Activation Reports

First Activation of Mount Heinen.

Full Report coming soon.

This is a pleasant, short hike that is accessible by most vehicles.  The summit is an open, broad knoll that offers nice views in all directions.   There is an exceptional profusion of Bitterroots (the Montana state flower) on the summit ridge, which should be spectacular for that brief period in late May when they bloom.  We accessed the summit from the Fool Hen drainage on the North, but it should also be accessible from Gould Gulch to the south.  There are lots of mine workings in the area, with the Jay Gould mine being one of the largest.  It had over 12,00

This was the first activation of "Peak 4700" off Hwy21 on the way to Idaho City from Boise.  The peak rises right from the hwy, but access is from the opposite (South) side.  This was my second attempt at the peak as an impromptu mountain bike attempt late in 2015 was thwarted by snow.

This is a pleasant, short hike that is clear of snow early in the spring.  The approach is on a dirt road that while suitable for most cars, may be impassible when snowy or muddy.

This was a joint SOTA Activation along with my SOTA Buddy: Tim, KG7EJT.  Hicks Butte, which had only been Activated once before, is a somewhat obscure SOTA summit located about 6.5 KM SW of exit 78 off I-90, between the towns of Easton and Cle Elum in Central Washington.  Hicks Butte is a 6 point SOTA Summit, and is 5,518 feet or 1,682 meters high.  Fine weather, great companionship, good views and a successful SOTA Activation yielded a great outing!

A nice drive-up summit - so long as you have a high clearance vehicle. Head north of Yakima on I-82. Use exit 26 and take Highway 821 2.6 miles to Selah Creek Drive. (Near 46.711, -120.466.)

Wind up the 3.6 miles of nice gravel that eventually turns into a pretty rough road to the summit at 3025 feet. The road is not suitable for a passenger car. Be sure and close the gate that you'll pass through. 

3 X 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 = Three Activations in three days with three, 3X3 (weak signal) contacts, amongst about 50 contacts overall.  During an early Spring vacation in the Bend, Oregon area, we enjoyed all that Central Oregon is famous for!  Good spring skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, SOTA Activations, and a sampling of several of the more than 80 breweries that exist in the greater Bend area.  This report, number 3 of 3, deals with the Activation of Lava Butte, 5,020 feet, 1,530 meters." src="file:///C:/Users/Mark/A

3 X 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 = Three Activations in three days with three, 3X3 (weak signal) contacts, amongst about 50 contacts overall.  During an early Spring vacation in the Bend, Oregon area, we enjoyed all that Central Oregon is famous for!  Good spring skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, SOTA Activations, and a sampling of several of the more than 80 breweries that exist in the greater Bend area.  This report, number 2 of 3, deals with the Activation of Tumalo Mountain, 7,775 feet, 2,370 meters.

3 X 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 = Three Activations in three days with three, 3X3 (weak signal) contacts, amongst about 50 contacts overall.  During an early Spring vacation in the Bend, Oregon area, we enjoyed all that Central Oregon is famous for!  Good spring skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, SOTA Activations, and a sampling of several of the more than 80 breweries that exist in the greater Bend area.  This report, number 1 of 3, deals with the Activation of Mount Bachelor, 9,065 feet, 2,763 meters.

Peak 5180 (one of four with the same name in Idaho) appeared to be a relatively accessible summit off Blacks Creek Rd, SE of Boise Idaho.  After some discussions with a co-worker (AKA Erik the Mountain Goat) I learned that there was a developing trail around the base of Peak 5180.  It's a 16 mile adventurous Mtn bike trail.  Erik had also hiked this peak during the winter using a drirect route up the ridge (see links below).  After a study of Google earth, I decided to take this trail for a mile or so and then turn up onto one of the ridges leading to the summit.