Activation Reports

Foley Peak is a short hike including a "choose your own adventure" bushwhack where there used to be a trail but there is no longer, up to the site of what used to be a fire lookout but is no longer. There might be ghosts.

Start either on HWY 101 near Garibaldi and take Miami Foley Rd Northbound, or near Wheeler on HWY 53 onto Miami Foley Rd Southbound. Turn west onto Crystal Creek Rd at ( 45.65115, -123.84824 ). It appears that in the past it might also be possible to go up Frank Crane Rd / Miami River Forest Rd, but when I went that road was closed at Miami Foley.

Summary - West Twin Butte is another easy-to-reach summit and can be paired with Squaw Butte for a two peak day. The summit is small, flat, has trees for wires and good operating positions. As with other peaks in this area, two meter contacts are a challenge, cell service (ATT) works okay, APRS is good.  Google maps gives good directions for the two hour drive from Portland.

Summary - About two hours from Portland, Squaw Butte is an easy drive, hike, and bushwhack to a forested summit. There are limited views, trees for wires, and a number of good operating positions. Two meter contacts are likely to be difficult, as is spotting with a cell phone; APRS works okay. Google maps gives good directions.  Pair this one with West Twin Butte.

Porter Butte is a drive up summit if you have the right rig. It is pretty jeepish towards the end though. Equipment on top that had a little rfi but not horrible. There was a little flat just above and to the right of the tower to set up and also get a peak down into the basin.  It got very windy up there so it was a quick one! I did this after Cherry Peak. As mentioned in that summary, October is a beautiful time to see this area. Rocky Point and 140 are golden with aspen.

Another one I have wanted to get over to do before the snow comes. The area is magical this time of the year with the aspen turning around the basin. The hike was pretty difficult. Combination of bushwacking in tall brush, lava flow, and down trees. I parked SW of the peak, near where there once was road 3519-700, still on some maps. I was trying to beat an incoming storm and it got very windy but my big dilemma was I got to boulder climbing to the peak, just past the AZ and my dog would not go further.

Summary --  The trailhead for 6001 is on Bennett Pass Road, about two miles from Windy Camp. It may be possible to hike it from Windy Camp on Gunsight Trail but we didn't test this assumption. Bennett Pass Road requires 4WD, low tire pressure, and high clearance and some patience.  6001 can be done with Badger Butte (CN-013). 2M contacts are possible, ATT cell and APRS both work. The summit is rocky and sparsely forested. Here's the summit:

Summary -- Badger Butte is broad, treed summit, with a fairly easy climb from the road. Getting to it by way of Bennett Pass Road requires 4WD, low tire pressure, and high clearance and some patience.  2M contacts are possible and both APRS and ATT digital service work for spots.  Can be done with 6001.

Summary - An easy to reach trailhead (2WD friendly), a nice trail, easy bushwhack, and not much of a summit view. 2M contacts are likely to be difficult, APRS okay, and cell service marginal to nonexistent. The summit is small and brush covered; there are lots of places for putting up a HF wire. Stop in the meadow on the way back down to catch a view of Mt Adams. One of my favorite hikes in this area. By the way, you can ignore this sign at least as far as West Soda Peak:

Summary - From Portland, a long, relatively easy drive (2WD okay) and a short, difficult bushwhack will net you a big beautiful view from a very small summit.  2M is likely to be difficult, bring a mast if you want to do HF, and be prepared to scramble if you want to operate from the summit itself.  No ATT cell service. I didn't try APRS.  The view is worth battling the brush and trees! Pro tip - if it has been raining or snowing, wear rain gear for the bushwhack or prepare to be soaking wet.

Mission Peak is an 8-point summit, that is reachable from Wenatchee. This activation was a joint effort with Drew-K7DDC. We tried to make the best of the last few days of fall by activating this summit before it gets snow clad. 

Directions:

We drove from I-90 and maps told us there was a way to go there via Ellensburg which was the shortest. It ended up being a closed road, and we decided to back our way through Wenatchee.