Wow! I started off around 8:30am from the trailhead and only ran into a few groups on my way up. At the overlook I had the place to myself for a while and it was the most gorgeous day. Lots of wildflowers are out so the bugs did start to come out towards mid-day but they were barely noticeable in the morning. Snow free until the first main overlook and then intermittent afterwards but passable. I’d highly recommend this hike for wildflowers and mountain views!

A huge thank you to the volunteers out today working on the trail. Spaces like these are so important to have to relax and reset. 

A beautiful day on Goat Mountain; superb views of Shuksan and Sefrit, with Baker, Granite, and even Church Mountain added for good measure.  Goat Mountain is to Shuksan as Excelsior Ridge is to Baker – just the right place at the right distance to fully appreciate the mountain from the very bottom along the North Fork Nooksack to the very top.  Impressive and very-close Sefrit would be more photographed (and more often noted) if it didn’t have the misfortune to be so close to Shuksan.

The trail is in excellent condition to “the balcony” – the spectacular first full-and-clear view of Shuksan, et al.  No deadfall, good tread (except as noted below).  The trail has a comfortable grade (two sets of switchbacks separated by about 2/3 mile of more-or-less contouring) until it breaks out into what used to be a moderately sloping meadow which is now increasingly shrubby.   A short ways farther is the no-more-mister-nice-guy point, where the trail decides to go pretty-much straight up the fall-line of the ridge forming the east boundary of the evolving meadow.  Fortunately the ridge is not extremely steep, but the trail does gain 300’ or so in quite a hurry.  This stretch has long been a major erosion problem, with miserable sloping-loose-rock tread.  About 20 years ago, a not-very-well-thought-out attempt was made to fix it, which proceeded to wash away in 2 or 3 years.  But … good news!  Most of this section (all of the worst part) has been fixed – correctly (if somebody writes a textbook on fixing steep eroding trails, they should get their illustrations here).  I believe that this is the work of WTA.  Remember it the next time you contribute to WTA – and up the amount in gratitude.  It still mostly has rock tread (nothing else is realistically possible) – but not at all slippery-slidey or rough any more.  The job should last a long time (provided people stay on the trail).  Shortly after it you emerge onto the balcony.

The last of the year’s shooting stars and the first of the year’s pink monkeyflower were in bloom along the brushy route of a creek that the second set of switchbacks crosses nearly 10 times.  There was a fine tiger lily blooming a bit farther down.  Other flowers much as you would expect this time of year at this elevation in the Mt. Baker region.

Starting at 7AM (on a Monday), met no one on the way up, and 6 groups (8 people) on the way down.  Ten years ago, this would have been rather busy for a Saturday.  The trail is pretty good for social distancing as trails up mountains go – more places you can get well off the trail than you would expect.  That said, there are certainly stretches where passing has to be at close quarters.  Almost everyone was cooperative and masked as appropriate.

The ~2 1/2 miles of the Hannegan Pass road leading to the trailhead are not bad for a Forest Service dirt road.  Potholes as usual, but few really big or deep ones. The worst seemed to be in the first half-mile or so.  No problematic stream crossings or washouts.

I was not particularly aware of mosquitoes, but one landed on my hand when stopped at one point.  So, there are some.

The trail to the goat mountain was mostly snow-free. As we pushed toward the false summit of West Goat Mountain (Another elevation gain of about 1,000 feet), we encountered steep trail that was mostly covered in snow, and some parts were pretty sketchy to cross. The last one mile of ascend was mostly a scramble, and the views on the summit were hella worth it. I would say bring spikes or trekking poles or wait until snow melts out in late July.

We started the hike around 11:30am and got back to our car around 7pm. Plenty of parking space even if you start late.

Bugs were bad but bearable.

This is a great trail with some very cool views of Mt Baker from the north side. We hit it on a very clear day, and from the sort of first lookout you break into, looking down a few of the canyons is pretty other-worldly. 

There were some snowfields but the pack was really hard, so while maybe a little slippery at times, it really wasn't too bad to get across. However, our crew turned around at about 4.3 miles in. It appeared we had quite a bit of trail left, we were hitting the hottest part of the day, and we hit two snowfields at about 5,900 vertical feet which were both chutes straight down below several hundred feed. With no clear tracks, water running underneath, and a dog in tow, we just decided to enjoy the views and turn on around. 

After the fact, it looks as though we hit the "official" peak, and the trail after that goes up to the false summit of West Goat Mountain. It certainly didn't feel like we were on the peak of anything, but a good view nonetheless.

Distance: 8.7 miles
Gain: 3,500 ft
Total time out: 5 hr 40min

Lucky sunny day up Goat Mountain. Friends had been up the previous week and had cautioned that there was still a bit of snow to cross. Several warm days later, and no snow to be navigated at least as far as the saddle before the summit. Well worth the elevation gain, and well worth that last, hot, steep section. A pretty good candidate for an early-morning hike. Right after that the views open up (Sefrit, Shuksan, and Baker along with lots I don't know), and there are lots of spots to spread out for your snack :) Beware of bugs. I didn't find them terrible, but my partner did. 

I'll be back :)

We stayed in Glacier, which I highly recommend and had pizza take out from Chair 9, which I highly highly recommend. Full bellies, tired legs.