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Montana - Little Rainbow Mountain 4September2019

Submitted by K7VK on
Summit

Little Rainbow Mountain is within the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness Area. The summit provides excellent views of high mountain lakes and open alpine SOTA peaks.  Little Rainbow is a great SOTA double with its neighbor Mount Tiny, W7M/BR-079   

Elevation gain: 2800’ from Storm Lake. 

Trail Miles:   4.5 roundtrip. 

Off-trail miles:  1.4 miles roundtrip.

Water:  Depending the time of year a stream exists above Storm Lake along the trail.  Then none exists along the trail.     

Montana - Three Lakes Peak 27July2019

Submitted by K7VK on
Summit

Three Lakes Peak is just within the Flathead Indian Reservation along the Reservation Divide. The summit has great views of the Confederate Salish-Kootenai Tribes land, the Flathead River, three alpine lakes, the Mission Mountains and the Ninemile Valley.  A Flathead Reservation Use Permit is required. 

Two routes are described.  The Alternate route is shorter, but much steeper and nearly double the elevation gain.  The Reservation DivideTrail is good, but in some meadow crossings it is easy to lose the trail due to forb and grass overgrowth. 

Bunker Hill, OR | September 2020

Submitted by K7WXW on
Summit

Bunker Hill is an unremarkable summit that can be reached, cautiously, with a 4WD vehicle. After you leave the highway, the way up has a number of branch points; GPS or a map will be handy.  When you get to the yellow gate, take down your antennas and be carefree about your paint getting scratched, otherwise, park here and hike up. It is roughly a 300' climb over half a mile. 

Here is a gaiagps map with driving and hiking information: W7O/NC-038 route.  

four things I think I learned about SOTA today

Submitted by K7WXW on

I made it to Bunker Hill yesterday and activated the summit. I will post a separate report, including driving info, as an activation report.  This post is more about stuff I learned during this activation.  

Given the drizzle, this was a good test for my backpack setup. My FT-817 stayed in the pack, with the antenna coax, mic, key, and earbuds snaked through the side opening.  I also carried the V8X HT for APRS and 146.58 FM QSOs. It worked pretty well, I had access to what I needed, and it stayed dry.

Here's what else I learned from this trip:

Montana - Vermilion Peak 1July2019

Submitted by K7VK on
Summit

Vermilion Peak is accessed via a moderately climbing trail in the southern Cabinet Mountains.  It also makes an easy SOTA double when teamed up with Mount Headley, W7M/LO-018.  The summit has fine views of nearby summits and distant peaks, like the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area. 

Be sure to stop and view Graves Creek Falls while traveling the Graves Creek Road to the summit.  A large pullout on the Northside of the road is at about mile 3.0.  It is not signed. 

Montana Mount Headley 30June2019

Submitted by K7VK on
Summit

Mount Headley is easily accessed via a moderately climbing trail in the southern Cabinet Mountains.  It also makes an easy SOTA double when teamed up with Vermilion Peak, W7M/LO-056.  The summit is the tallest in the area and has fine views of nearby summits, lakes and distant peaks.  Be sure to stop and view Graves Creek Falls while traveling the Graves Creek Road to the summit.  A large pullout on the Northside of the road is at about mile 3.0.  It is not signed. 

Peak 6660, MT | September, 2020

Submitted by AE7AP on
Summit

0.9 miles, +500 ft, -100 ft

This is a pleasant hike through a thick lodgepole pine forest.  The summit is a grassy meadow with some trees and views of the forested hills to the west.  It is prudent to take a chain saw for the drive in, in case if the road is blocked.  Note that the road is not open to motorized use from Oct. 15 – June 30.  The road is suitable for all vehicles.

 

Gifford Peak, WA | September 2020

Submitted by K7AHR on
Summit

Summary:

Gifford Peak is a forested summit above Blue Lake in the Indian Heaven Wilderness. This area is a popular destination for day hikers and backpackers, directly on the Pacific Crest Trail, so be prepared to meet crowds any day with good weather. The lake can be approached from either Falls Creek Horse Camp or the Thomas Lake Trailhead. Once there, take Thomas Lake Trail to the northwest corner of the lake, and proceed up the ridge off-trail. The ridge is pronounced and easy to follow to the true summit.

Camp Creek Ridge Oregon | Locked Gate and Posted No Trespassing

Submitted by W7HO on
Summit

From Marcola take Tree Farm Road.  About a 1/4 mile past the end of the paved road (gravel beyond this point) you will find the locked Gate and Posted No Trespassing.  There are homes both sides of the road right up to the gate.

The property is controlled by Giustina Land and Timber.  The have a website that you can check on acess:

www.giustinalandandtimber.com/land-acess/

Phone number: 541-345-2304 or 541-345-2301