West Goat Peak

Description

West Goat Peak (10,793 feet) is the tallest in Montana’s Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. On the fourth day of a five-day trip, the brazen effect of the wind above timberline is obvious, while at the same time beautiful.

This was my first of two attempts to accomplish a winter summit of the peak. The fresh snowfall combined with the wind, created ideal avalanche conditions, thereby preventing me from continuing beyond this ridgeline (10,200 feet).

Three weeks later in a southern approach from East Goat Peak, I would finally make the summit, but not without more challenges.