The road to the trailhead is in really good shape after the first mile (in the first mile are enough potholes to rock the boat a bit). The maintained trail (to where they say an old fire lookout was) is in really good shape with almost no snow and only a little bit muddy in places. The use trail to the top of Goat Mountain West is a whole different world. It starts out with a long stretch of fairly level snow banks, then enters a mostly snow free stretch which is very narrow and a bit exposed. After that, the real adventure begins up the very steep slope of the mountain often on long stretches of very steep snow. Poles and very good traction devices are absolutely needed. However, the glissade down is a lot of fun though my run out into the heather was like holy crap, I am getting too old for that, so be very careful if you go that way. The top of the use trail at Goat Mountain West is at about 6640’ and the north knob is slightly higher but requires a fairly serious scramble to top. I skipped that extra scramble. I think the whole route is around 4200’ of gain. I did not see any wildflower displays worth mentioning - perhaps they are still on their way.

Snow stopped me from reaching the shoulder of the mountain in May, but it was clear of snow today.  My buddy and his son-in-law joined me for this adventure.

The first half of the trail is wide, flat, and soft.  The second half is the opposite, but it gets you where you want to go.

We met 11 hikers on the trail, and 10 of them were nice.  One teenage male had a speaker attached to his pack and was playing Rap music that you could hear from a considerable distance.  I recommended ear buds as I passed him, but I doubt that he was able to hear me.  Hikers, please keep your music to yourself.

There are only a few flowers blooming on the shoulder.  Hopefully there will be more soon.

Other than the music, this was a wonderful hike on an excellent day.

We started our hike up Goat Mountain at 2,500 feet and rose steadily on long switchbacks through a beautiful canopy of Cedars and Firs, with just some remnants of the fire that burned this area 100 years ago. We passed multiple waterfalls, each one unique and paused to take in many varieties of fungi.

Around 2.5 miles the terrain begins to open up with lush foliage and meadows of wildflowers: glacial lily, Western Bunchberry, foam flowers and valerian.

Just below the knob at 5, 200 feet there were snow patches, but these were easy to navigate.  We had our lunch under the knob looking at all the surrounding mountain peaks which floated in and out with the fog.  The ridge trail beyond this was impassable still due to snow, but will probably melt out soon.

The entire trail is in excellent conditions from bottom to the top knoll.

We decided to try the Goat Mountain trail today because trip reports indicated that it was snow free up to at least 5000 feet, so it offered one of the few alpine hikes open so far this season.  The road to the trailhead (Hannegan Pass Road) is in good shape, with only a few potholes in the lower section.  The trail up to Goat Mountain is a relentless climb but the grade is manageable and the trail surface is generally excellent.  The first two and a half miles switchback upward through open conifer forest with little undergrowth.  For this section the trail is dry and soft with a covering of fir needles.  Shortly after passing the boundary of the Mount Baker Wilderness, the trail gets a bit rockier and wetter, with increasing numbers of stream crossings.  Waterproof hiking shoes or boots are helpful for these bits, but trail runners may be able to rock hop across all of the streams.  None are deep or very wide. 

As we gained altitude, after entering the Wilderness, the undergrowth increased and soon the trail was bordered by thick greenery.  Trailside flowers were abundant.  Among the more noticeable flowers were patches of yellow stream violets, tall pinkish valerians, white lilies (Clintonia), and batches of bunchberries.   At around 5000 ft there is a small meadow full of yellow glacier lilies on both sides of the trail.  Shortly thereafter patches of snow appeared and the trail deteriorated to water, mud and snow.  Much of the trail from here on up is essentially a stream bed and between that and the snow patches, wet feet could be a problem.  We had waterproofed hiking boots and were fine,  but trail runners would likely get wet feet. 

The knob at 5200 feet is free of snow and would be a good lunch stop, although you have to walk over snow to get to it.  The view of Mounts Shuksan and Sefrit is wonderful.  You also get a lovely view of Price Lake, the valley of the north fork of the Nooksack River and the Ruth Creek valley.  We pressed on over thick snow to a rocky outcrop at 5426ft from which we could see the two summits of Goat Mountain and the trail side-hilling up the south slope.  The trail going forward was snow covered until it reached the sidehill section, where it was clear as it cut westward, before ending at a snow filled avalanche shoot.  We stopped for our lunch there and enjoyed the panoramic views of mountains and valleys to the east, south and west.  The day was mostly cloudy and the peaks were in view only intermittently.  Baker was swathed in cloud but peaked through from time to time.  On a clear day, the view would have been truly wonderful.  The meadows on the shoulder of Goat Mountain, between the snow patches, were covered in blooming, yellow Glacier Lilies.  It was such a treat to see these gorgeous flowers, which bloom for such a brief time in early spring.  With the backdrop of the distant green valleys and blue mountains, the meadows were a photographer’s delight. 

One pleasant surprise on the trail was the absence of flies.  We had no troubles with mosquitoes or black flies until we stopped for lunch.  There were bothered by a few mosquitoes, but nothing unmanageable.  

 All in all, the stiff climb up to Goat Mountain was worth it for the views and the flowers.  We will come back later in the season and try for the top.  In late summer, blueberry picking will be a definite plus, as the meadows were filled with ripening blueberries.

I lost my red small wallet on this trail yesterday. Please be on the lookout for it. You may keep the money inside but please FB me if you find it. The wildflowers are beautiful! Ginger, trillium, yellow violets, Indian pipe, and more. Many beautiful waterfalls. There is snow for about 1/2 mile before the overlook, but not difficult hiking. Without boots, you’ll get wet feet.