Lava Butte is closed to vehicles in the winter, but open for hiking. You can park at the closed visitor center, or there's an option to pull off 97 near where the Lava Butte road passes the highway. From here there's a very short trail through the brush and you're on the road. We did this option which puts the hike at about 1.2 mi and 540' gain.
The road was mostly clear of snow and ice, with just a handful of spots that had it. We did not need the microspikes we brought in our packs, but had the temps been colder, they would've been neccessary in some spots.
Chris W7MTB joined me for this activation. After we worked 4 stations on 2m fm we set up HF. Chris took the top bunk and I set up on the ground level. I operated using my KX2 and EFRW in a sloper. We worked opposite bands and managed to not interfere too much.
This weekend was also the Freeze Your Butt Off and Polar Bear Moonlight Madness Event(s). Chris worked mostly 10 and 15m, ending the day with 18 CW QSOs, the most he'd worked in a single sitting. I worked mostly 40m and 20m and ended the day with 42. The temperature was a modest 43F. The cold finally got to us. With dead batteries and morse fatigue fully set in, we packed up.
GPS info & Parking: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=16.1/-121.3547/43.9160&pubLink=rkm5UeD0...
