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Trip Report    

Alpine Scramble - Governors Ridge & Barrier Peak

We scrambled Governor’s Ridge on June 29 with Shirley R., Tamara H., and Anthony T. The route involved bushwhacking, mixed snow conditions, side hilling on loose scree, and an exposed summit with rewarding views of Hood, Adams, Helens, and Goat Rocks. Solid teamwork and careful descent through rockfall-prone gullies made for a safe and memorable day out.

Michelle Peterson Michelle Peterson
June 30, 2025
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

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    • The bridge crossing was in and solid.KIMG0480.JPG

    • Minimal snow remained on trail after Tamanos Creek Camp.

    • We bushwhacked left of the stream to the open basin; snow was intermittent in the trees.

    • 3-season or 4-season boots with crampons were needed for snow travel on both the west and east sides of the ridge. The snow was soft about an inch deep, with hard or icy layers below.KIMG0483.JPG

    • Once over the notch, we expected softer snow or bare slopes but needed ice axes again for the first snow finger traverse.0629251100.jpg

    • Side hilling on loose scree was tedious. Beta suggested traversing just below the buttresses, but goat paths were hard to find.

    • Rockfall was a significant concern on descent; we made several pauses to allow one scrambler at a time through the gully.

    • Lower down, a faint goat track helped avoid the worst of the loose terrain.

    • We bypassed the final easterly snow finger by climbing up through trees to the notch (veggie belay).

    • Snow on the descent wasn’t ideal for plunge stepping up high but improved with decreasing elevation.

    • Water was plentiful at the lake for filtering.

    Gear used: 3- and 4-season boots, trail runners, trekking poles, ice axe, helmet, water filter.

We started from the trailhead at 7:06 AM and made steady time, reaching the lake by 9:00 AM for a gear change and snack.0629250841a_HDR.jpg

We lingered on the summit for a well-earned reward: stunning views of Hood, Adams, Helens, and Goat Rocks under clear skies. We located and signed the summit register (look for the black PVC tube tucked into the talus) and enjoyed lunch while hoping the snow would soften for the descent.

The group worked together to manage tricky rockfall on the way down, carefully moving one at a time through gullies before picking up a faint goat track to bypass the worst sections. A final veggie belay through trees brought us back to the notch. From there, it was back into boots and crampons for a careful return through snowfields, with plunge stepping improving as we lost elevation.

We regrouped at the lake for a half-hour break to refill water, eat, and change gear before a brisk hike out. We reached the trailhead by 5:00 PM — grateful for a strong, supportive team and a day of good company and big views.