Blogs

Three Wild Turkey Winners!  On a springtime outing to the Spokane, Washington region, we activated three (3) SOTA Summits in the mountains north of the City of Spokane.  The reference to Wild Turkeys is on account of seeing numerous of the large wild birds that almost became the National Symbol of USA.  See: http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Birds/Archives/2007/Americas-First-Bird-Controversy.aspx .  We chose this area, as there were several SOTA Summits that were easily accessible from the 2 alpine ski resorts north of Spokane: Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park and 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort.  This is report 1 of 3, detailing the Activation of Mount Spokane.

My wife and I set out on 8 May 2016 to activate Mount June, W7O/WV-042. This is a moderately difficult hike to the top of a 4620’ summit.

I activated Holland Point, W7O/WV-017, on 13 May 2016. This is typically an easy hike to the top of the 1542 m (5057') Cascade foothill south of Cottage Grove, OR.  The directions are given below.  However, there can be obstacles early in the season before crews have cleared downed trees from the roads.  That was the problem I ran into.

I got up early and left my home QTH near Redmond with a mountain bike in the car along with a heavy backpack full of food water and batteries. I knew the weather was supposed to change to showers later in the day but what a beautiful sunrise as I neared the trailhead off of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River Road.  The construction along the road is ongoing and road connditions seem to change every week but I have no troubles with my low clearance electric car.

Springtime dandy in Central Washington Cascade Mountains!  A weekday (Friday) activation of Granite Mountain, together with Tim Nair, KG7EJT.  Granite Mountain, 5,629 feet elevation, with 3,800 feet elevation gain and 8.6 miles RT, is located near the Denny Creek area, off exit 74, I-90, near Snoqualmie Pass.  Tim and I had previously Activated Granite Mountain during the winter of 2015.  This time we also had great weather, some mushy snow slogging, stupendous views and inquisitive hikers at the summit, which all combined for another fine Activation!

This is a nice spring hike on good trails.  To get there from Missoula:

Wind Mountain is a great hike with fantastic views near Hood River Oregon.  It is on the Washington State side of the river so your will need to cross the toll bridge to the Washington side if you are coming from Hood River, OR.

The toll is $1 I think and is well worth the price of admission for Wind Mountain.  You will pass the parking for Dog Mtn on the way to Wind Mtn if coming from Hood River.  Dog Mtn is another popular hike to a SOTA summit.

One of a couple Squaw Butte's in Idaho, this one near Emmett Idaho was activated on a pleasant Spring day.  Heading North out of Emmett Idaho, you can connect to a dirt road that leads you to the top of "Squaw Butte".  However, the highpoint is about a 2 mile hike from where most passenger cars will need to park.

Mt Scott - W7N/WC-028 - at the south end of the Virginia Range near Carson City required no walking/hiking at all; just drive up Goni Road from Carson City and park on top where all the dozen broadcast stations are located. The six mile mountain road climbs steeply on a washed out gravel road requiring a high clearance 4x4.

Crown Butte is one of several laccoliths that protrude from the prairie south west of Great Falls.  It is the smaller cousin of the nearby Square Butte, which figures so famously in Charlie Russell paintings.  The butte is primarily owned by the Nature Conservancy, as a preserve