Goat Mountain
(Glacier National Park)



      
 
September 17, 2023
 
Mountain height: 2612 m
Elevation gain:    1266 m
Ascent time:        3:30
Descent time:      2:35
 
Solo scramble.
 
After an amazing and invigorating 13-hour day on Iceberg Peak, 24 hours earlier, both Raff and I were looking for a much shorter trip to wrap up our Glacier National Park weekend. Raff had his sights set on Cannon Mountain. Since I had already summited Cannon, I dropped Raff off at Logan Pass and then made my way to the trailhead for Goat Mountain, a peak whose summit had eluded Mark and me in 2019, due to snow and blustery weather.
 
With much better weather than our earlier attempt the scenery along Baring Creek was even rewarding. The southeast profile of Going-To-The-Sun Mountain is simply jaw-dropping, as is the red argillite and waterfall scenery further up the creek.    
 
Regrettably leaving the creek I started up the main ascent slopes, having a much easier time on the snow-free slopes, than our first attempt. The seemingly boring ascent route is interrupted a few times with some super cool canyon-like rock scenery that I was happy to explore. After the canyons, the remainder of the ascent amounted to a foreshortened slog, but with improving views throughout, especially towards Otokomi Lake. During this time, the wind also decided to pick up to fairly intense levels. There were a few occasions where it almost knocked me down. Also, a little disappointing were the hazy skies, but I was being very picky at this point.
 
The summit view was, as advertised, excellent in all directions. However, I could not stop staring at Otokomi Lake and a peak above the lake that was simply a mass of beautiful red argillite. Hopefully, the Otokomi Lake Trail would allow me easy access to explore the area in the future. The only downside of the view was the lack of Goat Lake in it. Traversing south along the ridge a short distance remedied that shortcoming. I would have liked to continue along the ridge, as it curved around the lake, but the wind speed had now increased to insane levels and getting out of it as soon as possible was prudent.
 
I took a slightly different route down the mountain and once again descended to the creek. The wind was so violent that at times some of the waterfall water was actually getting blown back up the falls! An easy jaunt down the trail followed, ending a wonderful trip and terrific wrap-up to two glorious days in Montana.



Going-To-The-Sun Mountain (GTTS) is going to be a source of interest right from the beginning



It's southeast side is amazing



GTTS again - one of the most striking views of any mountain I've ever seen



The Baring Creek Trail is fantastic and boasts great scenery throughout



The Sun has not hit the red argillite yet



First look at highly photogenic Baring Creek



Of course, it's long exposure photo time!







This is the coolest section of the creek, best seen when the Sun's rays reach it



GTTS and a nice outcrop of red argillite



Many colours in the creek bed



I'll be back later to better capture the magic of this place



More cascades upstream



And more red rock



The Sun has finally arrived but no more lingering for me



Back on the main trail



Gaining elevation and better views over St. Mary Lake



Another red argillite sighting - far more frequent than Bigfoot sightings!



GTTS is still getting lots of attention



Ditto



Little Chief Mountain, at the left, towers over the lake



Back to GTTS



The middle section of the mountain contains many signs of geological upheaval, including deep holes and caverns



Entering another geologically fascinating section of canyon-like terrain











Out of the first canyon



Someone got a little too much oxygen!




Another round of canyon-like terrain



















End of Round 2



First look at a red argillite peak above Otokomi Lake



There's the lake



Close-up



An outlier of Goat Mountain, also largely comprised of red argillite



One of few spots where you can see Otokomi Lake and slithers of Goat Lake and St. Mary Lake



At the summit



Pano to the west, northwest, and north



Goat Lake. Mark and I traversed a section of the ridge above the lake in 2009.



Looking back to the summit after traversing the ridge to get a better view of Goat Lake



This view



And this one



The east face of Goat is not a scramble!!



The shadow on the lake attests to the jagged nature of the ridge above



Would love to ascend that red outlier at some point in the future. Both lakes would be fully visible.



Heading down



Definitely the side-profile of a face on the right



Red berries try to compete with the red argillite



But they are no match!



Back at the creek, now with the Sun to light up the magnificent water and rock scenery







Note the water being pushed up by the wind



























Last one!







Last of the red argillite



GTTS at the left, Goat at the right



Near the end of a terrific trip

The End

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