Good Parking At Trailhead

Quick notes: I have Google Fi, which uses T-Mobile and Sprint. Cell service is great, if you have a view to the northeast. Otherwise, it dies, and quickly. This was obvious when I was trying to stay in contact with people throughout the hike, leading to cutting in and out throughout the trip. I got it into my head to try a 4-pointer with no activations, and I saw a prime candidate, of only .7 miles with a gain of only a few hundred feet! What a find! Only problem is, there's no trail. Well, that's no problem!

After studying the map, I thought it was worth checking if the road that approaches the summit is accessible. I invited my family, and we drove up to check, and it definitely is not. We drove NF 23 to NF 2353, which proceeds past some campsites to the trailhead. There is a gate that is sometimes closed, but this doesn't really add a lot of effort to the trail. We got to NF2348, which turns into NF2365 and heads up the mountain, to find a berm had been constructed, decidedly closing the road. We made the decision to hike it anyway, and embarked.

(IMPORTANT NOTE! Everything in this post is true with the exception of the peak designation: W7O/NC-022. 

As it turns out, David should use GPS coordinates to check his destination because the Elk Mountain that I thought I was climbing is here: 

Latitude: 46.0539 , Longitude: -123.5644.

The peak that I actually climbed is here: 

Latitude: 45.61628 Longitude: -123.4849

Astute observers will note that these coordinates are not the same!

Sigh.

0.7 mi, 820’

This is an easy hike into the edge of the Henneberry Ridge Wilderness Study Area.

After reading K7EEX's warning about Stimson land, I reviewed the maps and Peakbagger reports, and found that a 2.6-mile trail existed starting right from the edge of US 26, up Shields Road, and staying on Tillamook State Forest land for the majority of the trip. In fact, this summit can be activated without ever stepping foot on Stimson land, as the boundary of their land is just a little higher than the activation region, but Stimson has a permissive access policy for non-motorized, leave-no-trace day use, so read their stipulations and head right up.

I've been up on Whale Head a few times and it looks like it's time to write up a trip report! This has been a "near drive-up" summit, however with the growth of slide alder into the road you may park and walk earlier that the gate.

Summary: West Onion Peak is a great activation if you don't mind the 13 mile round trip hike. Also the final bit of the hike requires a bushwhack/boulder scramble but the activation zone is a cleared bolder area which is also the location of an old fire lookout with nothing but some tower bases and the cement pad left. 

I won't give all the details of how to get to Red Top, etc. This summit has been well covered by others. Here is an interesting report from K7MAS for comparison:

http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7mas/2015-march-09/sota-activation-red-top-mountain-kittitas-county-washington-march-8-2015

To get to Stacker Butte, Washington, from Interstate 84, take exit 87 at the Dalles and go north across the Columbia River for approximately 3.5 miles to Highway 14.  Note; After taking exit 87 and turning north, there is a McDonalds on the left.  This is the last opportunity for "facilities".  If you don't use them, Stacker butte is very exposed all the way up, and you will be too!  Also, this bridge crossing the Columbia is NOT a toll bridge.  When you get to Highway 14, turn right (east) and go about 0.9 miles to Dalles Mtn Rd and turn left.

Summary: On 28MAR19 I decided to knock out the first activation on Field Effect Hill (aka Megler Mountain).  The weather started out beautiful and sunny but I ended up having to complete my activation in the rain which contiuned until I had started the hike back down when the sun returned.  Overall, the hike isnt bad but the the horrible wide band RFI in the vincinity of the summit made this less fun for an HF activation than most summits which tend to be far quieter.