TL;DR - Activation Details
Summit: Black Mountain, W7W/WH-172
Operator: N7JTT
Distance: 14.21 miles
Ascent: 4,087 feet
Moving time: 5:06:18
Average moving speed: 2.8 mph
QSOs: 8
Activation time: 17 minutes, 17 seconds
Radio: Elecraft KX2
Power: 5 watts QRP
Antenna: AX1 with 13-foot counterpoise
Cell coverage: Usable T-Mobile service at the summit
Activation Reports
Submitted by N7JTT on
Summit:
Submitted by K7AGL on
Summit:
I attempted this summit in Nov 2025 and encountered what appears to be a private land owner blocking what appears to be a public road. Since the No Trespassing sign had an AR-15 on it, I opted to turn around. Pics below of where I encountered the rope blocking road. My GPS and maps showed the road as "West Rock Creek Road."
Submitted by N7ITU on
Summit:
Black Hills High Point is minutes from downtown Olympia and adjacent to a popular city park with numerous walking paths, bike trails, and logging roads. Despite its proximity to population centers it had been activated only 4 times before my visit, most recently in 2019.
Submitted by K4MEW on
Summit:
This unnamed summit in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area is a good option for a newer activator, especially in an area where many summits require full bushwhacks. I chose it early on because there is a trail that gets you most of the way, and although I expected to be off-trail for the final stretch, there is actually a clear social trail along the ridge. It's close to town, physically reasonable, and has reliable cell service, which makes it a low-stress activation.
Submitted by K7AGL on
Summit:
It has been many years since the first activation of this summit. Since that time it appears a Rock Quarry is now in place and the main access road is marked "No Public Entry" It appears that there is Green Diamond land behind the quarry, but could not find an alternate route to get there. The gate is open during the week for quarry traffic, but locked on the weekends. Pic below of gate and sign.
Submitted by W6PZA on
Summit:
W7O/CM-024 Irish Mountain
I activated Irish Mountain in July 2018 while backpacking with family in the Three Sisters Wilderness. We used the Crossings Way trailhead (via Forest Road 1958) and hiked to McFarland Lake where we set up camp. This is along Trail #3307, Crossing Way Trail. It was from here I hiked up to Irish Mtn as a side trip to activate the summit.
Submitted by N7JTT on
Summit:
Today’s trip up W7W/WH-193, Van Zandt Dike, started from the north side outside of Acme and turned into one of those classic foothill hikes that feels much bigger than the summit itself. The route covered 11.34 miles round trip with 2,541 feet of ascent over 4 hours and 29 minutes of moving time. Despite the modest summit prominence, the day delivered big views and just enough radio success to make the climb worthwhile.
Submitted by N7JTT on
Summit:
Van Zandt Dike, Big Views, Light QRP Setup, and a Japan Contact
W7W/WH-193
