KI7EMX's picture

Arizona 100 Point Whirlwind SOTA Vacation | May 2020

Summit: 
13 Peaks in 5 Days

I had planned a vacation with my son in Gilbert, Arizona the first week of November 2020 and asked if he could find a few  SOTA summits we could activate together. I also flew my daughter in from out-of-state to join us.  This is how it actually turned out:

Tuesday, November 3rd - Pinal Peak (W7A/AW-009) gravel road drive-up:  8 Contacts

Wednesday, November 4th - Christopher Mountain (W7A/AW-024) very rough access road & .5 mile hike: 13 Contacts

K7MAS's picture

SOTA Activation: Monte Pic - South Tyrol, Dolomite Mountains, Italy - September 10, 2019

Summit: 
I/AA-181

During a 12-day, Self-Guided tour through the Dolomite Mountains of Northern Italy, I had the opportunity to activate a few mountains that “happened” to be right along our route.  I was with my XYL, Sharon, and 2 other couples, so my opportunities were somewhat limited by time and patience (or lack thereof) of my travelling companions.  None the less, I managed 4 Activations.  This report deals with the Activation of Monte Pic, I/AA-181.  This easy to ascend peak is 7,753 Feet / 2,363 Meters in elevation.  The reason I report this Activation on the PNW SOTA reflector is to illustrate the outstanding opportunities that await those that venture out to Northern Italy, Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany.  These countries all share in common superb tourist infrastructure and ease of access to thousands of SOTA peaks, ranging from walk ups to world class alpine climbs. There is also the attraction of great food and beer, and hospitable local populations.  Finally, there are also opportunities to reach out to local SOTA Activators, and perhaps go out for joint Activations.

W6PZA's picture

Summit 4420, OR | November 2020

Summit: 
W7O/CE-300

Summit 4420 is located in the Crooked River National Grassland (Ochoco NF) and has good seasonal public access.  I completed its first activation in late November 2020.  Great views from the summit looking south over the Smith Rock State Park and west along the central cascade range.

Notes from my activation…

AE7AP's picture

Spread Mountain, MT | June, 2020

Summit: 
W7M/GA-079

11.3-miles, +3,828 ft; -574 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead

I activated this as the first summit on a multi-day backpacking trip.  We camped at Canyon Lake and climbed from there.  There is also camping at Lake Otatsy and Camp Pass.  The entire route, including the Lake Otatsy area was burned in the 2017 Rice Ridge fire, so care should be taken in selecting a camp to minimize the danger from standing dead trees.  Most of the area around Canyon Lake is not burnt.

N0DNF's picture

OCT. 2020 IDAHO/ SEDGWICK PK

Summit: 
W7I/SI-015

Sedgwick PK is located 9 miles South of Lava Hot Springs.  One on the few drive up summits in Eastern Idaho. 

K7VK's picture

Pasture Ridge - Idaho 24June2018

Summit: 
W7I/IC-250

Pasture Ridge is one of several SOTA summits near the Magruder Corridor.  This corridor-road divides some of the most wild-country in Idaho, the Selway Bitterroot and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness areas. The trail access to the summit begins at the Historic Magruder Ranger Station.

K7ATN's picture

Gerakovuni, Greece | August 2015

Summit: 
SV/ST-023

Gerakovuni is the highest point of Mount Othrys. We started in Almyros, about 19 km north of the peak.We did not follow the paint marks but used the GPS to bring us more directly to the summit. I'm not sure that was the best idea. I believe we may have passed through these two waypoints on the way to the summit. 

39.06381, 22.70841     39.05323, 22.69743

 The upland terrain is rocky and open, allowing easy cross-country.

K7MAS's picture

SOTA Activation: North Paulina Peak - Deschutes County, Oregon - October 28, 2020

Summit: 
W7O/CE-014

Between October 21 and October 30, 2020, we visited the Sunriver / Bend areas of Oregon.  The cold but clear weather allowed us to Activate 8 SOTA summits in 6 outings.  This report is one of a series, and deals with the Activation of North Paulina Peak, W7O/CE-014.  Prior to coming to the Bend / Sunriver area, I had contacted Ron, W6PZA, who lives in Bend, Oregon.  I had seen on-line that he had been a very consistent Activator in this area, and reached out to him to possibly arrange some joint Activations.  Happily, things worked out, we hit it off, and wound up doing 2 joint Activations - this one, and also Burma Road HP, on October 25, 2020, and the subject of another Activation report.

K7ATN's picture

Trout Creek Hill, WA | Nov 2020

Summit: 
W7W/LC-120

Trout Creek Hill is a near drive-up summit north of Carson, Washington. You can reasonably drive into the AZ, but you'd rather not travel the last few hundred yards to save the finish on your vehicle. So be sure and look for a good place to turn around and leave your vehicle before that last bit of road.

K7ATN's picture

Bunker Hill, WA | Nov 2020

Summit: 
W7W/LC-134

Bunker Hill is a nicely accessible summit a few miles north of Carson, Washington. The trailhead is an easy drive, and the hike is about 3.6 miles roundtrip and 1300 feet of gain. Note that little of the gain is on the first mile or so of the hike - it's steep later. The hike starts on the Pacific Crest Trail for the first easy half mile or so.