American Ridge, Goat Creek — Saturday, May. 14, 2005

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.