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Trip Report    

Alpine Scramble - Goat Island Mountain (Mount Rainier)

An alpine winter day in summer.

  • Road suitable for all vehicles
  • Original plan was to descend the normal ascent route, but the long traverse along the summit ridge to the SW would have exposed us to the possibility of lightning with no quick way down. Used the east route for ascent and descent.

Due to forecast (see above) used eastern ridges for ascent and descent.  From wonderland trail ascended game trails on ENE ridge.  Left this ridge at ~5900' and traversed SSW through open forest/meadows to reach a steep snow slope that topped out on the E ridge at ~6300'.  Followed meadows (mostly melted out, but with recent snow dusting) to reach the summit with under a foot of fresh snow.  Never did encounter thunder/lightning.  Light rain/tree drip and wet brush to freezing level at ~6000'.  Light breeze on summit with great 'inside a cloud' viewing.  Times were 3.5 hours up, 2.5 down, 6 hours total.  Photos from a past trip with better weather can be seen here.