Hyndman Peak, W7I/BL-001, It's a 10 pointer! Activated by Boyd-KF7DDT.
Activation Reports
Jeff-KF7NOZ had the privilege of activating W7I/CU-001 on Saturday August 4th 2013. This was the first activation of Idaho's highest peak. It was my second attempt activating this summit and I'm not sure I would have tried a third.
Sunday, January 15th, 2017 was my attempt to do Mt. Spokane (formerly referred to as Jump-off-Joe). I believe my activation is the first “winter” activation of this peak. As previously reported, there are several ways to access this summit, which even include taking the chair lift in the ski area! Previous activations from other have included driving to the top, hiking, and Mountain Biking. My attempt would be on a snow shoe trail that is well travelled.
Saturday, January 14, 2016, I attempted the first ever winter activation of Quartz Mountain. This summit intrigued me as I have previously skied on the cross country ski trails at Mt. Spokane. The trails, which many are on a Forest roads, create the basis for the cross country trail system. There is a warming hut in somewhat close proximity to the activation point. I believe it is possible to drive up to the summit during the summer. The cross country trail maps shows the road leading to the summit as “occasionally groomed”. It was unclear when or if this trail was groomed this year.
Tiffany Mountain’s 8242 foot summit classifies it as a 10 point SOTA summit. With only a few exceptions, 10 point summits in the W7W association are technical climbs, or exposed Class 3 or 4 scrambles. Tiffany Mountain offers a well maintained and well graded trail to the summit. Starting with a gentle climb along a sparsely treed ridge, the trail gradually makes it way to a large grassy meadow about 1.5 miles into the hike. From the meadows, the wide rocky topped summit is viewed.
Yellow Butte is south of Drain, OR and seems to be open. A topo map will show the roads to get there. Generally, heading south from Drain, find West Rd to Cedar Rd. This will lead you to Drain Section Rd. Turn left off of Drain Section onto Hayhurst Rd. Turn right from Hayhurst onto Skelley Rd. Follow this to a poorly marked Andrews Creek Rd. Follow Andrews Ck, staying on the generally "main" dirt road. There are several sweeping U-turns that bring you to the final road to the summit. About half way up the road to the summit is a closed and locked gate.
I had intended to activate this summit on December 30, 2016. Another off limits summit.
This road was gated and locked just past the waste transfer station outside of Drain, OR. Consider this summit to be off limits.
Peak 5740 is one of the handful along the north side of Hwy 20 - west of Mtn Home Idaho. Although, there was deep snow, this turned out to be a good winter bonus point summit.
Please see this detailed blog on the first activation of Mount Rainier by Doug-W1DMH.
http://w1dmh.blogspot.com/2014/06/rainier-w7wrs-001-sota.html#comment-form