Garden Wall and Goat Trail

This is just north of Gem Glacier and on the western side of the Garden Wall. Although the goat trail does not last long, one can continue to traverse north, keeping close to the sheer cliffs on the right, until finding breaks that will eventually allow one to descend northwest back to the Highline Trail and from there to Granite Park Chalet. Alternately, one can use this as an ascent route if approaching Gem Glacier and/or Gould's west ridge from the Chalet. With care, one will encounter no worse than Class 3. Note: I am reasonably sure one could stay high all the way and pick up the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail and descend via it to the chalet (this would ultimately be easier on the knees and ankles than descending the loose gullies would be), but I cannot say with 100% certainty that it goes. Glacier NP, MT-- August 2012