Treen Peak, Garfield Lakes — Friday, Sep. 29, 2006

Took a chance on the weather and got lucky. This part of the Cascades is no place to be in bad weather. Started out on the Green Ridge Lake trail about 8:30am and found the path to be in pretty good shape. The trail up the ridge to Lake 4662 does get faint in places once you pass the 3350' turn-off to Green Ridge Lake. Leaving from Lake 4662 and dropping down to about 4400' and then taking the rockslide to the west seemed to be the best way to the upper Garfield Lake. Made camp at the NW end of the lake at a site that had not been used for quite some time. Went down then to visit the lower lake and got some video of 5 or 6 mountain goats right there on the shoreline eating grass. Got within about 50' of them before they went up the hill. The next morning went to Charlie Brown Lake and then to Treen Peak. As stated in previous reports, ascending NW on a boulder field from the lake and through a forest band to the 5000' contour seems to be the best route. Go left in the broad boulder field which gradualy changes to taulus and heather and then bear north up into a very steep gully. At the top of the gully, 5400', follow the trees and talus north to the summit. That day, Sunday, was the best day as it cleared up and got video of Marten, Dream, Bear, Deer, Snowqualmie, and Nordrum Lakes. Then looking to the west got shots of the Shamrock Lakes below Preacher Mtn. No summit register just a cairn with a USGS Brass survey marker underneath it. Left the summit and got back to camp in about an hour. Took some final shots and headed out a little after 3pm and got to the car about 6:15 pm. Saw lots of bear scat on the way out and some old camp fire rings. Berries are starting to be scarce but ones that are still there are delicious.