This is one of the last holdouts near Portland! After a successful first activation by AF7MD on W7O/NC-082, and the previous activation last year of W7O/NC-085 by WJ7WJ, I thought it was high time to bag this one before anyone else got to it!
It's about time I wrote this one up, almost a year after.
This peak stood out as one of the remaining peaks on private or questionably accessible land at the beginning of 2019, in the Portland metro area.
Summit 3334 will likely be named ”Hornet Hill” due to the local road names going up. But don't let the name stop you! It is a nice knoll with a partial view. Grassy area with oak and tall pine, and plenty of wildflowers, and some interesting lighning damage on some timber. Plenty of area to set up.
4.3 mi, +2,100 feet
This is a good earlier season hike that offers spectacular views and some isolation after leaving the main Sun River Trail.
Took a drive to see if this neglected butte was easily accessible for a Sunday afternoon drive. Turns out all roads were open and you can drive to the contour line if you wish. Road finishes in contour with a large open area and fire pit. The weather was shifting so we chose to build a campfire and set up within the contour but did not bushwack to the peak. No real view other than from the road coming up. I walked down and enjoyed some of the views looking towards Woodrat Mtn and Ruch.
Self explanatory as it is just walking up the road to the lookout, I guestimate from memory 1/2 mile walk from gate. Dutchman Peak Lookout is the last of the original cupola lookouts still in use, and is also one of the oldest, built in 1927. Outstanding views of course, and you can go into the lookout and check out some of their mapping and compassing tools. A bit steep and rocky at the top. You won't have trouble finding any spot for a pole.
Big Red is one of several mountains along the Siskiyou Divide. From road 40S29, the hike is relatively easy, starting through the timber and then it opens up to a short climb to the top. I did not keep track of details but my memory guestimates a fairly easy 1/2 mi hike, about 200' gain, Big Red has fascinating rock and crystal formation on it. Abundance of wildflowers in early summer. So lots of rock, a few trees on top for setting up and no interference.
On March 4, 2020, I accomplished the first SOTA Activation of Park Benchmark, Utah. While researching the vicinity of Park City, Utah, for a downhill ski trip, I was very surprised to learn that this easy to climb peak had not been Activated before. Park Benchmark, W7U/SM-042, has an elevation of 9,363 feet, and fantastic 360 degree views of the mighty Wasatch and Western Uinta Mountain Ranges.
Cougar Mountain is an easy drive up near Seaside, OR. Or is it?
The conundrum comes because of two gates. Both were open when I went up, neither had signs, not even the seemingly mandatory warning about closing at any time. I rolled the dice this time, but now that I know what's up there I'll bring a bike if I come back.
Here are the directions which work regardless of your mode of transport. That includes the carefully driven passenger car, although this route had less than the normal amount of potholes, so not so carefully? Watch out for log trucks anyway.
Skagit Gadget is a 1-point summit, located within ~20 minutes of I-5 in Skagit County. Some of the area has been logged, and it is a 4 mile road hike with ~700 ft of gain. Both times I've actived as a second summit for the day, and was thankful to squeeze in enough vhf contacts before a new UTC day rollover. Trees are starting to grow near the summit activation area, but there are some views at summit...and more views hiking up.
Directions: