WB7VTY's blog

This summit has a lot of value to it aside from the 4 points.  Its just a nice place to be.  Ample good parking at the visitor center.  Fascinating views of lava fields for the walk up the road to the top, and great views from the top.  A NW Forest Pass or day use fee is required.  The gate for the road to the top was open when I was there so you could drive to the top, however there is a 30 minute time limit for parking. Its a small parking area and busy so they keep cars rotating out.  Leaves insufficient time for SOTA-ing.

Just a couple of notes about Grizzly Mountain.  First, dont try to google map the directions to the road (NW Grizzly Mountain Road).  Ive been up there many times since I grew up over there but never tried google just to see what it said.  Today I did. Im not sure where google was going, but Im sure it would have never actually gotten me to the correct turn off.  Id still be wondering through the sage brush on the completely wrong side of the mountain.

Haystack Butte sits on a large section of land that is owned by a wind power generation organization and is also home to various communications sites.  It is restricted access behind fences and locked gates (and it is not the LC-081 peak).  It is marked by numerous signs indicating authorized personel only / no trespassing under threat of prosecution, etc.  I work for a company which has a communications site in the activation zone of Haystack Butte and was able to gain permission to operate there during a

Just a short note about driving up to Lookout Mountain outside of Carson WA, summit ID W7W/LC-066.   I went up with my VW Tiguan which is AWD and has a little ground clearance and it didnt have any trouble in that regard.  However, I would strongly advise NOT going up to this summit with passenger car highway tires.  I have heavier duty tires on my Tiguan because I am frequently off the pavement.  There are lots of sharp looking rocks in areas of the last several miles of this trip.  Probably the last 3 or 4 miles is very narrow and few if any good places to tu

I just thought I would add some notes about activating Paulina Peak that might be helpful to prepare somebody else down the road.  Getting there is easy and well documented so I wont waste time with that, important however as noted elsewhere - NW Forest Pass required or pay at the entrance station.  I have a pass so I dont know what the entrance fee is.  My verizon service with SOTA GOAT worked perfectly the entire time I was up there.  I was also able to text and send photos easily.   The views are spectacular and never cease to amaze me everytime I go up ther

Today after completing an activation of Round Butte near Madras Oregon I scouted a possible access route to Peak# 4676, W7O/CE-298 which is located kind of SE of Grizzly Mountain (W7O/CE-135) near Prineville OR.  I found a satellite image of a decent looking parking area off of Grizzly road that would leave about a 2 mile hike up a ridge to the summit.  If you google map 11300 Grizzly Road, Prineville OR you will be in the neighborhood of where I was going to look.  Unfortunately just past this address on Grizzly Road is a gate with lots of very important looking signage...

To get to Stacker Butte, Washington, from Interstate 84, take exit 87 at the Dalles and go north across the Columbia River for approximately 3.5 miles to Highway 14.  Note; After taking exit 87 and turning north, there is a McDonalds on the left.  This is the last opportunity for "facilities".  If you don't use them, Stacker butte is very exposed all the way up, and you will be too!  Also, this bridge crossing the Columbia is NOT a toll bridge.  When you get to Highway 14, turn right (east) and go about 0.9 miles to Dalles Mtn Rd and turn left.

Middle Mountain Oregon W7O/CN-075 is a pretty easy activation.  From Hwy 26 travel approximately 28 miles north on Hwy 35 towards the town of Hood River.  At 28 miles turn left (west) on Gilhauly Road.  Shortly after turning on to Gilhauly Road there is a forest service gate that is normally open but just be aware of its existance.  Travel 1.6 miles on Gilhauly Road.  At 1.6 miles you will come to a fairly wide delta shaped "Y" intersection.  Keep right at this intersection.