Activation Reports

5497 is a 4-point summit in the Malheur National Forest, about 23 road miles northeast of Prairie City, OR. It is about a 1 mile road walk/bushwhack (each way) to the summit through open terrain and forest. The area around the summit is closed to motor vehicles but has good remaining roads for walking. The summit is semi-open, no views and plenty of trees for antennas. Don't expect 2m contacts here and AT&T data service was non-functional, so I relied upon RBN for spotting. I didn't think to check APRS.

Access is via the Klootchy Creek County Park off of HW26 just 2 miles east of Hwy 101 near Seaside. There's plenty of parking. And a pit toilet.

The summit and access are on Nuveen Natural Capital (private) property, previously Lewis and Clark Timberland. A (free, as of 2025) access permit is required from https://nncpermits.com/ Get the one for NNC_OR_25.

Oak Grove Butte is now a 3 mile RT hike with 750 feet of elevation gain. The rest of the write up here :http://www.pnwsota.org/blog/k7atn/2016-october-29/oak-grove-butte-or-october-2016, is generally correct, except the passive repeater now has a big brother and the road to that tower is good gravel. However, a gate blocks this road at the final intersection.

Driving Directions:

Get on 224 heading east out of Estacada, OR.

I attempted to activate South Mountain (and Summit "1540") in the South Olympic Region.  The land is owned by Green Diamond Resource Company. It looks like they have taken a page from Weyerhauser's play book and require permits for entry into this restricted use area of Mason County.  See: https://nwpermits.greendiamond.com/ At the time of this writing, annual permits started on Sept 1 and Motorized permits cost $425 Ouch!  

EDIT to add a reminder: Although this is a very pleasant, nearly urban summit, it's on private forest company land, and their policy only allows access on weekends and holidays from sunrise to sunset, or weekdays after 4pm to sunset. Agree or not, we must honor the property owner's access policies for valid participation in SOTA.

----

I tried an alternate route to 5060 (aka Full Quieting Mt.) in the Gifford Pinchot. 

I parked at (46.10557, -121.66125) on NF-2360-071 (aka Eckhart Pass Road).

Proceed South up the ridge, which is mostly open with some deadfall/blowdown for about 0.55 miles. There is a false summit, just continue south.

Double Peaks is a 4-point summit in the Mt. Hood National Forest, 2 miles west of Olallie Lake. The entire area is a burn scar, so expect loose dirt and rocks, burned treefall, and no shade. The area is 2 miles west of the Warm Spring Reservation and lies squarely in the National Forest.

Climb:                   3.2 mi, +2,423 feet (From White River trail at Cliff Creek)

Approach:           27.4 mi., +4,544 feet, -4,281 feet (From Benchmark)

Cox Benchmark is a Drive up summit near Lakeview OR.

There is a small RF site on top, but we experienced no interference from it.

The last bit of road, approximately one mile and 500 feet of gain, is a bit rough and overgrown in places. We drove it in a Rav4, but you could park near the start of it at 42.39478, -120.36527. This would avoid needing higher clearance and northwest pin stripes.

To get there turn off of 395 at 42.30956, -120.3406

Turn off of 3625 onto 011 at 42.38721, -120.37900

Abert Rim is a 6-point drive-up summit in the Warner Mountains area of the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Your best access is from Lakeview, OR and environs. This summit is close to Light Peak and Drake Peak, recommended summits if in the area.