[ozzy]

Wanting an easier daytrip this week we opted to hit Goat mtn over north of Baker. We wanted to go for the west summit as well but you know how the laziness of a peakbagger can creep up outta nowhere lol! So the usual suspects assembled again (Bryan, Hans, myself) and we made it to the Goat mtn TH around 3am and started off at 330am. The woods down low were pretty hot but once above them it cooled off a little. We made quick work up to the open meadows around 4800ft and had our first early morning views!! Shuksan and Sefrit were especially out in full force! I liked how quick the trail gains the alpine. We took a quick break around 5200ft and the bugs were rather persistent. Soon after we started moving the breeze kicked up and kept the bugs at bay. We followed the trail up the ridge to 5600ft then assessed the easiest way to traverse to the main summit. (East pk)

Boys mirin Baker

Baker

Hans, Sefrit, and shuksan

The summit on right

From the ridge the south slope looked pretty steep and intimidating. We ultimately decided to at least go up and check it out rather than go up to the saddle and drop to the glacier on the north side of the peak. We dropped from the ridge a couple hundred feet and made our way easterly towards the summit! There seems to be quite a bit of snow up there still! We were soaking up the scenery until we got to the base of the snow slope. From here it was about 800ft to the summit. We put the pons on and started upwards! An easy ramp granted passage up then about halfway up the angle steepened a bit. The snow all the way up was surprisingly in awesome conditions! Not too hard and not too soft. We clambered off the snow a hundred feet below and made our way up the heathery slopes to the holy land!! We arrived at 8am! Wow! The relatively short easier nature of the hike paid off with supreme views!! We were wanting to make our way to the west peak but it seemed like it would be a crime to leave our precarious perch! We decided to extend our stay! Drinks were had of course lol. The views were sick all around! Tomyhoi looks pretty righteous as well as Larrabee and friends! Shuksan, Sefrit, and Ruth were sweeeet too! The summit area was a little breezy so we chilled out on a cool little knoll 15ft below on the north side. What a comfortable ass little summit! We all kinda took a nap for a few hours. Damn I forgot how sweet alpine naps are! I wish I could sleep like that always.

the traverse

Closer

Awesome country

Closer yet

Upper slopes

Boys above the ramp

Oh wow bud

When on a sick peak

Tomyhoi

To the east

The knoll

Naptime

We woke eventually and gathered ourselves. We started our way down reluctantly around 1230pm. The snow had softened up a little so I dawned the ice axe on the way down with the pons again. We made quick work of the rest of the descent and made the car around 330pm. Man we were all pretty psyched about the quality of Goat Mtn! Another great outing and craving fulfilled for another week lol! Thanks for coming out again boys! Cheers to all! Roundtrip was around 7.5miles, 4500ft-ish gain, 12hrs

Sefrit and shuksan again

East

Tomyhoi and Larrabee

Love this summit area

Coming down the steeps

[raising3hikers]

Good stuff! On my way down the twin lakes road, I wondered if it would be another accessible route to the goat pks. They looked pretty nice from there. Anyways, good get on another cool pk with awesome views!

[Brushbuffalo]

[GaliWalker]