Henry Peak, Montana July 26, 2020

Henry Peak is a two point summit overlooking Plains, Montana. It is due north of the intersection of highways 200 and 135. Please refer to the linked map below as I describe getting there. All forest Service roads in this description are good to fair and a four wheel drive is not necessarily needed but advised due to some bumpy and rocky spots.

Summit

Camel Hump, Montana July 25, 2020

Camel Hump is a summit out of St. Regis, Montana on the Interstate 90. From St. Regis you have about a 7 mile drive on paved roads, then about a 6.5 mile drive up Forest Service road 3800. At that point you encounter a closed gate but it's an easy 1 mile walk to the summit from here. Please refer to my saved map in the link below. You do not need a four wheel drive on this road, any car can make it easily. 

Summit

W7W Puget Sound S2S Party! Aug 8th @ Noon

You are invited to participate in a Puget Sound SOTA Summit to Summit Party on Saturday August 8th at Noon PST (19:00 utc). All interested in SOTA are welcome, whether you're a SOTA Goat...or you are just starting on the SOTA journey. On July 12th, I was able to send an email to all W7W 2020 SOTA activators (with email in QRZ.com), and want to make sure others are aware.

French Point, WA | June 2020

French Point is the site of a former lookout west of Darrington in Snohomish County, and a 1 point summit.  I decided to activate later on a June day, after activating two other summits near Darrington.  The hike is 2 mile round-trip, with ~500 feet of gain.  While a relatively short hike on a decommissioned service road, it's made a bit more difficult with what summitpost.org called "tank traps".  There are multiple deep ditches dug across the road to limit access, and it was more of an annoyance as parts of the road continue to grow over.  This was the first SOTA

Summit

Renshaw Mountain, MT| July, 2020

4.3 mi, +2,800 feet; -80 feet

From the town of Augusta, drive west past Nilan Reservoir to the vicinity of the Benchmark Airport.  The trailhead is near the south end of the airport runway 0.15 miles after crossing the bridge over Fairview Creek.  The trail (Fairview Creek, TR-204) is clearly marked.  Park in the wide area alongside the road just past the trailhead.  The Benchmark road is a gravel road that is suitable for all vehicles.

Summit

Thompson Peak, Montana July 18, 2020

This looked like a simple drive-to peak from the topo maps. However 1.25 miles from the summit I encountered a Forest Service gate blocking the road so I walked the remaining easy road to the summit. The views are excellent but the presence of large communication towers ruined any attempt I had at getting out a signal. I'm currently just using an 5 watt handheld on 146.52 FM voice. I've connected in this way up to 50 miles in the past. I had K7VK waiting to hear from me in Missoula and although I could hear him clearly, he could not hear me.

Summit

Williamson Mtn, OR | July 2020

Williamson Peak is a nice day hike in the Cascade Lakes region west of Bend - located in the Three Sisters Wilderness area near Lava Lake.  The best way to reach the mountain is from the Lucky Lake Trailhead, just off Cascade Lakes NS Byway/Lava Lake Road.  From there the hike up to the summit is a little under 4 miles via the Senoj/Six Lakes Trail.  The trail grade varies from near flat to moderate with a total elevation gain of around 1600'. 

Summit

McDonald Peak, OR July 2020

This was my second activation of McDonald Peak and this trip I took some friends and we hiked from McDonald to Wagner Butte view Split Rock Trail (see summary for Wagner CS-027). Well marked short hike to the summit. Rocky at summit but there is also some meadowy areas in the AZ to set up in. Great views and if you are a hiker I recommend extending your hike to Split Rock Trail or even going clear to Wagner. McDonald could also be done same day as Mt. Ashland as they are both quick hikes to the summit and same vacinity.

There is a 2 car parking spot at trailhead beside the 20 RD.

Summit