Three Fingers Mtn Sept 2009

Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The starting trail head. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The early part of the trail is in a streambed... all big rocks and roots.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The starting sections of the trail are on a north facing shady mountianside. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Lots of fungi on the tree ends.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Wonderful growths along the trail.... Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />A windfall section with some open space.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />An early view of Three Fingers Mtn on the right. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />You can make out the shelter on the top of the south peak, tallest peak on the right.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Saddle Lake, a half way point on this hike. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />A fancy growth beside the trail.... very delicate and lacey.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />These ear-like fungi are very common. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Some more fungi....Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The small orange bumps might be English Soldiers, but probably something else.... Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Finally rising to the several meadow areas....Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The long trail seems to climb a lot. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />One of many ponds along the way.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Another hiker went ahead of me here... Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Bistort?Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Blue Gentian next to the water... Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Blue gentian...Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The trees thin out and the sun starts to dominate as the altitude advances. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Another pond....Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The trail was pretty unimproved, mostly formed by passing boots. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Lovely little meadows gave nice views.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Almost a golf ball, but a bit too large. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Mt Baker came into view....Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />We saw a bear up here on a previous hike, but only after we looked at the pictures we took! Funny how you miss that sight in real time! Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />The view looking back down the trail, only six minutes from Goat Flats!Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />A neat view of the shelter atop Three Fingers South Peak. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Another view of the shelter atop Three Fingers South Peak.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />That shelter is hard to reach... crossing a glacier and climbing vertical ladders.<br />I haven't tried to go there after reading the climbers' descriptions. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Some views at Goat Flats.Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Some views at Goat Flats. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Going back down the trail.....Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />This is the place where a bear was eating blueberries on our previous hike.... Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />A well-worn old wooden walkway....Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Made it down to Saddle Lake by 2pm, and getting tired of the rough trail. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Interesting growth on the tree bark.....Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />3:04 pm and getting along ok, after several trips on hidden roots in the trail. Ron Hikes the Three Fingers Mtn trail to Goat Flats 09/13/09<br />Just minutes from the end of the hike, and almost out of water!
This was a solo hike to Goat Flats on Three Fingers Mountain, done on a weekend so I had some other people in case of problems.  It was tough for me (old guy) but very enjoyable to accomplish again. These are my picures to show what was along the way.  The camera was my Fuji S6000fd which has 10:1 zoom and macro too, plus it is light to carry.  I use a monopod to get better stability for low light and it helps get blur free images.  Any comments will be welcome.

Ron Black's Email:   Click here

Return to main Menu:   http://anengineerguy.0catch.com/


Free counters provided by Vendio.