This was my first summit, and I want to thank pnwSOTA.org for the recommendation for it as a first summit.  It was a blast!

I reached 18 stations, including the famous WG0AT in Colorado and OK2PDT in the Czech Republic -- all with a SOTABeams linked dipole on a fiberglass mast with 5 watts out from my KX3!  Amazing what CW can do.

I sat on a wet tree limb, fumbled with a pad to log QSOs while swatting away mosquitoes but it was perhaps the most fun I've had in ham radio.  I recommend it highly to anyone who hasn't tried it. 

Skagit Gadget is a 1-point summit, located within ~20 minutes of I-5 in Skagit County.  Some of the area has been logged, and it is a 4 mile road hike with ~700 ft of gain.  Both times I've actived as a second summit for the day, and was thankful to squeeze in enough vhf contacts before a new UTC day rollover.  Trees are starting to grow near the summit activation area, but there are some views at summit...and more views hiking up.  

Directions:

For Mother's Day 2019, was able to blend a family hike and very quick SOTA activation.  Activating Guemes Island includes a short ferry ride from Anacortes, and shorter hike (2.2m round-trip) with minor elevation gain (~587 ft).  The summit area has great views, and has both a great open space along with areas of trees for antenna's and/or holding a mast.  No pass is required at the trailhead, but there is limited parking for ~4 cars.

Hawk Mountain was an easy 1 hour hike to a summit with great views of Mt Jefferson and further south. The trail is well maintaned and there were Huckleberries galore that may delay your QRV. 

Take forest road 46 (paved) to forest road 6350 and 6355 west to the trail head at 44.84062, -121.94718. Forest road 6350 is a well graded gravel road that is rated "Prius-able". The Hike is 2 miles each way with an elevation gain of 789'.

Flagg Mountain is a great 4 point short hike (or drive-up) summit located west of Winthrop, WA.  For a day trip, it could be combined with Goat Peak Lookout summit W7W/OK-107.  

Directions/Access:

It took me 2 days to get my 4 contacts at Tolmie Peak. I drove an hour and a half from Buckley, WA down HI 162 to Mowich lake. I then hiked the 2.9 miles past Lake Euclid to Tolmie Peak and experienced strong winds and driving rain to get heard. 

I bought my Rainier park pass on the way to Mowich lake and a Fee Stop, $20. 

There is clean water at Lake Euclid and while the rain is falling so are the streams. there were 2 waterfalls along the trail. 

Sunday, Oct 6

A beautiful Fire Lookout on Huckleberry Mtn with great vistas of the Three Sisters.  Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy before the lookout becomes active for the summer.

Getting There

Spent the weekend at Eagle Crest just outside Redmond, Oregon and decided to activate Cline Butte which is nearby on MLK Day.  Left the trailhead at 08:00 with very cold (25 degrees) clear conditions with patches of snow on the ground.  Followed a road most of the way to the top then cut off on a jeep trail the remainder of the way.  Trip up is a little less than a mile with a 800 ft elevation gain.  I added a map from Google Earth with the route I took up.