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Pinnacle Peak, OR - June 2023

Submitted by K7RNJ on
Summit
Trail Characteristics
APRS Coverage
Don't know
Cellular Provider
Verizon
Voice Cellular Coverage
Spotty, may not work at all
Data Cellular Coverage
Spotty, may not work at all

Pinnacle Peak is quite a drive, at which there is no real parking, and no trail, which I suspect is why it hadn't been previously activated - that and the two points. Fun nonetheless, a sense of accomplishment, and some good views to the east.

To get there from The Valley, take SR-22 east past Detroit, to National Forest Development Road 11, a paved and well-maintained, winding serpentine of a road just three miles or so south of Marion Forks, and just past milepost 69.  After several miles on NF-11, take a right onto the graveled NF-1133 (it is marked but use a map), followed by another right shortly thereafter onto another graveled road at 44.591451, -122.134607.  I'm not sure what this road is called, but you're almost there. 

If you look at a topo map, you'll see that about 1/3 of a mile up from the coordinates, you'll be at the base of the most gradual slope to the top.  I found a wide(ish) place to park, and blazed my own trail to the peak, with my 12-year old son in tow.  A couple hundred feet of elevation gain, some dodgy footing amongst the downed trees and rhodies with a steep-ish push for the last 100 yards, and you emerge at the small rocky outcropping known as Pinnacle Peak.

There are trees in the activation zone to support HF - I stuck with my Yagi-Uda and FT-65 and got Portland fairly easily (and almost got Etienne, too).  I was able to activate with relative ease in just about 40 minutes, though there was some interference in the form of ragchew on 146.58 somewhere to the southwest.  Still, I got the 4, plus one for insurance, and got to spend some time with my son enjoying the beautiful landscape on a sunny Oregon day.

With a little effort we could see Mt. Hood and part of Jefferson. Three Finger Jack and the Three Sisters were a piece of cake.  

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