{"id":38205,"date":"2026-01-30T12:10:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T12:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=38205"},"modified":"2026-01-30T12:11:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T12:11:00","slug":"quiet-empty-hardesty-and-goodman-creek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=38205","title":{"rendered":"Quiet Empty Hardesty and Goodman Creek"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After alternating Pisgah and Ridgeline hikes, a farther-out hike in the snow-less foothills (sadly) was the call. I debated between Alpine Tr from Westfir or Hardesty Mt Tr from Lowell area. The weather was about the same – 40-50 and small chance of rain. The 40 min less total drive time to Hardesty won the day with a “V” hike: part 1 TH up Hardesty and back; part 2 TH on Goodman Creek to upper TH and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Started at Hardesty trailhead around 7:20 without headlamp in pre-dawn light and went direct up and around Hardesty Mt to the meadow. About half way up Hardesty, there is a small view back over the reservoir and modern timber practices. I can’t remember the reservoir lower recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Views to the SE from the meadow in light rain (probably Sugarloaf and Mount Halo to left).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Goodman Creek Trail has sections that are very “rainforest like”; reminded me of Olympic NP up the Quinault River with that thick moss covering everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Both trails were very quiet – ravens broke up the silent solitude periodically, but not much else. Along the trail, a couple of oddities for January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Route<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From Hardesty TH around 7:20 right up to Hardesty, but rather than go to the old watch tower foundation, I swung around on the cut-off trail to the small clearing near the upper Hardesty TH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, immediately back down to the TH and lunch and tea at the car. After eating, up Goodman Creek Trail to the Angles Rest TH and then back down. All stream crossings were rock-hops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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