It's rare that on a Sunday in the middle of the summer you can hike most of the day and not run into fellow humans. Goat Peak, the high point on American Ridge, is such a place. The two of us saw no one while hiking up Goat Creek Trail 959 and then American Ridge Trail 958 to the summit at 6473. While on the summit a lone woman came up so quietly that we had no idea she was only a few feet below us. This resulted in a rather embarassing moment due to what males often do off of summits. From the summit we could see a column of smoke to the north which I now assume to be from the Dirtyface fire. On the trail we witnessed a rarely seen event--a weasel, or weasel like animal,--killing a large chipmuck for its dinner. Watching the poor chipmuck struggle in vain makes one realize that Mother Nature is definitely not a kindly old grandmother. It was extremely distressing to see large areas of mature trees in the William O. Douglas Wilderness Area that appear to be either dead or in the process of dying. The Douglas fir appear to be the most heavily inflicted with whatever it is that killing the trees. I have sent an inquiry to the Forest Service office in Wenatchee but have not yet received a reply. Other than being a bit too warm, it was a near perfect day. Note: There is not one drop of water on this route.

I went up Goat creek trail #959 to Goat Peak on American Ridge. Trailhead is on Bumping River road, across from Cougar Flat campground. There is a FS trailhead bulletin board but it was not immediately obvious where the trail went. The trail follows the road east for about 100 yards until it comes near Goat creek, then heads uphill. The trail looked like it is not used a lot, but was in good condition. It climbs steadily but is not steep. It’s basically in the woods to the ridge top. There is a trail sign at the junction with the American ridge trail #958. The ridge at the junction is fairly broad, wooded, has camp spots, but no water. It’s 4 miles, 2600 feet elevation gain to the American Ridge trail junction. About ½ mile northeast along the American Ridge trail there is a nice view up the American River valley to Mt. Rainier. From the junction it’s about a mile northeast and another 800 feet of elevation gain on the American Ridge trail to Goat peak, 6473’. Nice 360 degree views from the top of Goat peak. My topo map shows the American ridge trail going almost over the summit of Goat peak. I did not see the junction where the American ridge trail continued east, it appear the trail simply went to the top of Goat peak. There were some patches of snow on the trail in shady spots about 6100’, but no problem. It looked like there was still quite a bit of snow on American ridge a couple miles west. The area around Fifes peak, Crow Lake Way trail and Ravens Roost appeared to be snow free.