Summit is exposed to wind, rain, sun (and good views)
Sep 2023 Update: Buck Creek Road is closed a few miles from Highway 141 and so the shortest route to Monte Carlo described below isn't available just now. The longer routes appear to be acessable.
For my 2 year SOTA-versary and birthday this week I wanted to do something special,a couple days early because the wx looked perfect, I decided to try Grayback Mountain (W7O/SC-001) the HP for Josephine Co and South Coast that had never been activated. This was also my 50th First Activation. The hike was amazing with variety.
2023 Update:
See latest update from Guy N7UN about DNR altering some roads in this area!
http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/n7un/2023-october-22/new-access-information…;
2021 Trip Report:
Sonyok Mountain is on Tribal Indian land and a use permit is needed to go there. I bought mine at the Mangy Moose in Plains but they are available in most sporting goods outlets. The summit has a working lookout but had not been opened for the season when I was there.
NOTE: This route is only available during ski operations of Mt Bachelor Resort. The Summit Chair ski lift only runs during winter and spring ski operations.
Mount Bachelor offers one of the easiest 10-pointers in Oregon, if you want it. It is possible to buy a lift ticket and take the Summit Chair ski lift nearly to the activation zone. It is only a short hike to the summit proper from the top of the lift.
Anderson Butte is a beautiful, year-round hike with incredible views of higher peaks throughout the Siskiyou, Coast, and Northern California ranges. There are multiple parking/trailhead options with access to both the peak and the Jack-Ash trailsystem connecting the Applegate Valley, Jacksonville, and Ashland.
NOTE: Conditions on Mt. Hood can change weekly, even daily. Consult up-to-date weather, avalanche, and beta reports.
On March 31st, 2021 I took advantage of a weather window and reasonable avalanche forecast to activate Mt. Hood (W7O/CN-001) via the standard South Side route.
This was the second activation of LC-001 for both WE7CAT and KL0NP. The first year WE7CAT had just gotten her tech license and was too shy to talk on the radio. The next year she activated it without me with using an Anytone 878 with stock rubber duck antenna and was able to do a S2S with me while I was on Mt. Townsend in the Olympics. This year WE7CAT/AE had just passed her Extra Class exam, and was ready to make contacts.
This summit is the old Horseshoe Lookout Site. It had a primitive platform on a rock pinnacle from 1921-1961. A standard L-4 structure, 1962-1983. Both structures succumbed to wildfires and were not rebuilt. Concrete blocks from the L-4 lookout remain. The access road, USFS #588 is 4 miles off FS #500. It is a good road and can be driven to the summit. I opted to use a bicycle the last 1.0 mile due to a steep and rocky appearing section. You have already traveled #500 so this road will be no problem. Trees are available to hang antennas.
The winter activation is much more challenging than the summer one. In the summer, it is a drive-up until the last quarter-mile walk. In the winter the road is closed 9 miles down at 2000' elevation. So that means and 4000' climb over 8 miles up.
