Summit does not have a "view"
Along this trail I observed the largest spruce trees I've seen in Oregon - the trail is nearly a perfect picture of the Oregon coastal rain forest. That being said, there are no expansive views, no place for your antenna, and no place to sit...but it is an nice hike on the Oregon coast and close to Highway 101.
Cooper Mountain might be another typical urban activation as at first glance nearby Cooper Mountain Nature Park looks like the perfect place to activate --- but it's not actually in the activation zone. There are alternative spots - one across the street from the summit on a sidewalk and perhaps the best at nearby Winkelman Park (see the trip report).
A nice activation winter or summer, Frog Lake Buttes has that strange plural name that is so easy to get wrong. Only a bit more than an hour from Portland, it's one of our recommended Oregon activations. Hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, skiing or even driving are all ways to get there - depending on the season of course.
With a couple days of non-rain, I just had to get out of the house and activate a summit. "Mt. Electric" is the first summit I've activated that wasn't a "first activation". That said, it was about right for me at this time of year. The drive is an easy one. I won't go into details - but all except the last mile is on paved roads. I've trooped around a bit in the Marckworth State Forest before, but not in this part.
It was a winter wonderland on Bells Mountain above 2000 feet on Christmas Eve, pleasant to look at, not too bad to hike in, but a 'non-starter' for my rear wheel drive vehicle.It's always best to park on the right side of the gate and hike the road - it's an easy 1.6 miles to the summit.
The directions below are from Interstate 5 - some of the mileages seemed a bit off but otherwise it will get you to the gate.
An easy two-pointer in SW Washington that is pretty close to Portland with pavement all the way to the gates where you start your short hike. The weather for this activation was chilly but dry. The directions below will get you there from Interstate 5 although directions from Exit 30/Kalama might be a bit easier to follow.
Just past Oregon wine country resides Sheridan Peak W7O/NC-009. This peak has an elevation of 3000ft and resides in the heavily timbered coastal range. For beginners to SOTA, this is perfect place to start and gain experience. This peak resides in the Nestucca Recreation Area, specially created to manage the impact of an extensive and wonderful network of OHV trails. There are specific restrictions within this area, so please check with the BLM before you camp or light fires.
Bobs Mountain is fairly close to Portland, and with a short respite from the rain, an activation plan was hatched. I had the company of Grover, KG7O for a joint activation. We had a good time on the short hike to the summit on a four-wheel drive road and had a sucessful first time activation for this peak.
I could not go out for a long time. I had a lot of problems and was afraid of avalanche danger. Previous weekend I went out for an expedition hike towards Ararat peak. Avalanche danger was low, with declining tendency. Despite this I still did not want to go on any steep open terrain. Many would not think that even a small amount of snow can kill you.