No View From Summit

Crescent Butte should be a simple drive-up just off Highway 97 south of La Pine about 17 miles. The roads in the area are quite confusing, and the main track is quite dusty in the summer. Thoughtful consideration of these directions and Google Maps is recommended.

This must be one of the all time easiest summits to get to.  The dirt road is graded with no gravel.  The only way to know you're not on asphalt are the occassional potholes.  The summit is very large and surrounded with trees that obscure any view of the surrounding vistas.  There is a lot of trash scattered around from clay shooting with a large fire ring indicating a party destination.  The actual summit is a small knoll to the west of the flat area where I set up both a 2m "J" pole and a random wire HF antenna.

Birkenfeld Mountain is a summit that can be done as part of a challenging three peak traverse that would include Three Corner Rock-W7W/LC-101 and Greenleaf Peak-W7W/LC-104. Or Three Corner and Birkenfeld and back the way you came - those two summits make for a 10 mile day.

4wd + Short Hike (0.9 Miles, +631 ft., -215 ft.)

Directions:

Exit east from Exit 85 on I-15

Drive 4.3 miles south on Hwy-91

Turn left on Burma Road – Continue 3.1 miles

Turn left on 2-track at Chokecherry Gulch (by gravel pit)

Peak 4005 is a near drive-up summit a bit east of Mount Hood, accessed mostly on paved Forest Service roads. You should consider this summit in the Mount Hood 2m FM "dead zone" as we were not able to raise anyone on 146.52. Also, APRS and cell service were marginal or non-existent, so that spotting was very challenging.

Peak 4816 is a near drive-up summit a bit east of Mount Hood, accessed mostly on paved Forest Service roads. The summit area has an small but interesting rock pinnacle. You should consider this summit in the Mount Hood 2m FM "dead zone" as we were not able to raise anyone on 146.52 except a sked with a nearby S2S. Also, APRS and cell service were marginal or non-existent, so that spotting our activations on HF were a real problem.

Had fun today Sunday 5/7 up at Skyline Ridge in West Linn. I got a last minute notice that Etienne K7ATN and Glenn KG7TDC were going up to this park not far from me, so why not? I loaded up the KX2 and my new toy the W4OP loop.after working a few guys on 146.52 (KG7VAK and NS0TA) we set up the loop on a camera tripod. we tuned  it up on 20 and Glenn worked a few using my paddle as a straight key, and then I took over for a quick 11 Qs-into the Midwest, southeast and CA All the sigs were strong - goes to show the band may be open even if you don't hear anything!

Peak 4620 (near Blue Box Pass) is a backcountry snowshoe activation that can be done in the winter if you don't mind using a GPS and are comfortable with off-trail navigation. It's about 1.7 miles one way and 700 feet gain.

A first activation of Eureka Peak on snowshoes turned out to be quite a workout. The basic climb description is about 2.5 miles one way and 1200 feet of gain, but the real work is off the trail with the last half mile being particularly steep. Since there is no trail to the top this would be difficult to do without snow cover. And the steep sections might be unsafe later in the spring on firm consolidated snow without crampons and ice axe. 

Yellow Butte is south of Drain, OR and seems to be open. A topo map will show the roads to get there. Generally, heading south from Drain, find West Rd to Cedar Rd. This will lead you to Drain Section Rd. Turn left off of Drain Section onto Hayhurst Rd. Turn right from Hayhurst onto Skelley Rd. Follow this to a poorly marked Andrews Creek Rd. Follow Andrews Ck, staying on the generally "main" dirt road. There are several sweeping U-turns that bring you to the final road to the summit. About half way up the road to the summit is a closed and locked gate.