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Saddle Mountain FM Scan (east of Mattawa WA) 3-26-2021

C

crainbebo

Today I did my first hike of the season. I went up to the Saddle Mountain Lookout site ('Saddle Mountain East'), off Highway 24 east of Mattawa WA. The views from that 2,000+ foot high point were amazing. I could see Mt. Rainier (110 miles away) along with the towns of Othello, Royal City, Warden, and likely Moses Lake and Quincy. I could look out towards the Tri-Cities and the Blue Mountains, the latter around 80 miles SE.

Logs listed below. Similar to White Bluffs in March 2017, but with some differences and some surprising catches from eastern OR.
88.1 - KTCV Kennewick (Modern Rock) 3.5KW 42mi
88.3 - KMLW Moses Lake (Religious) 4KW 11mi
88.5 - KLRF Milton-Freewater, OR (Religion) 7.4KW 89mi
88.7 - KDMB Moses Lake (Catholic Religion) 4.6KW 39mi / K204CZ Kennewick (The Effect KEFX) 10W 50mi
88.9 - (just IBOC hash)
89.1 - KFAE Richland (NWPB) 100KW 50mi
89.3 - (just IBOC hash)
89.5 - KSOH Wapato (LifeTalk Radio) 9.4KW 54mi / K208BY Moses Lake (KGIO, Spanish Religious) 99W 22mi
89.7 - KWWS Walla Walla (NWPB) 3.2KW 83mi
89.9 - KPLW Wenatchee (Christian Contemporary) 5.9KW 52mi
90.1 - KOLU Pasco (Religion) 4.1KW 51mi
90.3 - KNWY Yakima (NWPB) 1.9KW 53mi / K212DB Moses Lake (KAWZ / CSN) 250W 22mi / very likely KTVR La Grande OR (OPB) 400W 131mi - All Things Considered while KFAE was still in classical music.
90.5 - KQBC Benton City (Radio 74) 200W 38mi
90.7 - KNWR Ellensburg (NWPB) 5KW 55mi
90.9 - KRBM Pendleton, OR (OPB) 24.5KW 86mi
91.1 - KYPL Yakima (Christian Contemporary) 26KW 49mi / KPBX-FM Spokane (NPR) 56KW 124mi
91.3 - KGTS Walla Walla (Christian Contemporary) 7KW 82mi
91.5 - KLWS Moses Lake (NWPB) 7.2KW 37mi
91.7 - KBLD Kennewick (Religion) 1.8KW 51mi
91.9 - KDNA Granger (Spanish) 18.5KW 54mi
92.1 - KUMA-FM Pilot Rock, OR (Classic Hits) 6.9KW 86mi
92.3 - KZUS Ephrata (Regional Mexican) 26KW 36mi
92.5 - KZHR Dayton (Regional Mexican) 54KW 82mi
92.7 - K224EW Othello (EWTN Spanish) 28W 11mi
92.9 - KDBL Toppenish (Country) 17KW 49mi/ K225CJ Walla Walla (News/Talk // KGDC-1320) 115W 82mi / KZZU Spokane (Hot AC) 81KW 115mi - tentative
93.1 K226AK Ephrata (NWPB // KFAE) 41W 37mi
93.3 - KRKL Walla Walla (K-LOVE) 42KW 82mi
93.5 - KWDR Royal City (Country) 210W 5mi (over on nearby Wahatis Peak)
93.7 - KQFM Hermiston, OR (Adult Contemporary) 5.3KW / KDRK Spokane (Country) 60KW 124mi
93.9 - KTAC Ephrata (Religion) 18KW
94.1 - K231CT Walla Walla (Classical // KHSS-HD2...new format! Very unusual, with TownHall News at the top of the hour even.) 155W 75mi
94.3 - KSAE-LP Kennewick (Spanish Religion) 100w 37mi
94.5 - KATS Yakima (Rock) 100KW 53mi / K233CJ Walla Walla (Fox Sports // KZIU-HD3) 250W 82mi
94.9 - KIOK Pasco (Country) 100KW 50mi
95.3 - K237DP Kennewick (Classic Rock // KLKY-96.1) 34W 46mi / KXLE Ellensburg (Country) 51KW 68mi
95.5 - KBFF Portland OR (Top 40) 97KW 179mi - very briefly
95.7 - KKSR Walla Walla (Christian Contemporary) 94KW 83mi
95.9 - KZML Quincy (Regional Mexican) 11KW 40mi
96.1 - KLKY Stanfield, OR (Classic Rock) 8.5KW 90mi / KFOO Opportunity (Alternative) 60KW 124mi
96.3 - KRCW Royal City (Regional Mexican) 19.5KW 8mi
96.5 - K243CK Pendleton, OR (News/Talk // KUMA-1290) 250W 93mi
96.7 - KMMG Benton City (Regional Mexican) 820W 39mi / KWWW Quincy (Top 40) 440W 40mi
96.9 - KZTA Naches (Regional Mexican) 14KW 68mi
