Blogs

K7ATN's picture

Red Cone, OR | June 2017

Summit: 
W7O/CS-022

Here's another summit in Crater Lake National Park that accessed with a cross-country hike. The easiest ridge for ascent is near the angle of repose with loose red pumice-like scree on the upper slopes, giving Red Cone its name. Although only about 2.5 miles round trip, half of the 600 feet of gain is in the last quarter mile.

K7ATN's picture

Walker Mountain, OR | December 2019

Summit: 
W7O/SC-094

Walker Mountain is a Southern Oregon summit that could be a drive-up for those with a fully capable 4x4. However, the roughest part is also the start of a decent hike and getting to that rough spot is easy with a vehicle with decent clearance. Note that there is another Walker Mountain in Oregon - this is the one near Grants Pass.

K7ATN's picture

Fielder Mountain, OR | December 2019

Summit: 
W7O/SC-099

Fielder Mountain is an easy 'road' summit in Southern Oregon. With several large RF sites at the top, the road is passable in a passenger car all the way to the summit - however a gate may put you on foot for the last portion. 

K7ATN's picture

Nugget Butte, OR | Posted No Trespassing

Summit: 
W7O/SC-158

You can find Nugget Butte just north of Gold Hill Oregon. Use Exit 40 from I-5, head to US 99, Then up Gustaf Street to the gate. There has been local knowledge that arranged access in the past, but without permission, do not activate.

K7ATN's picture

Rocky Benchmark, OR | Posted No Trespassing

Summit: 
W7O/SC-184

Just south of Pistol River, Oregon take the Carpenterville Road about 8 miles south. This summit is posted "No Trespassing" except for members of the Southern Curry Dirt Riders Association.

K7ATN's picture

Peak 740, OR (Lost Dog Hill) | December 2019

Summit: 
W7O/SC-382

Update February 2021 - Lost Dog Road is now gated with no motorized vehicles allowed. It's only a one mile road walk to the AZ.

This is a very much out of the way summit, along Highway 101 on the Oregon Coast, about 14 miles north of Bandon. Note that there are other Peak 740 in Oregon - make sure this one is your intended peak.

K7ATN's picture

Wildcat Mountain, OR | December 2019

Summit: 
W7O/NC-044

NOTE in January 2021 there was a NO TRESPASSING sign posted on the Stimson Gate Placard. See photo below.

There are FOUR Wildcat Mountains in Oregon, so be sure you want the North Coast version south of Highway 26. The road to the trailhead is short and easy in any passenger vehicle, there's a good spot to park, and summit is in the Tillamook Forest, although the shortest access crosses private timberland. The hike is about 1.5 miles one way, and 400 vertical feet gain. This description I consider the 'no bushwack' version.

K7IW's picture

Beaver Point, OR | July 2019

Summit: 
W7O/NC-017

A friend of mine wanted to try a new, never before activated summit to start off his SOTA career and bring me along as his guide. Doing some preliminary research, this looked very much like a summit that would be very difficult to impossible to reach. From Google Maps, it wasn't too far from the road to the summit, but checking Google Earth, I could see that it was really going to be a steep climb for the initial part of it and through what looks like dense forest. I wasn't expecting that we would be successful. Luckily, I was wrong.

W7BDJ's picture

Cornell Mountain, Oregon. 02/12/2019

Summit: 
W7O/WV-090

Cornell Mountain, Portland Oregon. W7O/WV-090

Easy parking on Penridge Rd. Definitely a pavement activation. Quiet neighborhood with plenty of folks walking their doggos. I really wanted to throw a wire up and work CW but didnt see a spot that wasn't private property.

 So out came the Yaesu FT-60.

 146.520 worked well for me and I made 4 contacts relatively quick and easy which was nice because I really didn't want to disturb or raise any suspicions with the fine folks from the neighborhood that were out and about with their dogs. 

K7AGL's picture

Wahatis Peak, WA | Nov 2019

Summit: 
W7W/CW-099

Whatatis Peak is directly North of the Hanford Reach National Monument. From Richland WA to the summit is just over 61 miles. You can drive very close to the summit, only the last little 1/4 mile kick up to the top peak is really treacherous. There is good parking at serveral locations off the access road to pull over to complete the summit on foot. I did a 2.5 mile hike to the top.