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dawnclymb - Jun 3, 2023 6:39 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2023
Schwacky Fun ScrambleI took the unmaintained trail up from the National Park Hwy at the park entrance. Lots of downed trees, a creek crossing and nothing very exciting to remark on here. It can totally be skipped if your not hoping to gain a little extra elevation. There is an upper trailhead location that would be a much better starting point. The route across the ridge is faint and covered by prolific downed trees and brush. I found myself constantly loosing it, and using GPS instead. The ridge has a fun class 2-3 scramble that was bare and dry with good hand holds. Snow began just after the ridgeline as you start the traverse. It's fairly short, but this section was the crux of the trip for me. The slope here is 35-45 degrees. I initially tried snowshoes, but that was just folly. I needed my crampons, which I had intentionally left in my car due to my late start. Dang! I used my ice axe, and kicked in boot steps across the slope. I slipped several times and had to arrest myself, and on the way back out I punched through into a hollow space around a hidden downed log. You'll also want to watch above you for rock fall. Joy! The rest of the hike is a pleasant cruise through meadows and a straight forward summit push. The views at the top are truly breath taking, and they really do make you go, "Wow!".
cascadescrambler - Aug 28, 2019 11:33 am Date Climbed: Jul 9, 1994
WildflowersTook the Beckey route (Lake Allen). Lots of wildflowers
JRaphaelson - Aug 23, 2019 10:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2019
Goat CreekA great choose your own adventure peak with amazing views of Rainier.
Peaker - Sep 26, 2018 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2018
Goat CreekFairly straightforward going up the Goat Creek route, definitely a bit of a slog until you reach the open timber. Going up we had bad luck with bushwhacking near the creek and encountered some awful brush, but on the descent we had good luck and went through in a spot that wasn't bad at all. The view of Rainier is fantastic as the peak's name suggests.
BKW - May 22, 2017 1:04 am Date Climbed: May 19, 2017
Spring JauntThe Goat Creek route is a pretty choice early season climb. Placed along side goals of similar height and westness in the cascades, we had quite the stroll.
The brush around the creek was not bad. The devil's club was still bare stalks. The slopes higher up were like a park tilted at 30 degrees. The snowy upper reaches made for a nice alpine-feeling finish. Nice view of Rainier and environs.
Snidely Whiplash - Dec 19, 2016 9:27 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2000
Interesting ridge approachSpine of ridge very narrow. Requires caution on the descent.
hoek2000 - Aug 6, 2013 8:46 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2013
Worthy viewGoat Creek route was straightforward except for the bushwhacking near the creek. Rainier views were spectacular. Had a large swarm of horseflies follow me all the way to the summit and back down, which provided good motivation to keep moving, but I pretty much got eaten alive. Also heard some people target shooting on my way up, probably near the forest road, so be aware.
Redwic - Jul 7, 2013 9:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2013
SW SlopesSurprisingly, Klenke's assessment of this route is correct. It is amazingly straightforward and non-technical; I do not even consider it Class 3. I opted to park near the junction of FR-59/FR-037 because I had read another TR which claimed that FR-037 was not suitable for a passenger vehicle. I could have driven further with caution, but it was still an easy road-walk on FR-037. The worst part of the trek was crossing Goat Creek.
ericnoel - Aug 30, 2009 1:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
WowWe took Klenke's route and it went fine overall. No views on this soggy day.
Dundeel - Aug 30, 2009 12:19 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2009
Wow with no wowDid the Goat Creek route with Eric Noel. Rain the night before and drizzle at hike time. The spur road was driveable but brushy. Crossing Goat Creek was easy as the level was low, but the thick brush on either side was a challenge, and wet. The forest inside the park is very open and easy going although steep. Lots of bear, goat, and elk droppings.
When we got to the top, there was no "Wow!". Visibility was less than 300 feet. We did celebrate another successful P2k. For me, WA P2k 47/144.
Dennis Poulin - Jul 15, 2009 12:32 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2008
West side bushwackWith Dean. Nice climb except for the brush near the creek. Wow! what a view of Rainier!!!
Dean - Aug 24, 2008 8:17 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2008
West side approachDennis Poulin and I did our best to follow Klenke's route but we basically ended up just making our own way. One steep effort once we got out of the devil's club and downed timber. Temps in the 90's made for a miserable day but when we crested the summit, both Dennis and I exclaimed "WOW" as Mt. Rainier made its appearance. Awesome viewpoint. No register or benchmark as this is a seldom visited mountain. Best done on a cooler day but we both had traveled quite a distance so had to take what we were given.
Bob Bolton - Dec 2, 2007 3:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2007
West slopesGreg Slayden and I decided to follow Klenke's route from the end of the road up the Goat Creek drainage west of the Wow massif. After an initial bushwhack through the clearcut area along the creek, when we got to the National Park boundary the going became much easier. Nice approach! When we got to the summit and got our first view of the big guy to the east, we simultaneously, as though it had been practiced, blurted out the obligatory "WOW!!!!!!!!!".
darinchadwick - Mar 1, 2006 11:02 pm
Route? What route?In winter my good buddy Jon Gessele and I hiked in the pouring rain up the closed west side road. We randomly picked a spot and headed straight up, using ice axes to boost ourselves over slippery logs and claw up steeper sections. Snowshoes when we hit the soggy snow line. Camped at Lake Allen. Stupidly, we went back the following year, and did the same 'route' when the snowfall was heavier. The best mountain goat tracking ever experienced.
mandrake - Aug 31, 2005 5:15 pm
Route Climbed: Boundary Trail Date Climbed: May 28, 2005Started at the Nisqually Entrance -- on locating the Boundary Trail, hiked up to the ridge and continued on up to Wow's southern ridge. Some exposed scrambly bits on the way up -- wish I'd known about the easier/shorter route! The north ridge looks interesting; was reading somewhere there's another route up from the direction of Lake George. Anyone know?
Scott Dusek - Jun 21, 2005 2:29 am
Route Climbed: Main Trail Date Climbed: August 15th, 2004Woke up at 3:30 to owls hooting at each other. Climbed up to the top for the best sunrise of my life. Will bivy on top next time.