97.1 - KXRX Walla Walla (Rock) 100KW 83mi
97.5 - KOLW Basin City (Rhythmic Contemporary) 50KW 35mi
97.7 - KYSN Wenatchee (Country) 6KW 57mi
97.9 - KZTB Milton-Freewater OR (Regional Mexican) 100KW 92mi
98.1 - KISC Spokane (Adult Contemporary) 92.1KW 115mi
98.3 - KEYW Pasco (Hot AC) 12.5KW 51mi
98.5 - KEYG Grand Coulee (Classic Hits) 100KW 75mi
98.7 - KMNA Mabton (Regional Mexican) 11.5KW 40mi / K254DP Pasco (KFLD-870 News/Talk) 250W 54mi / K254DK Walla Walla (KUJ-1420 News/Talk) 10W 82mi
98.9 - KKZX Spokane (Classic Rock) 100KW 115mi
99.1 - KUJ-FM Burbank (Top 40) 52KW 50mi
99.3 - KDRM Moses Lake (Hot AC) 3KW 22mi
99.5 - KZLY Ione, OR (Regional Mexican) 1.8KW 90mi / K258CN Richland (Regional Mexican) 250W 50mi
99.7 - KHHK Yakima (Rhythmic Contemporary) 4.1KW 46mi / K259CR Milton-Freewater OR (KTEL-1490 News/Talk) 170W 82mi
99.9 - KXLY-FM Spokane (Country) 37KW 134mi
100.1 - KQFO Pasco (Regional Mexican 'La Raza') 8.4KW 50mi
100.3 - KXAA Cle Elum (EWTN) 6KW 68mi
100.5 - KWIQ Moses Lake (Country) 50KW 24mi
100.7 - KHSS Athena, OR (Religion) 6.3KW 82mi
100.9 - KARY Grandview (Classic Hits) 7.8KW 34mi
101.1 - KOHO Leavenworth (Adult Contemporary) 930W 75mi / K266AZ Ephrata (KPLW) 60W 37mi / KEYF-FM Cheney (Classic Hits) 100KW 115mi
101.3 - KGDN Pasco (Religion) 2.75KW 50mi
101.5 - KATW Lewiston ID (Hot AC) 100KW 117mi
101.7 - KZXR-FM Prosser (Regional Mexican) 3.5KW 44mi
101.9 - KZIU-FM Weston, OR (Classic Country) 13.4KW 92mi
102.1 - KPQ-FM Wenatchee (Classic Rock) 35KW 57mi
102.3 - K272ED Kennewick (Country) 34W 46mi
102.5 - KRAO Colfax (Hot AC) 2.2KW 107mi
102.7 - KORD Richland (Country) 100KW 50mi
103.1 - K276EU Kennewick (K-LOVE // KRKL-93.3) 15W 39mi / KYKV Selah (K-LOVE) 5.4KW 46mi / K276GF Pendleton OR (KTIX-1240, 'The Outlaw' Classic Country recent flip from Sports) 190W 93mi
103.3 - KWLN Wilson Creek (Regional Mexican) 25KW 40mi
103.5 - KWHT Pendleton (Country) 100KW 86mi
103.9 - K280GI Richland (Christian Contemporary // KGTS-91.3) 16W 39mi
104.1 - KXDD Yakima (Country) 100KW 49mi
104.3 - K282AA Kennewick (Religious, // KMBI) 274W 50mi / KHTR Pullman (Country) 24KW 120mi
104.5 - KTZB-LP Pasco (Spanish Religion) 100W 32mi
104.7 - KKRV Wenatchee (Country) 6.5KW 60mi / KCMB Baker City OR (Country) 100KW 140mi
104.9 - K285FN Kennewick West (Exitos 104.9) 250W 50mi
105.3 - KONA Pasco (Adult Contemporary) 100KW 50mi
105.5 - K288FO Union OR (Christian Contemporary // KGTS-91.3) 100W 131mi...what a catch! Union is south of La Grande and this is just as spectacular as getting KRJT-105.9...
105.7 - KRSE Yakima (Classic Rock) 100KW 56mi / KDIL-LP Kennewick 8W 46mi
105.9 - KRJT Elgin OR (Classic Hits) 115W 119mi - this is the second place I've heard them. First was at Ginkgo Petrified Wood Forest near Vantage. Only 115 watts but they sure get out! Wow! / KOLH-LP Hermiston OR (EWTN) 100W 66mi
106.1 - K291BS Richland (Adult Contemporary // KALE-960) 250W 39mi / K291CS Ephrata (KTBI-810 Religion) 225W 37mi
106.5 - KEGX Richland (Classic Rock) 100KW 50mi
106.7 - KKWN Cashmere (News/Talk) 6KW 67mi
106.9 - K295AV Kennewick (Regional Mexican) 250W 50mi / K295AU Moses Lake (Christian Contemporary // KGTS) 250W 22mi
107.1 - K296BP Ephrata (Spanish Religion // KGIO) 45W 37mi
107.3 - KFFM Yakima (Top 40) 100KW 46mi / K297BE Kennewick (// KWCQ-106.1) 50W 46mi
107.7 - KWVN-FM Pendleton, OR (Top 40) 72KW 93mi
107.9 - K300AP Sunnyside (K-LOVE // KRKL-93.3) 50W 45mi / KMBI-FM Spokane (Religion) 64KW 124mi

