WW7D and I were in the area for the WA State QSO party 'Salmon Run'. This was the 2nd summit we activated on this fine sunny day in Sept!
D-Layer is a great summit!! I guess I had low expectations based on the intel we had, but it is a really nice summit with a great view to the east.
On the maps it shows a road to the summit, but trust me friends that road is LONG gone. We parked near where the road is supposed to be and basically bushwhacked our way up. There is a faint boot path of sorts for part of the way, but make no mistake... this is a steep bushwhack. Once you gain the ridge things get easier.
Luckily the whole she-bang is no more than 1/2 mile and 500' elevation gain. And it's so worth it!
We spent a couple of hours on this summit and made quite a lot of QSOs, including 12 S2S contacts. We even had an S2S with Rich N4EX on 2m FM! He was in town on a visit and was on a summit with K7ATN. It was VERY cool to talk to him on 2m FM.
Getting there:
Take Wind River Hwy and get your self to Stabler, WA. From here you go west on Hemlock Rd. Just past the Wind River Work Center, turn right on to NF-417. Eventually this becomes NF-43. You will take a right on NF-4220 and follow this road for a short while. Park somewhere near 45.8160, -122.0902. The roads are good, a sedan could make it.
