This was the first activation of the summit. This was a straight-up bushwhack climb of around 500 feet and a ½ mile. Just before the summit there is a 15-foot vertical rock scramble. After searching around I found a route that I felt safe attempting. My fears far outweighed the reality.
This was the first activation of Spring Benchmark. Prior knowledge would have been helpful, but some early google earth research resulted in a successful ascent/activation.
Corvallis American Legion Post #91's, amateur radio club KG7SPL, presents the 2022 W7M six by six SOTA Rendezvous, starting at local sunrise (1240 UTC), Saturday, September 17th until local sunset (0102 UTC 9/19) Sunday, September 18th, in the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana.
Six by Six, simply means; climb a 6,000' or higher summitand activate it on 6 meters.
It's rare to find trails that are as well worn as Quartzite in this area. This trail is basically an urban hill near Chewelah, WA and sees regular use. The first half mile is the steepest, with several forks to switchbacks. All trails lead back to the main trail. In every case, take the less steep fork and avoid creating an erosion a path. The campsite at the one mile point is a good rest stop with summit register. The real summit though (and AZ) is another 1/2 mile. Follow the trail as it traverses two false summits to the actual summit at 1.5 mi in.
The Cedar Creek Fire is threatening the Waldo Mtn Lookout. The Middle Fork District (Willamette Nat'l Forest) wrap the lookout with a fire-resistant laminate foil. Hopefully the lookout escapes the nearby fire...
Pretty cool video of the wrap process: https://fb.watch/eNAnhAXa1-/
W7I/SI-151 is located near Lava Hot Springs Idaho. The summit is on Idaho Public Land but accessed through posted private land. You MUST get permission from the land owner who is generally reasonable when permission is asked and he has no cultivated crops.
I tried for this one after doing Cresent Mountain and was unsuccessful. Crescent Mountain | August 2022 | pnwsota.org
I left the main trail and bushwacked to the ridgeline. (44.48111,-122.08128)
Cresent Mountain can be approached via the north trail or the south trail. I took the north trail. South trail is described here. Crescent Mountain - Hike Oregon
You can get to the trailhead for the south trail by taking Lava Lake mdw road off highway 22. (44.4859,-122.00008)
Access and other info in my post on Quartz Creek Ridge
Continuing our hike from Quartz Creek Ridge, at the access trail junction Bill K7WXW and I retrieved my stashed water, had a small break from the aggressive climb up from the ridge saddle, and then continued north on the Summit Prairie Trail.
Activated Quartz Creek Ridge with Bill (K7WXW) this last weekend. This summit is easily doable with North Quartz Creek Ridge in the same day. Access for both summits is in the middle on a sometimes-not-mapped trail, TH at 46.24186, -121.72969 . This trail system is mixed-use. We saw ultramarathon runners (Dark Divide Ultra), mountain bikers, and dirtbikes. Prepare your ankles accordingly, the trail is often a narrow rut through the dirt because of the motorcycle traffic.