Goat Flat, Try 1

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote last.  Since my last post I have graduated from P90X, PR Seattle RnR at 4:11 and started Insanity, and committed to Quadzilla 2012 ((in my mind at least lol) .

I ended up taking a couple days off Insanity Saturday and Sunday.  Worked out at the gym with SGF Saturday, and hit the trails Sunday.  I ran 18.5 miles up FR 41 on Green Mountain, east of Granite Falls, WA.  It had been a while since I ran a high elevation change like that so even though the run wasn't technical it was still tough from that aspect.

Run stats at http://www.movescount.com/mymoves/edit/move6258552

First waterfall on the way up ... The green color is astonishing!

The glacier in the background are barely visible in this picture but were a beautiful sight .as I crossed a small creek ...

After crossing the smaller creek, about ten miles in the run I decided this was the end of the road for me.  After a couple of minutes resting and snacking I started the trip back ...

Most of the run was under canopy except the first couple (and last couple) miles of the loop where the road was large and had several spot spot where they were harvesting timber.  Although sad to see trees gone this was a welcome sight as I knew I was close to the car at about 16-17 miles in the run ...

This wasn't my intended destination though.  I was trying to reach Goat FLat,  an alpine meadow that leads ultimately to the Three Finger lookout. It looks like I went up the wrong road, talking to some people I met on the way back.  I had parked at a fork with the road going up to the left and down to the right.

I looked at Google Maps again I can see the fork I stopped.  A couple people I met on the way down mention that there was a lake "down" the other road off the fork.  On Google map  FR41 leads close to Saddle Lake.  The trail head starts about 2-3 miles away from Saddle lake.  I found that little bit of information at this climber's trip report.  Looking through this site I think I could manage the trip up to the meadow then hit the traverse trail to Tin Can Gap to the base of the glacier.

Will update this blog after my attempt to find trail #741 again ... This weekend possibly!