K7ATN's blog

Silver Star is a classic hike in SW Washington that should be on everyone's list to do at least once.

Bull of the Woods is a pleasant and popular hike south of Estacada of about 6.5 miles and 1300 feet of gain. There's an unused (but locked) fire lookout at the summit, giving you a chance to be out of the sun (or rain) to activate by standing under the structure.

Here's a near drive-up south of Estacada with a hike as short as a quarter mile and 200 feet of gain.

UPDATE 2021 - Mount Lowe may have been damaged in the September 2020 fires. Check for access.

Rock Butte is a short bushwhack with no views or other redeeming qualities in the Activation Zone. It's just past Timothy Lake east of Mount Hood.

Wards Butte is near Cottage Grove, Oregon and can be accessed from the south by I-5 exit 170 and from the north by exit 174. (Not to be confused with Ward Butte-W7O/CC-082.)

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. 

Here's a pleasant and easy pavement drive-up activation just east of Madras in Central Oregon. You might consider it as you travel between Bend and Portland sometime. There are nice views from the top, good parking, and trees and sagebrush to support most antennas.

Here's a quiet Central Oregon summit for those with a high clearance vehicle - or anyone that wants a bit of hiking as one could walk the rutted dirt road or even go directly cross-country to the summit (although direct would be a bit steep).

Haystack Butte in Central Oregon is fenced and posted as "Fee Access Only." Don't despair for summits to activate nearby however, as two other accessible peaks are within a few miles. W7O/CE-223 - Juniper Butte right across Highway 97 and W7O/CN-074 - Round Butte, a pavement drive-up a few miles north east of Madras.