Binoculars in the Backcountry: We Be Goode

Our peak bagging summer continued with the 13,000 foot tall Mt Goode. Bob had mentioned that it is class 2 and we should bag it for years. I have looked at it without much enthusiasm. It looked steep and rocky. Hmmmm. And there it might have remained except earlier in the summer we were on Chocolate Peak with Rachel, which she had never climbed before, discussing the surrounding peaks. As we sat and looked Rachel told us all the peaks she had climbed that we could currently see. She discussed Goode and how it is a walk up, but if snow is on it, it is best avoided. That leaves autumn for a summit attempt. I kind of wrote it off, then it rained and the smoke disappeared. It was now or never.

The evening view from our camp site.

Having just returned from bird watching in Colombia, we decided to do it as a backpacking trip. We had fine, but cold weather. Even with no hiking in a month, it was certainly a doable day trip, but then we would have missed the the evening's alpine glow. It was lovely. As soon as it was gone, we were in the tent for 14 hours of cold and dark. Our water bottles were frozen in the morning.

Hurd Peak is the big one in the center. Goode is on the left shoulder.

Goode is the tall, jaggedy peak in the center. You don't walk up this side.

Bear track on the trail.

Inconsolable range with Cloudripper.

Chocolate Peak from afar on a nice day. The peak that started this adventure.

Mt Goode from Chocolate Peak on a stormy day.

Chocolate Peak is such a lovely mix of textures and colors when seen from afar. On top, it provides nice views to Bishop Pass, the Inconsolable Range, and Mt Goode. From this angle it looks mighty impressive, from other angles, it is barely a bump.

Chocolate Peak is on the right. It isn't much in the big scheme of things.

After setting up camp in a lovely area, we headed for the top of Goode. There was hundreds of feet up, typical off trail up, which lead us to a flat plateau and our first views of the final steep bouldering we would have to do to get to the top. It did not look like a walk up to me and I did spend half of my time of the final push using both hands and feet as we bouldered our way to the top.

It isn't looking any "Gooder" from here.

First comes an easy and pretty walk up.

That non-descript bump is the peak.

Nice views to Bishop Pass.

This high point is Mt No Goode. It tends to lure climbers away from the true summit.

It is kinda steep and rocky.

Bob is taking a break in the boulder field.

The views from the top were amazing. There was another hiker just ahead of us. She tagged the peak and was gone. What is the point of that?! I am only here for the views. We lingered and lingered and lingered. Finally, we headed down as I didn't fancy doing the steep part in the dark.