of the Moon NP and 16 miles north of Burley, Idaho.  For those who study tectonic plate movement, Yellowstone was here 8 million years ago.  Acces via N1150W off I-84 and cross thru obvious cattle guard.  Drove about 200 yards in 4WD up the hill then decided to walk the rest. 

UPDATE Jan 2022 - The hours for Bald Peak State Scenic Park have changed. The park will close at 4pm in the winter and somewhat later in other seasons. The park website does not show open hours. There is a sign (below) with the current hours. https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=77 

Devil's Mountain is just off I-5 as you pass through Skagit Valley, south of Mount Vernon.  It's an easy 2 pointer via a gated logging road. 

Folks,

First HNY to all and your families.  Hopefully 2013 will be enriching and prosperous and that your SOTA activities will expand.

I have submitted the ARM (Association Reference Manual) Revision docs to the SOTA MT UK team.  As you may know, we were not successful in gaining approval for a points re-banding of Oregon or lowering the Winter Bonus elevation.  However, there was acknowledgement that the Winter Bonus elevation is >= 5,000 ft and the ARM doc is now in agreement.  

With a couple days of non-rain, I just had to get out of the house and activate a summit.  "Mt. Electric" is the first summit I've activated that wasn't a "first activation".  That said, it was about right for me at this time of year.  The drive is an easy one.  I won't go into details - but all except the last mile is on paved roads.  I've trooped around a bit in the Marckworth State Forest before, but not in this part.

Taylor and I returned to Tumalo Mountain this weekend to score a rare 6 pointer in winter, with a justified bonus. Tumalo Mountain is a strenuous, yet technically easy ascent. The trail up to the summit leaves from the Dutchman Flats Sno-Park, just north of the entrance to the Mt Bachelor ski area on Cascade Lakes Highway. Because this is a popular winter recreation area, the parking area is packed with people looking to snow-machine, ski, and snowshoe to the top.

For those new to SOTA in the Portland, Oregon area who might be looking for some easy, one-point summits to get their feet wet - or for anyone who might want to try out new antennas or gear with less investment of time - or for a quick activation when there's a spot of dry weather, here's a guide to summits in and around the city.

It was a winter wonderland on Bells Mountain above 2000 feet on Christmas Eve, pleasant to look at, not too bad to hike in. Remember, it's always best to park on the right side of the gate and hike the road - it's an easy 1.6 miles to the summit.

The directions below are from Interstate 5 - some of the mileages seemed a bit off but otherwise it should get you to the gate.