Easy Trail

2.9 miles, +1,500 ft, -260 ft (From Trilobite Lakes); 21.4 mile approach from Silvertip TH via Switchback Pass

2.2 miles, +1,180 ft, -380 ft (From Dean Lake); 16.9 mile approach from Silvertip TH

0.5 miles, +580 ft (From Switchback Pass); 15.4 mile approach from Silvertip TH

Kevan Mountain is located on the Continental Divide and forms the northern bulwark of the North Wall in center of the Bob Marshall Wilderness.  There is good camping at the Pentagon guard station, Dean Lake, Lake Levale, and in the valley to the north of Dean Lake.

1.7 miles, +1,260 ft, -160 ft (From Lake Levale); 18.8 mile approach from Silvertip TH

After going "0-for-Powers" last week, I decided to lick my wounds with an easier activation.  Shamelessly, I cribbed from the recent visit by Phil, NS7P, to Roman Nose Mountain.

Roman Nose is almost TOO easy.  One can drive all but the last half-mile or so.  I parked another 1/2 mile before the locked gate, to ease my conscience.  (There's no specific distance of hike required.  Personally, I aim for at least a mile or so.  If you're young and vigorous, you might want to be tougher on yourself).

On November 11, 2016 I was making a blitz trip from Boise down to City of Rocks to activate it in the ARRL’s National Parks on the Air program. I had always wanted to run up to Mt. Harrison and had just enough time in my schedule to do so. I had read W7IMC’s short summary of his 2013 trip, as found on the SOTA Summit Summary. A paved drive up to a 6 pointer! In Idaho! Hard to believe and it is likely the only one of its kind. Sure enough that is what it is.

Tiffany Mountain’s 8242 foot summit classifies it as a 10 point SOTA summit. With only a few exceptions, 10 point summits in the W7W association are technical climbs, or exposed Class 3 or 4 scrambles.

I finally got an activation completed today (Dec 1, 2016).  I chose a relatively easy summit that is within 20 minutes of my home, Peak 1094. This peak is in the "back yard" of some rural/suburban houses and is apparently owned by a timber company. I asked for permission to hike from a neighbor. He felt that it was ok as long as I wasn't hunting. Asking first keeps it above board.

Even leaving Bigfoot aside...

...Southern Oregon has a lot to offer. If you'd like to try SOTA from exotic Oregon, there's probably no easier place to do it than Palmer Butte, W7O/SC-185.  It's off US-101 south of Brookings, the first major town north of the California border.

Directions:

Take US-101 to around Milepost 357, south of Brookings, OR.  Turn East at this Signal: