Governors Ridge & Barrier Peak

Total time ~8:20; and distance ~ 11.0 miles. Another great day--warm & sunny! Left the Owyhigh Lake TH at approximately 7:10 a.m. Left the trail just south of Owhyhigh lake and for the most part followed Shaw Creek east towards the saddle between Governors Ridge and Barrier. Dropped over to east side 30' to find brief boot/game trail descending around first rock buttress. Continued past second buttress and over loose scree field to the third buttress. Travelled up broad reddish colored gulley north and then did a rising traverse up heather and rock towards the summit. It was much easier to find than anticipated. We were on the summit at 11:05 a.m. Spent about 30 minutes on summit before descending back to the saddle. Headed up the north ridge of Barrier staying just left of the ridge on the bottom half and then on the right side for the upper portion. Summit of Barrier reached at 1:00 p.m. Descended west ridge of Barrier to just before the small rock summit where we headed down a narrow gulley to Shaw Creek that we followed out to the trail. Back to cars at approximately 3:30 p.m. After all the snow fall observed at Cowlitz Chimneys the previous week we took ice axe and crampons...but nearly all the new snow was gone! We also had a 30 meter rope and harness, but did not need.