Here's an opportunity to do an easy summit if you are out in the Gorge for wine tasting, other summits or a hike at Catherine Creek. The road walk is short at 0.75 miles one-way and about 200 feet of gain. The road is Priusable the whole way but note that there are a number of "no turn turns" cited by our phone GPS on the way from Highway 14 to the trailhead - the directions below are general.
Forested Summit
Trask Mountain, OR | December 2020
Summary - An easy, if not terribly scenic drive to the trailhead and a short hike to the summit. Travel time to the trailhead was almost two hours. VHF contacts were easy, as was APRS spotting. Trask is on public land but the route I followed goes through a Weyerhauser gate.
Wolf Point, OR (South Access) Nov 2020
K7EEX trip report for Wolfe Point (http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7eex/2018-january-13/wolf-point-oregon) mentioned a possible south trail. This report confirms a south access to Wolfe Point.
If coming from Cedar Butte activation, turn off of the road at: N45.57747° W123.63990°. Park at N45.57731° W123.61891° the trail looks like a small drainage (see pic). It is not maintained and hard to follow in places but you can get to the top from this south access.
Tincup Hill - Idaho 13July2020
Tincup Hill summit is a large flat area covered by a regenerated old clearcut of 15-30’ tall lodgepole pine. There are also some mining exploration shallow-trenches cut into the summit area and access ridge. The hike is through easy terrain lacking in downfall or high brush. Trees are available to attach wire antennas.
Wilcox Peak, OR Dec 2020
Looking at maps, I took off for a morning hike to Wilcox Peak figuring there would be a gate part way down the hill. Surprisingly you can drive pretty much just into the AZ. The road finishes at a turnaround/shooting area, unfortunately with a lot of trash. Wish I took some large bags with me, putting it on my list as trash really bothers me in the woods!
Chinquapin Mountain, OR June/Dec 2020
I did Chinquapin in June and Dec, both in the snow as there was a freak storm in June when I went up. Both times I have gone, I have come from N. Chinquapin Mountain Rd off of E Hyatt Lake Rd. Some maps say W. Chinquapin but monument sign says North. Not sure if there is access the other side? The first time I did it after activating Greens Springs Mtn., 2nd time I did it after doing Table Mountain. A lot of SOTA up in this country! Everytime we go up in this area we stop for some lunch at Hyatt Lake Resort too. Nice place to take a break and spectacular views.
Green Springs Mt, OR June/Dec 2020
UPDATE: See uploaded track "better track" on sotamaps for best route I have found so far.
Trout Creek Hill, WA | Nov 2020
Trout Creek Hill is a near drive-up summit north of Carson, Washington. You can reasonably drive into the AZ, but you'd rather not travel the last few hundred yards to save the finish on your vehicle. So be sure and look for a good place to turn around and leave your vehicle before that last bit of road.
Bunker Hill, WA | Nov 2020
Bunker Hill is a nicely accessible summit a few miles north of Carson, Washington. The trailhead is an easy drive, and the hike is about 3.6 miles roundtrip and 1300 feet of gain. Note that little of the gain is on the first mile or so of the hike - it's steep later. The hike starts on the Pacific Crest Trail for the first easy half mile or so.
Wildcat Mountain | November 2020
Short Version - Wildcat Mountain is only an hour from Portland. You can drive to the trailhead and the two-ish mile hike along a well-maintained, if not well-marked, trail gets you to a small clearing on a summit with wire-ready trees. APRS messaging and 2M FM contacts are both easy and it is a good location for working HF. You are unlikely to be alone, as the Douglas and 781 trails are quite popular; if you like solitude, get there early. And be prepared for snow, even in early November.