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Good Parking At Trailhead

Trailhead has ample, free, accessible parking

Big Butte | August 2014

Submitted by K7NIT on
Summit

Big Butte is a near drive-up (in an SUV - the higher clearance is necessary) in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that you could do in a passenger car with a bit more hiking (less than 2 miles each way on a road). From Portland, take I-84 to Cascade Locks and cross the river on the Bridge of the Gods (toll). Or take Washington 14 out from Vancouver past the Bridge of the Gods, through Stevenson and continue east on 14 to turn north towards Carson about four miles past Stevenson. After 12.3 miles on this Wind River Highway you will turn right onto NF-3080 or Hollis Creek Road (paved).

Stevens Peak, WA | July 2014

Submitted by K7ATN on
Summit

Stevens Peak in Mount Rainier National Park, is a committed alpine climb. It's recommended you prepare carefully reading guidebooks and climbing websites, and making sure you have the necessary skills, experience and equipment. You will need to be able to handle wilderness route finding, high angle snow ascent and descent, mixed rock and snow, rock climbing, and challenging terrain. Adequate physical conditioning is critical to ensure success and safety. Each of your party members needs to prepare in kind.

Stuart Peak Backpack / SOTA

Submitted by KF7PXT on
Summit

This was a great trip for the wife and I and we had a great time. We left early on Monday morning and hiked in to a camp about 8 miles in. On Tuesday we got up and hiked the 5 miles to the summit and spent most of the morning afternoon up there on the summit. For rough directions to the summit go down to the local REI and buy a "Rattlesnake Recreation Area" map. There are many ways to get to this summit but none are short. Though it can technically be done in a day from the main rattlesnake trailhead (the way we came out), I would not suggest it. Take your time and enjoy the views.

SOTA Activation: Red Top Mountain, Kittitas County, Washington - July 1, 2014

Submitted by K7MAS on
Summit

Easy 2 Mile RT (or less) leads to this fantastic overlook of the Teanaway River Valley, Mount Stuart Range, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and hundreds of other Cascade peaks.

All SOTA contacts were on 20M SSB, using my 20M inverted V dipole suspended fron a 22 ft. Carbon Fiber fishing pole.  I made 12 contacts in 8 states over approximately 30 minutes. 

Wampus Butte | March 2014

Submitted by K7NIT on
Summit

Wampus Butte is another easily accessible summit near La Pine. Below is a map of the route we wished we had taken as it would have been much more direct (from Hwy 97, west on Burgess Rd to NF-44/E. Deschutes Rd and follow it to NF-600. It is about 1.5 miles on this road to the left turn up to the summit). This was a nice snowshoe in March but would probably be mostly almost a drive-up in summer. It was cloudy when we were up there but I think there would be a nice view on a clear day.

There are cell and radio installations on the top that provided significant QRN on 40m.

Pringle Butte, OR | March 2014

Submitted by K7NIT on
Summit

Pringle would probably be a drive-up or near drive-up in the summer but I am not sure whether the roads would be suitable for a passenger car or not as they were covered with snow, thus making it a snowshoe for us. According to the map there are at least 3 access points. We took North Ponderosa Way as it was the first we came to and appeared to have the most direct route to the summit (it does looks a bit like a maze on a map).  On some maps (including Sota Goat) 4410 appears to go pretty much straight up from North Ponderosa.