Easy Trail

Headed up to the hills for an activation with my two oldest daughters. Nice big parking lot at the bottom and a nice easy 2 mile walk to the summit. This is in forest service land so you can camp on the summit. Nice spot with small fire pit. One day I may try this. Trees are encroaching the summit so spotty views. Nice big area to set up on the summit. I used SMS text for spotting with success.

Setup: PFR3, SuperAntenna, TeNeKe.

Actual Directions here: http://www.pnwsota.org/node/435

Turtleback Mountain is a lovely forest hike with a nice summit spot for activating. Along with Mounts Constitution and Pickett, it is one of three publicly accessible summits on Orcas Island, Washington. 

First get yourself to Orcas Island. Most will take the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes, Washington. For your planning purposes, note that ferry schedules change seasonally. The North Trailhead is perhaps the easier access - here directions with more information available in the links below. 

On 23 June I decided to head up and do this little one pointer that is within a couple miles of the house. This not going to be the next Mount Davidson (Elliot K6EL) as it does not have much to offer. No scenery, lots of logging roads, Teenage Partiers etc. But I did have to be the first to activate this hill. I did take this opportunity to take a lot of my radios out with me to try them out. I tried the RM40, RM20, and then the trusty PFR3 all into the MP1 SuperAntenna. One thing that I always find is that I am always returning to my original MP1 and PFR3 setup.

Nice Hike on warm, sunny, first day of Summer, 2014.

Easy hike, mainly in shady forest, leading to a last ascent on road and trail through a clear cut, but re-planted, summit area of South Tiger Mountain.  Unlike many other hikes in the "Issaquah Alps", this trail get relatively light use, and consequently light maintenance.  It was a little overgrown in places, with Nettles in some areas.

My wife accompanied me, as well as our Yellow Labrador Retriever "Dexter", who proceeded to find any availble mud hole to immerse himself in...

On 21 June the family and I headed out to Ritzville, WA to pick up my oldest daughter, Lily. Of course you know that I cannot drive 2/3 of the way across the state of WA and not find a SOTA to do. As I was looking at the map I noticed that there was a geocache (http://www.geocaching.com/) on the top of Red Top Mountain, which normally means it is reachable.

Ohio isn't exactly PNW, but I though I'd put it here anyway - It'll give you a flavor of what it's like in other parts of the country

Mount Baden-Powell is 2,865 meters, 9,399 Feet High.  Blue Sky & Rarified Air.

On a brief vacation in Southern California to visit family, I managed to activate three (3) SOTA peaks.  This is report 1 of 3 for this trip.

San Gabriel is 1,878 Meters, 6,161 feet elevation.  It is a 6 point SOTA Summit.

Identified by SOTA as Chuckanut Mtn, this peak is better known as Blanchard Mountain and is part of the Chuckanut Range. it is located on State Trust Land managed by the DNR. More information about the area may be found at:

www.blanchardmountain.org

A DNR Blanchard Forest Block map can be downloaded at:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_blanchard_fb_2012.pdf

When the snow is gone, this is a easy two point summit not far off of Highway 26 east of Mount Hood.

A bit past milepost 63 and just before Blue Box Pass there is a right turn onto two forest roads - take the right one (pictured). A carefully driven passenger car might be able to navigate this road, but having high clearance would make it easier. And the distances are reasonably short so parking when the road gets too rough and walking a mile or so on a forest road could be an option.