Sugarloaf Peak is a drive-up or near drive-up to a fire lookout that is staffed in the summer. This is an easy summit in the Leavenworth area that can be done with any medium-to-high clearance vehicle.
K7ATN provided a good winter access trip report, but there is a very easy trail to the summit of Multorpor mountain that bypasses having to deal with any Ski Bowl access. This activation would be good for new SOTA activators. It is easy to get to and is an easy summit trail under the shade of a forest canopy on the way up. My hike was under 3 miles and under 800 feet of climbing, you could shorten it by parking closer on the road, see below.
Summary - An hour to the trailhead from SE Portland, followed by a 1.5 mile steady climb along a well-used (by ATVs) forest road, Bob's Mountain is an easy morning activation. There are trees for hanging wires, an open view a bit below the summit (but still in the AZ), and open space to operate. APRS two way worked well, ATT data was okay. Given the ATV traffic, this hike is better done on a weekday. You'll find a GPX track, beginning in Cape Horn, covering the drive and hike here: http://www.pnwsota.org/content/gpx-track-lc-139
Summary - Saturday Rock is easy to get to, about two hours from Portland, has awesome views and a short, sometimes gnarly and steep, bushwhack. Park at 45.85645, -122.17190 and follow the ridge to the summit. The first clear area you encounter on the top isn't it, keep going! Trees to hang wires, easy 2M QSOs, good APRS connectivity, spotty cell service. National Forest parking pass required.
Coming from Eugene, this trip takes about 30 minutes. After heading east on Hwy 126, get off on the 42nd exit and take Marcola for around 6.5mi. Shortly after passing the golf course, take a left on Hill St and turn right at the Mohawk General Store onto Donna Road, then left soon thereafter onto McGowan and continue on for a while. While the road is passable in a passenger sedan, as several vehicles in the area demonstrated, there are plenty of potholes further up, so it's best to go slow and keep your eyes peeled for hazards.
I approached from Duffy lake Trailhead. As I did Red Butte on the this trip. http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/kf7sey/2021-july-12/red-butte-or-july-2021. This area requires a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit.
Start at Duffy Lake trailhead. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recreation/recarea/?recid=4296
My wife and I first attempted this a few years back, but only got to within 1/2 mile of the summit and I did not want to leave her at the car. We returned on 7/10/2021 so I could get this fairly easy first activation.
The forest service roads are easy to follow to and we parked at 48.8231, -121.9244. A motorsycle might be able to drive closer to the summit.
The 1/2 mile to get up was 400' in elevation gain. I started out too quickly and had to ratchet it down. I foloowed the road to the end and then traversed to the summit.
When planning a trip to see family in Idaho, I was looking for summits around Spokane that could be "quick side-trips". Mount Spokane W7W/WE-006 was my first choice, and the summit that I activated on the way there. Steptoe Butte was chosen for the drive back home. Both have been activated multiple times, are easily accessible (drive-up or near drive-up), and have great views.
