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.
Green Peak is a 2717’ summit that is west of Bellfountain, OR. It looked inviting on the topo maps, so I traced out a route and headed out (coming from my failed activation of 3060 that same morning).
Roger, ND7PA, reports that he reached this summit from a parking area along Marys Peak Rd. That route required a difficult bushwhack of a mile or so through the forest. Bushwhacks of this type in western Oregon can be very challenging, so I looked for a different route. The topo maps show a series of roads that approach the summit from the west.
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:
The name Multorpor comes from Multnomah County + Oregon + Portland.
Turn south off of Hwy 126 at Austa, toward Whittaker Creek. Come down the hill about 100 yards and turn left onto Austa/Siuslaw Rd. Follow that road for about 1.5 miles to a right turn toward the Whittaker Ck Recreation area. Go 1.5 miles to an intersection with a road that veers off to the left as it heads uphill.
This unnamed peak is located west of Territorial Highway and south of Crow, OR. This one-point summit is located in the middle of a young and dense forest. Views are not expansive.
This summit is not very noteworthy. It's best feaure is being only a few miles from Cummins Peak, allowing an easy two summit activation. You are on a road right of way that is surrounded by forest. No views, but lots of trees to support antennas.
Bear Mountain is a 3700’ peak between Dorena Reservoir and Dexter Reservoir. It is home to a number of RF facilities and can be seen from a distance.
This is a fine hike that many should try at some point - it's 4.4 RT miles and 800 feet of gain for the 'short' version described here, with a summit pinnacle that makes for a fun scramble if you feel the need to get to the tippy top.