August 21-24, 2016Mt. Goode: NE Buttress
Bridge Creek/North Fork Approach: The PCT South from Bridge Creek TH is in good shape. No obstacles or unusual difficulties. The North Fork trail is also in good shape, an SCA crew is doing great work brushing and logging out obstructions. Look for a cairn marking the crossing of the North Fork about one mile upstream from Grizzly Camp.
NE Buttress Route: Follow 3rd class terrain through slabs and alder towards the Goode glacier. The easiest place to get on the glacier is on the eastern edge. We encountered bare glacial ice for about 200 feet. Once on the glacier travel is straightforward to the toe of the buttress, getting across the moat was a little tricky. Once on the buttress, follow 4th and easy 5th class rock up the buttress crest (check out the various guidebook descriptions). Route is free of snow currently.
Descent: Follow guidebook descriptions for exact rappel instructions into the SW couloir. Descend 3rd class terrain down the couloir into the Park Creek drainage. Descend west of a prominent spire towards a tarn with a campsite. Follow cairns from the campsite SW down a burned ridge to the Park Creek trail. Park Creek trail is in good condition.
Here is the spot where we accessed the Goode glacier:
Looking into the North Fork Bridge Creek valley:
-Climbing Rangers