UPDATE March 2023: W7O/CE-213 has been retired (prominance 480 feet).
Awbrey Butte is a summit in suburban Bend, Oregon. Although the Activation Zone is surrounded by private property and the summit proper is a fenced site for multiple radio installations, there are several Bend city parks near the summit and a trail between them that make an activation possible.
Quickly, after Old Scab I activate this plateau as well. So far the most-most easiest "hike", or more like a walk in a park. Driving only a mile further up from Old Scab trailhead I reach the top of the mountain. Here is a big open space. Park the car in the shade and start to collect this giveaway six point.
A pleasant activation nearly any time of year near Draper, Utah. In January there was snow enough for snowshoes or cross-country skiing to the summit - in summer hiking or a mountain bike could work for the 1.4 mile one-way.
The trailhead starts at Maple Hollow Trailhead Park and the 'trail' is a partially developed road - Deer Ridge Drive. The Park is at the intersection of Deer Ridge Drive and Elk Glen Drive, Draper, UT.
I had been wondering about the peak Thomas Cairn for awhile after
elk hunting in the Snow Peak area in Linn county this year. Although
it was not eligible for winter points, I just had to get up there
and see what it looked like up close.
Thomas Cairn is in an remote part of Linn county closest to the
town of Scio. I got there by first going to Scio then taking Oregon
226, 6.75 miles to the Camp Morrison Road. This turnoff is easily
identifiable by the Hannah covered bridge there.
Follow Morrison Camp road for 4.7 miles to a unmarked, nondescript
On a quck training hike for our Switzerland Hiking / Climbing tour next July / August, I decided to throw in my 2M HT at the last minute. Wilderness Peak is an easy 4 miles RT hike gaining 1200 feet, to a summit elevation of 1,600. It is easily accessible from my home QTH in Bellevue, WA. Park on SR900 (Issaquah - Renton Road). The hike is through mostly wooded terrain, with some sections of lovely old growth Douglas Fir and Cedar trees. One (1) hour up and 48 minutes down. A few other hikers and trail runners en route.
Here's a quick report on my activation yesterday of W7I/NI-106, ie, 6114. The mountain is on the Idaho-Montana border, just off Interstate-90, and across the valley from the Lookout Pass Ski area. This area seems to get snow when other places don't. So although the ski season has been rather boring here, this hike provided a nice opportunity to get into the woods and do an activation again.
This yet unnamed peak deserves a good name as it's a very worthwhile activation. It's a bit out of the way but very quiet compared to nearby Lookout Mountain and the views on a clear day of Mount Hood are excellent. These are directions from the NORTH - this road is suitable for HIGH CLEARANCE vehicles that you don't much care about.
See also the trip report by N7UN and his approach from the SOUTH: http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/n7un/2012-september-05/n7un-activation-6001-near-mt-hood
Another highly recommended hike and activation - this one in the Clackamas River drainage. The trailhead is about 90 minutes from Portland and the round trip hike is 6.2 miles with 2000 feet of elevation gain - getting you great views from a lovely summit.
From Estacada take 224 east about 20.5 miles to NF-4620 that leads to Indian Henry Campground. This is just before a bridge that crosses the Clackamas River.
Enjoy bushwacking? Like to climb over (and under!) a maze of large, downed trees? We've got a great SOTA summit for you in the Clackamas River area. Well, actually, there are probably dozens like this, but here's one with directions.
28 October, 2013 Bandera Mtn W7W/KG-073
Our original hiking destination for this day was going to be 7000 ft Norse Peak, an 8 pointer, near Crystal Mtn Ski Resort, a bit north and east of Mt Rainier National Park. The Mt Rainier WX report predicted 30-40 MPH winds at Paradise and Camp Muir in the National Park. We took off for our backup hiking destination: Bandera Mtn.