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.

2012-05-19 "Mt. Aurora" W7W/RS-045 CN97ea84

After the two forest road summits, I have looked for something similar again. I have checked out the road after Divide Ridge. Then I was able to drive up to 3360 feet. The forecast for today is very promising, but next day some rain will come.

This winter in the damp Northwest, while we are waiting for an elusive sun break to activate, we might share some stories about our 2012 experience. We talk about radio stuff all the time, how about the following for a distraction?

This is the only 'drive-up' ten pointer in Oregon - but perhaps because it's eight hours from the Willamette Valley it remains a pretty quiet place. It's actually a near drive-up - the walk beyond the gate to the summit and AZ is less than a half-mile. The scenery and silence of this high desert place have made it my favorite spot in the world for more than twenty years with many trips bringing family and friends to see this place.

Diamond Craters is administered by the Bureau of Land Management as an Outstanding Natural Area. This is a great example of Oregon High Desert and although it’s not on the way to anything, it is very much worth visiting. It is about 55 miles southeast of Burns, Oregon.