K7ATN and N7LKL activated Washington's Larch Mountain on Saturday, 2/2/13. We hiked in on the forest service road from the west side, starting near the Larch Corrections Center (directions below and find the eastside approach here: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/larch-mountain-silver-star.) We were able to drive up the service road quite a ways but hiked the last 1.5 miles with approximately 1200 feet gain. Weather conditions were excellent - sunny and not too cold. We were on the summit from about 10:00 to 1:00 during which time the sun softened the snow considerably. The summit itself doesn't have any views to speak of, but on the hike up you get excellent views of Portland, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood.
We each made plenty of contacts including some S2S. There are plenty of trees at the summit for stringing wire. There's also a tower/antenna farm for local repeaters, microwave, etc. which did not cause us any interference.
Parking for the road to the summit from the west is at the Thrillium MTB trail - a Discover Pass is required. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/Yacolt
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To Larch Corrections Center from North I-5
I-5 South. Take I-205 cutoff (just passed Clark County Fairgrounds)
Take exit 32 Padden Parkway. At light turn left. (East)
Follow for approx. 5 miles stay in left lane. (Road turns into one lane).
You are now on NE Ward Road. Follow for 2-3 miles through a 4-way stop.
Travel about 1 mile and turn right on 139th.
Up a big hill and down through 4-way stop up another hill.
139th road becomes NE Rawson Rd. This crosses L-1000 and turns into L-1500.
Continue on L-1500 for 1.5 miles to the large parking at the TH (privy here). In the winter you may encounter a closed gate a quarter mile before the TH.
