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| Hiking | 3.96 Miles |
1,157 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.96 Miles | 2 Hrs 42 Mns | | 2.16 mph |
| 1,157 ft AEG | 52 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Rightfully scolded two months ago by Trekkin Gecko and big_load for failing to go on up to Goat Hill from the Ranger, I tried to make amends today. I was last up there on Goat 15-20 years ago. No problem. Zipped right up and stayed on the sunlit summit for 45 minutes. It was beautiful up there and warm. Great clouds, white to dark gray cumulus, set against a deep blue sky and cleaner air than I've seen in a while in all directions. Saw only two hikers going up, a jogger in blue shorts singing loudly along with his i-pod while on top and then no one coming down. Got back to Five Tables TH shortly before sunset.
I hadn't fallen in a year, but I did today. I was coming down that steep part just below the summit and suddenly I was sliding downhill in a sea of pebbles and finally tipped over onto an outcropping. My trekking pole proved no help because, like all of my falls, it happened so quickly. Luckily no injury. Joe Bartels wrote 8 years ago he thought the steep fall-off on the National Trail as it goes along the south side of Goat Hill was "the most dangerous section of all South Mountain." And it does look dangerous, indeed. In one place, you can fall straight down for about 15 feet and, after that you will roll for a very long way. But those steep, loose-rock slopes, like the one I fell on today, are more of a worry to me. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Phacelia line the National Trail in bunches as you approach the Goat Hill turn-off, then follow you all the way up to the summit. Saw a few poppies and lupine. A few creosote and brittlebush were also in bloom. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
