Overview:
On March 30, 2024, I embarked on a SOTA activation of Cady Mountain, designated W7W/RS-084, utilizing my Elecraft KX2 transceiver. This technical trip report outlines the equipment used, band conditions encountered, and key activation details, including how a local community supports permissible access.
Equipment:
Transceiver: Elecraft KX2
Antenna: AX1 including 40m extension and counterpoise
Summary - Mud Creek Ridge is a good winter cross country snowshoe hike with an open summit, peekaboo views of Mount Hood and places to hang a wire. The drive from Portland is about ninety minutes on a traffic free Friday. ATT digital service and APRS were both good. The hike starts on the road out of the Trillium Sno Park but soon veers off to pick up the nose of Mud Creek Ridge. GPS or a compass are required as the ridge is broad, and it is easy to wander off course on the way up.
The weather this week was looking like it would be good, so I wanted to get in my March summit. I wanted to make it a challenge of some sort, so I decided to go for my first first activation. The Olympic Peninsula has a fair number of unactivated hills still, and a lot of them are on USFS land. I started exploring and found Peak 1620.
You can access Baldy Mountain if you purchase a Weyerhaeuser permit https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one. The permit is valid for a year and gets you a map that you can load into an app on your phone as well as a key to the Recreation Access Gates.
The summit is in the middle of a Christmas tree farm owned by Fox Farms. There is a graveled road (about ½ mi) to the top. There is several commercial comms at the summit and all protected by cameras. The access road is “generally” wire rope gated. The property is not posted.
NT3S/Nick sleuthed down the owner and does receive access permission with the barter exchange being a trash pickup. Nick, because of his earned relationship with the owner, should probably be the focal point for access.
You can access Baird Mountain if you purchase a Weyerhaeuser permit https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one. The permit is valid for a year and gets you a map that you can load into an app on your phone as well as a key to the Recreation Access Gates.
You can access 2060 if you purchase a Weyerhaeuser permit https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one. The permit is valid for a year and gets you a map that you can load into an app on your phone as well as a key to the Recreation Access Gates.
I activated 2060 after Wolf Point. From Wolf head back down to Road 1600 (so: 224 -> 220P -> 200P, then Left on 200) at Road 1600 turn left (South). At Road 110 turn Right, then left on 111, the summit is off of 111C.
You can access Wolf Point if you purchase a Weyerhaeuser permit https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one. The permit is valid for a year and gets you a map that you can load into an app on your phone as well as a key to the Recreation Access Gates.
I activated Wolf after Meridian Mountain. From Meridian, head down Road 049 then LEFT on 050 then turn right on 1600, then Left on 200, Right on 200P, Left on 220P, Left on 224. Road is in AZ. Pictures of summit on SOTA Atlas.
You can access Meridian Mountain if you purchase a Weyerhaeuser permit https://recreation.weyerhaeuser.com. You will need the “Longview – St Helens” one. The permit is valid for a year and gets you a map that you can load into an app on your phone as well as a key to the Recreation Access Gates. Take I5 N to exit 42, then Ostrander Road to Rec Permit Access Gate 010. Take Road 010 to Road 049 to summit. The AZ is off the road, the true summit is densely treed. Summit pic on SOTA Atlas.
Due to the recent relocation of Frog Lake Buttes from one butte to the other earlier this year, I was anxious to do another double activation on New Year's Eve. See my previous report for details on the route. The only difference is you must continue on from the radio towers down to the saddle and on up the other butte. Still very worth it for 14 pts.