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Base Camp
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: July 29, 2000
- Miles Hiked: 9.4
- Elevation Gain: 4,030'
- Hiking Partner(s): None
- Description:
- Goat Mountain is located
northeast of Clark Fork (ID) near Scotchman Peak. The trailhead is
exactly 3 miles north of Clark Fork on Lightning Creek Road #419.
Keep your eyes open as the sign is hidden in the trees on the right side
of the road. This was a strenuous hike with rewarding views from
the top.
- I hadn't been out hiking for
about a month, so I decided to take in a fairly serious hike because of
my absence from the trail. It took me four hours to go the four
miles and four thousand feet to Goat Mountain, which indicates that it
was pretty slow going. The trail takes off straight up the ridge
relentlessly showing no mercy, so I started early in the day while it
was still relatively cool out.
- The trail condition left much to
be desired. It was a narrow brushy trail that has seen little to
no maintenance over the years and was difficult to follow in many
places. The last mile was mostly bushwacking as I would catch a
glimpse of the trail every now and again. In addition to this, it
was often littered with large rocks and a lot of tree downfall. I
guess that is why they call it hiking and not walking.
- Once on top of Goat Mountain the
views were exceptional. There was Scotchman Peak to the southeast,
Clark Fork to the south, Lake Pend Oreille to the west, and the Cabinet
Mountain Range to the north and east. I spent over an hour on the
peak eating a lunch with the sun on my back.
- I made it back down in two hours
and forty five minutes, but this was almost as difficult as the climb
up. My knees and ankles took a pounding, and I could certainly
feel the effects of the hike later on that evening. In conclusion,
I would not recommend this hike to anyone looking for an easy or
moderate hike. Hikers on this trail should have your route finding
skills fine tuned and be prepared to carry all of your water for the day
as there was none available on the trail.
- Maps:
- Click here to view a 2D map of
the area where this hike is located.
- Click here to view a
3D map of
the area where this hike is located.
- Photographs:
- This is a picture of Goat
Mountain at about a mile away from paydirt. You can see
Scotchman Peak "peaking" over the top of Goat Mountain to the
right.
- From the top of Goat Mountain there were
great views of Lake Pend Oreille, and you can
see where the previous picture was taken from in the bottom right.
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