I was just along for the ride on this one, having been invited by Rich KR7W to join him on a before-the-roads-close jaunt to activate Kelly Butte, a popular peak that has been activated at least twice already this year.

UPDATE July 2021 - There is now a no trespassing sign on the yellow gate. 

The blue gate barring the logging road now bears a Weyerhaeuser No Trespassing Sign, and a second sign explains how to purchase a non-motorized recreational day-use permit from Weyerhaeuser.  Go to https://www.wyrecreationnw.com/HomePage.aspx for details. 

On-Trail Hike (5-miles, 1,500 ft)

Katsuk Butte is a nice little peak near both South Sister and Devil's Hill
in the Deschutes National Park near the Mt. Bachelor ski area. It's easily
reached from the Devil's Lake campground parking area. You will need to be
comfortable with cross country travel via map/compass/GPS as there are no
trails to this summit.

Katsuk Butte can be conveniently coupled with an activation of South Sister. I
spent the night in the very nice campground on the banks of Devil's Lake,
activated Katsuk Butte late in the afternoon, and left for South Sister early

This is a fabulous hike on a nice trail that climbs to the Patrol Mountain Lookout on the edge of the Scapegoat Wilderness.  The top offers stupendous views of the Scapegoat and Bob Marshall Wilderness areas.  Snow drifts may present difficulties into the first week of July during heavy snow years.  Drive West from Augusta and follow the signs to Benchmark.  Watch for the airport on the left as you approach Benchmark.  Turn left after passing the airport at the well marked intersection towards the Straight Creek trailhead.  Park here and walk 2-miles south on t

To access trailead From Highway 200 - take the Copper Creek road north.  The road is a well maintained gravel road until after the upper crossing of Copper Creek, where it becomes somewhat more primitive.  The road hairpins eastwards at this creek crossing, climbs gently, then hairpins again westwards and begins climbing more steeply.  Turn right (north) at the first opportunity.  This portion of the road is narrow and ingrown, with brush which may scratch wide vehicles.  It is an "easy" 4wd or a "some clearance advised" 2wd road.  The road will soon enter a st

It took me 2 days to get my 4 contacts at Tolmie Peak. I drove an hour and a half from Buckley, WA down HI 162 to Mowich lake. I then hiked the 2.9 miles past Lake Euclid to Tolmie Peak and experienced strong winds and driving rain to get heard. 

I bought my Rainier park pass on the way to Mowich lake and a Fee Stop, $20. 

There is clean water at Lake Euclid and while the rain is falling so are the streams. there were 2 waterfalls along the trail. 

Home is Tacoma, WA, but since I acquired lightweight QRP gear a couple of years ago, I’ve been tempted to take it with me when I travel. I finally did so, on a trip to visit family in New England.

A nice fall day, good company of Tim, KG7EJT and Dexter the SOTA Dog, a successful joint First Actvation of Cowboy Mountain (including a S2S contact with VA7JBE/7 on the summit of Mount Baker) and nobody else anywhere near the summit itself, made for a very nice outing.