You can access Wilkes Hills if you purchase a Weyerhaeuser permit https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one. There is no rec permit access gate from the I5/Burma Road side. You have to go around to the East side a bit. It is about 8 miles from the intesection of Tower Road and Hwy 504.
Take I5 to Hwy 504 and head East. At Tower Road (46.3061248, -122.8804598) turn North. Follow Tower Road to Toutle River Road (N46.33439° W122.83489°) and turn left. There is a fork in the road at N46.33722° W122.85110°, stay to the right, this is Weyerhaeuser Road 850. Lots of potholes here, but high clearance not needed. Take the fork left at Road 809 there is good signage of roads. Pass through Gate 809 using your access key and stay on 809 until Burma Road. Turn left at Burma Road and park where the gas line clearing crosses the road. The true summit is densly forested but the AZ is large. The clearcut for the gas pipeline goes through the AZ, so just follow the cleared area up the hill from Burma Road parking spot.
I attached my telescoping mast to one of the “gas pipeline” plastic markers. It worked great. Posted AZ pics to SOTA Atlas. I had cell coverage (ATT) and could spot easily. Worked HF, no 2M contacts made, but I5 is not too far so you may get someone on 146.520.
