Goodman Creek & Eagle’s Rest

ByMichael Goatbells

Hiked with a buddy Goodman Creek trail to Eagle’s Rest on a wonderful June Tuesday – sunny, warm, but not hot, a small breeze … a good day to be in the woods. We had a ‘must return by’ time box and we wanted to hit Eagle’s Rest so we drove up the forest service road to the lower Angel’s Rest TH and hiked about an hour each direction (and return).

Warning: The drive up the forest road is NOT for low ground clearance passenger cars. Pot-holes deep enough to raise koi.

My buddy caught this fern shadow like ancient rock art. The honeysuckle was a new one for me … that far out in the woods.

Route and Trail Conditions

From the lower Angel’s Rest trail head to the top and then back to the car. A quick decision on next steps and down the hill an hour and then back. Without the time constraint, hiking from Haresty TH to Angel’s Rest would be a solid and beautiful hike.

This hike is one ridge over from Hardesty / Sawtooth / Mt. June which were visible from Eagle’s Rest (left to right as above).

All except the very top is a MTB trail and in pristine condition – a couple of small stream hop-overs and roots a-plenty. Not 1 blowdown, not 1 grown-over spot. The entire time we did not see another hiker, but there was 1 car on the forest service road.

 

Farming a forest … how can this be good?

Sadly, unlike the older forests on Hardesty, the woods around Goodman Creek except a few small groves, have all been farmed for several tree generations – not much of a wild forest or old trees left.

While some would easily argue cutting the woods ‘within a management framework’ might create sustainable forests (and not 2×4’s with needles), when you look out over the foothills the patchwork of destruction is hard to ignore. Where are the mother trees left behind? Bare scorched earth and acres of 2x4s with needles.

Data Geek Cellar

  • Shoes: Altra Lone Peak mesh lowers
  • Pack: Gossamer Fast Kumo 36
  • Upper Layers: 2 (base layer, REI sun shirt)
  • Upper shell: none
  • Trekking Poles: Yes – Gossamer Gear
  • Approximate Times: 07:45 to 11:45
  • Carbon ratio: -0.75 hours (1.5 hours driving and 3.75 hours hiking), 95.40 ytd
  • Notes:
    • Photos: low
    • Speed: medium
    • Difficulty: easy