Summit is exposed to wind, rain, sun (and good views)

Mount Pisgah, OR | October 2016

Summit

Mount Pisgah is a 'near' urban summit just east of Eugene. It is known as Mount Pisgah Arboretum and as the Howard Burford Recreation Area. It's a short 1.5 miles, but steep with 1050 feet of elevation gain from the parking lot to the summit. It features some of the last remaining oak savanna that once dominated the Willamette Valley and the summit has good views. 

SOTA Activation: Waterman Mountain, Los Angeles County, California - September 29, 2016

Summit

One of the nicest hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains, Waterman Mountain is certainly worthy of repeat SOTA Activations, and this was our third time in about 2 years.  Being graced with a very reasonable access, well graded trail and magnificent specimens of Incense Cedar (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calocedrus  ) and Ponderosa Pine (see:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa  ) it’s a wonderful and popular SOTA objective.  The trail is 6 + miles RT, with 1,200 feet elevation gain.  The summit area is lightly treed, but still has views if you search them out.

First SOTA Activation: Pyramid Mountain - Chelan County, Washington - July 23-25, 2016 - Part 4 of 4

Summit

Chelan Crest SOTA Outing July 23-25, 2016 – Part 4.   See separate reports on PNWSOTA website with background on the entire outing and day 1 & 2 description, with 3 other First SOTA Activations. The total trip was approximately 25 miles RT, with approximately 7,000 feet elevation gain, including ups and downs in between the various peaks. This is report 4 of 4, "Pyramid Mountain".  Pyramid was the apex of our 3 day 2 night SOTA outing, both in elevation and distance from the TH.  This 10 point SOTA Summit is 8,245 feet high, and affords some fantastic view of the Central and North Cascades, Lake Chelan and Eastern Washington.

First SOTA Activation: Sky Mountain, King County / Chelan County (on the dividing line), Washington - September 16, 2016

Summit

Sky Mountain is a high point on the ridge directly across US Highway 2 from Stevens Pass Ski Resort.  The summit is at Point 5,482 feet, and is not actually named on the USGS topo maps. Sky Mountain hike/scramble is only about 5 miles RT, and 1,700 feet elevation gain.  Despite the relatively short distance and modest elevation gain, this scramble is not trivial.  Tim, KG7EJT, tried it in winter, but turned back due to weather and avalanche hazard.  So now we returned for a joint Activation in the last week of summer 2016 for what turned out to be the "The Great Tarzan Traverse" route variant. 

Burley Mtn Sept 2016

Summit

Burley Mtn is a drive-up to an open fire lookout with expansive views of Rainier, St. Helens, and Mt Adams.  You can stay overnight at the lookout on a first-come basis.  But bring some sheets as the two beds and mattresses are grundgy. There is a wood stove for heat so also bring some firewood to take the morning chill off.  This is an exposed area so it can be quite windy.  There is a picnic bench and some trees for your antennas.  Best terrain takeoffs are to the east and south...a radio repeator tower is on the west side of the peak.

First SOTA Activation: "Olivia Mtn" - Chelan County, Washington - July 23-25, 2016 - Part 3 of 4

Summit

Chelan Crest SOTA Outing July 23-25, 2016 – Part 3.   See separate report on PNWSOTA website with background on outing and day 1 description. The total trip was approximately 25 miles RT, with approximately 7,000 feet elevation gain, including ups and downs in between the various peaks. This is report 3 of 4, "Olivia Mountain".  On maps, this summit is shown as Point 7,492 (feet), lying about 1.06 miles SE of the Big Boy of the neighborhood - Pyramid Mountain.  I suspect "Olivia Mountain" is the SOTA name for the peak.  We Activated "Olivia Mountain" on the same day as Graham Mountain.

First SOTA Activation: Fourth Of July Mountain, Chelan County, Washington - September 10, 2016

Summit

First SOTA Activation of Fourth Of July Mountain, a 4 point SOTA summit above the town of Manson, Washington, was accomplished on Saturday, September 10, 2016.  On a weekend trip to visit with our friends who have a vacation home in Manson, we took some time to Activate this peak.  The overall terrain is quite dry and arid, especially this late in summer.  The trail itself is non-descript, and the redeeming aspect of the activation are the great views from the upper slopes and summit of the mountain.  The weather was quite warm, and we were happy to have gotten a relatively early start.