No View From Summit

Another non-NW activation while on my summer work assignment in Cleveland.  I was getting bored with the 2 and 4 pt summits on OH, which are mostly on private land, so decided to make an expedition to something with a little more elevation.  W3/PT-007 had been previously activated, so I knew it could be done and is an 8 pointer, which would be my first.  Finding the summit on the map was a little confusing, however.  There is a summit at the coords, but it's either un-named or called "Bear Cave Lookout".

My general guidelines for off trail hiking are a mile or so across open sagebrush steppe, perhaps half a mile through open forests like ponderosa pine, and about a quarter mile for a western Douglas fir forest. This activation is a reminder to stay with these guidelines and not ever wander through a lava flow again.

I started from the Carson Guler Road, parking about 2.5 miles east of the gate for Red Mountain (W7W/LC-036 - a recommended activation). 

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.

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.

All of our trips to Lopez Island seem to involve a bike ride, and today was no exception. After a brisk ride in this year's annual Tour de Lopez, KG7JEH and I left the latex-clad crowd at the finish line for some SOTA de Lopez action. As it turned out, that action didn't last too long before my battery was down to 10 volts and I called it a day.

After taking the ferry ride from Anacortes to Lopez Island, getting to the trailhead is easy, and directions can be found with Google Maps - search for "Lopez Hill Trailhead". 

An early ferry ride out of Anacortes took me to Orcas Island and, after a short drive, I arrived at the Cascade Falls trailhead by about 7 AM. My plans included biking in about 3 miles and hiking up the last 3/4 mile to the summit. Wrong. I was 1/2 hour into the ride when 2 facts became clear: 1. My hybrid bike was not up to the task of handling that muddy, rocky, slippery road - no matter how much air I let out of the tires. 2. My lungs, legs, and nerves weren't up to the task either. I took the bike back down to the truck and began again.

I did this summit on 26 March as it was close to where I was staying. It poured rain on me the whole time but I came out with 14 quick contacts including a S2S with Etienne K7ATN on 146.52. I drove up the road and until my truck would not make it any further (4WD) and then hiked up the rest of the way. If you look at my everytrail tracks the "GO" marker is where the dirt road starts and the "END" marker is where I parked the truck. You could drive further then this if it was a dry day or if you had a jeep or 4 wheeler.

Along Highway 22 between Salem and Detroit there is a near drive-up summit. In 2013 the road was passable (with some care) in a passenger car. (It may be a bit overgrown now.) This summit could be a  back up plan when nearby Rocky Top can't be accessed due to snow. In fact,