Pictures coming later. What a great view.
 
Neat! I’m super surprised you caught the Portland station, and K243CK besides!

Is the old airstrip still up there, or am I thinking of a slightly different place along that ridge?
 
Nice catches, especially the KRJT one. Their transmitter is on Mt Hariis east of La Grande. KRJT, Boomer Radio, recently returned to streaming at : http://209.58.143.143:8000/kkbc-live.m3u

(KRJT and KKBC (Baker City) run the same programming.)

The PDX catch might be via meteor scatter a PDX-anchored flight. I am amazed how much short-lapse DX I can hear off those departig/arriving jetliners.
 
Impressive list. As usual. I usually notice a few Canadians in your scans. I'm guessing this location was totally out of range for those.
 
I didn't know there was a Saddle Mountain in Washington. There's one in Oregon, in the northern Coast Range. It looks like a saddle. Does yours?
 
Aircraft scatter on that KBFF catch. It only lasted 10-20 seconds.
As noted, I've heard Boomer 105.9 up on the Ginkgo hill above Vantage. That's even farther. 115 watts on a high hill get out very well and I think the Columbia River amplifies it. Likewise, before KFLD fired up the translator on 98.7, I could hear KUBQ La Grande at that same spot.
I have heard 96.5 K243CK/KUMA in Yakima and Ellensburg in the past. They are easily heard on Englewood west of about 56th, and up to the top at 80th. A mountaintop works wonders at any power, and I had line-of-sight to the Blue Mountains from my spot.

