Activation Reports

4wd + Short Hike (0.9 Miles, +631 ft., -215 ft.)

Directions:

Exit east from Exit 85 on I-15

Drive 4.3 miles south on Hwy-91

Turn left on Burma Road – Continue 3.1 miles

Turn left on 2-track at Chokecherry Gulch (by gravel pit)

We had grand plans for the weekend and then saw them all melt away after a couple of received phone calls.  By Sunday afternoon, the sobering reality of a totally adventureless weekend was weighing heavily on us.  As my hope faded, Mrs. K7EEX asked if there were any summits near the southern end of the PDX metro area as she needed to run an errand down there.  “Why yes there is!” I proclaimed.  “Mount Sylvania - but we’ll have to move fast as the rain is coming in.”

NOTE in January 2021 - This summit has been posted PERMIT REQUIRED FOR ALL ACCESS by Weyerhauser. See photo below.

I read up on K7ATN's activation from 2015 and spent a fair amount of time looking at the maps.  It seemed like there was an easier way to the summit than the highly rutted road that he had taken.  Sure enough, there are good roads all the way to the bottom of the approach.

Access to Saturday Rock summit is via NF-42 which begins at Sunset Campground at the end of NE Sunset Falls Road.  The road is well graded, though peppered with its fair share of chuck holes. Follow NF-42 for  approximately 9.4 miles to the intersection with NF-53.  Continue on NF-53 for another 2.4 miles to the intersection of NF-53 and NF-38. Plenty of room to park at the intersection off the main roads.

Peak 4005 is a near drive-up summit a bit east of Mount Hood, accessed mostly on paved Forest Service roads. You should consider this summit in the Mount Hood 2m FM "dead zone" as we were not able to raise anyone on 146.52. Also, APRS and cell service were marginal or non-existent, so that spotting was very challenging.

Peak 4816 is a near drive-up summit a bit east of Mount Hood, accessed mostly on paved Forest Service roads. The summit area has an small but interesting rock pinnacle. You should consider this summit in the Mount Hood 2m FM "dead zone" as we were not able to raise anyone on 146.52 except a sked with a nearby S2S. Also, APRS and cell service were marginal or non-existent, so that spotting our activations on HF were a real problem.

Peavine Mountain is a drive-up summit a bit east of Mount Hood, accessed mostly on paved Forest Service roads. You should consider this summit in the Mount Hood 2m FM "dead zone" as we were not able to raise anyone on 146.52, even after begging on the Mt. Hood repeater. Also, APRS and cell service were marginal or non-existent, so that spotting was a problem. 

Travel on Highway 6, and turn north onto Cedar Butte Road between milepost 17 and 18. Drive over the bridge and continue straight at the Muesial Creek Road junction (0.1 mile). There are signs at each junction that direct you to the Cedar Butte Trailhead, however, mark your mileage here and watch for posted signs. The trailhead is about 5.5 miles from this point, although the sign says 5.7. At 2.0 miles turn right at the “Y” intersection. At 4.8 miles, the Cedar Butte Road veers left. Continue another 0.7 mile to the trailhead.

All,

Here's a drive-up summit a few miles off Highway 26 when you are on your way to the coast. Not from from the well-trod Saddle Mountain, W7O/NC-004, it's one more point for the ambitious activator. The roads are easily traveled in a passenger car.