NR7Y's blog

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2032 (NC-130), OR | May 2023

Summit: 
w7o/nc-130

NC-130 is another of the recently added peaks during the 2023 ARM update, currently the last of the Oregon NCs. If that's a goalpost you're looking to achieve, or you're feeling particularly completionist, or you just like a good bushwhack, proceed on. Otherwise, maybe skip this one. It's on public land, and consists of a 6 mile forest road drive, combined with a 1.5 mile hike and bushwhack. This peak is easiy paired with NC-099.

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2853 (NC-128), OR | April 2023

Summit: 
w7o/nc-128

NC-128 is one of the "new" peaks added during the 2023 ARM update. It's on private Stimson land, but publicly accessible to walk-in during weekends and after 4pm on weekdays. The easiest access is drive-in/hike-in from the south via Turner Creek Rd past Barney Reservoir, but would also be accessible by long hike or bike via the north through the same roads as NC-066. If doing the drive/hike route, it's a 15 mile gravel road drive and a 1 mile gravel road hike to the summit. This is easily paired with Blind Cabin Ridge NC-031.

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Pilot Knob, WA | July 2022

Summit: 
w7w/lc-135

Pilot Knob is a quiet peak inside the boundary of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and a stone's throw away from the Pacific Crest Trail. The approach is just short of 2 miles one-way, with some travel on an old trail and some bushwhacking.

The drive is about 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes from somewhere in Portland. The hike is about 2 miles one-way with 1300' elevation gain and took about 1.5 hours to complete in the dry season.

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1532 & 1660 (NC-116 & NC-118) now under private lease | 2023

Summit: 
W7O/NC-116

I activated these two peaks, NC116 and 118, during summer 2021. At the time, Weyerhaeuser had recently taken ownership of the parcel, and marked the area as open to public walk-in access. Unfortunately, Weyerhaeuser has now moved this land under a lease. Unless you can identify the lease owner and join their club for legal access, these peaks are no longer accessible to activators.

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Clatskanie Mountain | Sept 2022

Summit: 
W7O/NC-039

Clatskanie Mountain is one of the peaks within the Weyerhaeuser "Columbia - Washington Counties" recreational permit region. It's a relatively easy hike through a small forest section and exposed forest roads. Doing this peak as a biketivation is an option. This would be a good peak to combine with an activation of Benson Hill, NC-042.

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2778, OR | May, 2022

Summit: 
W7O/NC-075

NC-075 is an unremarkable peak in the Tillamook State Forest. Easy enough to accomplish if you happen to be nearby or in a completionist mood.

Access appears to be available from the west at the coast near Wheeler, but I routed from the east near Triangulation NC-005.

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NC-106 (2140), OR | June, 2021

Summit: 
W7O/NC-106

NC-106 is a long drive from Portland, and a bit of a hike, all for one point operating at barely over 2000 feet. If you don't mind the green canopy though, it's one of the prettiest forests I've walked in the NC region.

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Big Bertha (NC-080), OR - Sept, 2020

Summit: 
W7O/NC-080

NC-080 is one of the peaks in the Tillamook State Forest surrounding the Trask River valley, along the eastern edge. As such, the most straightforward approach is via Trask River Rd past the Trask River Park Campground.

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2399, Or | March 2022

Summit: 
W7O/NC-091

Confirming Bill WJ7WJ's report a couple years ago, this peak contunues to be a drive-up. Like Bill, I managed to activate it by hiking up the OHV trail to the southwest of the peak, but confirmed the drive-up path exists and is workable in all but the most fragile passenger car. If your transport has gone to South Saddle, it can do this one too.

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Wildcat the Legal Way | July 2021

Summit: 
W7O/NC-044

Previous writeups and activations have accessed Wildcat via the Stimson parcel that starts at Northwest Hayward Rd. Email communication with Stimson confirms that they have closed this parcel to public access, and activators should not use this path. Signage has been mixed, but the core issue is firearms use in the area that bothers the private neighbor. According to Stimson, "The entry point is actually on their property and we try to be accommodating with our neighbors."

All is not lost! Fortunately the summit itself, and a complete path of access, is on public state land.