What I did not notice was 99.5 the Bridge in Wenatchee, even though I heard KOHO and KYSN weakly. Same with the Yakima translators on 104.5, 106.1, and 106.9. The 104.5 with KBBO Fox Sports used to make it out there before KTZB-LP fired up. Nothing from western WA, not even KZTM. And Canada was way out of range. I was well into the 119W longitude and they don't make it that far.
 
semoochie said:
I didn't know there was a Saddle Mountain in Washington. There's one in Oregon, in the northern Coast Range. It looks like a saddle. Does yours?
Click to expand...
It's a big basalt ridge that was created from the Ice Age floods and a variety of lava flows from millions of years ago. Starting at the Sentinel Gap west of Mattawa/Beverly, it goes east along Crab Creek and Hwy 24/Mattawa Road 24 to the Drumheller Channel scablands near Othello.
Wahatis Peak is the high point at ~2700 feet. But unfortunately, if I were to go up there, I have 210 watts of FM radiating off that tower! (93.5 KWDR is there.) Albeit that spot is why KWDR gets out so far with little power. They repeat K272ED, Tri-Country 102.3, ex-Smooth Jazz.
 
bulwnkl said:
Neat! I’m super surprised you caught the Portland station, and K243CK besides!

Is the old airstrip still up there, or am I thinking of a slightly different place along that ridge?
Click to expand...
There's an old Nike Missile control site up at the viewpoint. You can see the abandoned White Bluffs ferry terminal from way up there, along with the Hanford 200 East site. I could not see the LIGO observatory, probably a little too far.
I climbed down a small trail to a gap about 100 feet below the car, then a steep 200 foot climb up to that 2075' high point. That's where the views really opened up, even Mt. Rainier at 110 miles was seen.
Pictures going up later today, I hope :)
 
I might be thinking of another 'road' a mile or few away. There were a couple Nike missile-related sites along the sorta-flat ground between the highway and the ridge line. However, there used to be something I always _assumed_ was an abandoned airstrip right on the spine of the ridge. That's what it looked like, but I never saw it used.

Anyway, great catches on the radio!
 
crainbebo said:
It's a big basalt ridge that was created from the Ice Age floods and a variety of lava flows from millions of years ago. Starting at the Sentinel Gap west of Mattawa/Beverly, it goes east along Crab Creek and Hwy 24/Mattawa Road 24 to the Drumheller Channel scablands near Othello.
Wahatis Peak is the high point at ~2700 feet. But unfortunately, if I were to go up there, I have 210 watts of FM radiating off that tower! (93.5 KWDR is there.) Albeit that spot is why KWDR gets out so far with little power. They repeat K272ED, Tri-Country 102.3, ex-Smooth Jazz.
Click to expand...
Here's the skinny on our Saddle Mountain: Saddle Mountain (Clatsop County, Oregon) - Wikipedia
 
crainbebo said:
This should be it!
en.wikipedia.org

Othello Air Force Station - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Click to expand...

Hmm. That’s a different place altogether from what I was thinking of. The Othello Air Force Station is straight south of Othello, south of where Hwy. 24 turns straight North, on top of “Radar Hill.” I bet you can guess it’s called that because of the radar station and small military contingent that was there. That site is along the west side of Sagehill Rd (or many of us still call it Radar Hill Rd, which was its name back then).

Now I’m curious, since I’m not confident I know: Was your band scan done on Radar Hill, or WNW of there along the spine of the Saddle Mtns?
 
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It's on the paved-turned-gravel road off Hwy 24 near the White Bluffs turnoff. Milepost 60 or so. It passes the Wahluke Canal and heads north and then east up to the ridge. Lat/Long about 46.791N, -119.446W.
 
 
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