Blogs

KE7NOB's picture

4980 Hidden Peak, OR | August 2021

Summit: 
W7O/NE-169

nOTE THE PEAK NUMBER IS MISTYPED IN THE TITLE - It is Peak 9460.

K7ATN's picture

Royce Mountain, OR | July 2021

Summit: 
W7O/CM-046

This is a near drive-up in a carefully driven Prius, or perhaps a full-on drive-up in a vehicle with some ground clearance.

WJ7WJ's picture

Long Creek Mountain | Aug 2021

Summit: 
W7O/NE-082

An easy summit in the John Day area is Long Creek Mountain. To access it turn east off of Highway 395 on NF-3940. This turn is at the Long Creek Summit, 44.6789, -119.1309. The turn off the highway is steep, but I believe it is Priusable to 44.6626, -119.0480. From here it is half a mile and 250 ft. of gain on a rough road to the summit. You can drive it with high clearance and your mirrors folded in, if you don’t mind a few paint scratches.

K7ATN's picture

Garwood Butte, OR | July 2021

Summit: 
W7O/CS-036

If you are touring anywhere near Crater Lake National Park, Garwood Butte is a quiet destination for an activation. The forest road is fairly Priusable and the hike is reasonably short, even if a bit steep in places. As for a number of other summits, one reward for making it to the top is a historic fire lookout. The "upper" trailhead is about 1 mile and 600 feet of gain - from Forest Road 3703 (Three Lakes Rd) it's about 2.3 miles and 1000 feet. 

From Roseburg, Oregon turn on OR-138 East / Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard.

NE7ET's picture

Huffaker Mountain access closed | Aug 2021

Summit: 
W7W/PL-092

As of August 2021, access on FR-2505 is closed by the landowner due to extreme fire danger.

NOTE: as of Aug 2022, this has been reopened.  See my updated report .

KF7SEY's picture

Skookum Butte, Or | Aug 2021

Summit: 
W7O/CE-093

Off Highway 97 between Cresent and Chemult. follow directiions like your going to Walker LO  http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7atn/2014-september-02/walker-mountain-or-august-2014. You could drive almost to the summit if you have a small SUV like a Jeep. 4WD with clearance would be needed. I parked near the main road and rode my bike the 3.8 miles to the summit. GPS on my phone worked fine for navgation to the summit. I parked here: 43.2630 -121.70111.

KF7SEY's picture

Grand Ronde Benchmark, OR | Aug 2021

Summit: 
W7O/NC-016

Grand Ronde Benchmark is on Weyerhaeuser property and requires a recreation permit for access which has a limited number avalible and has a cost (Black Rock is the permit area). You can find info here. https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com/Permits. Access via Fire Hall Rd. in Grand Ronde.

K7WXW's picture

Lookout Mountain WA | August 2021

Summit: 
W7W/LC-066

Summary - Lookout is drive up with a wide open summit, though parts of the way up aren't for the faint of heart. There is a small comm facility that doesn't generate appreciable RFI, a couple of places to set up, and when the clouds aren't in the way, excellent views.  Bring a mast if you want to put up a wire.  2M contacts are possible with a 1/2 wave whip but a yagi will make things a lot easier. APRS is easy from here, too. Drive time from SE Portland is about two hours through Stabler and out Hemlock Road (turn at 45.80838, -121.90741).  

WW7D's picture

3820 Mt. Transponder | August 2021

Summit: 
W7W/PL-086

3820 Mt. Transponder involves a long drive on forest service roads followed by a very short bushwhack to the top of a forested summit that is deep into the western part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  This summit can be combined with nearby 3780 Top Loaded Mtn (W7W/PL-089) for an easy twofer.  The roads are easily tackled by a Subaru, but probably not a Prius.

WW7D's picture

Lookout Mtn | Lewis County | July 2021

Summit: 
W7W/PL-035

There are thirteen mountains in the W7W association with "Lookout Mountain" in the title.  This report is about the only "Lookout Mountain" located in the Pacific-Lewis (PL) region, situated in national forest lands fairly close to the Paradise entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.  The summit is a short, easy hike up a ridge, with some spectacular views along the way.  What's the catch?  The road to the trailhead is rough and developing a washout.