Duke
Mountain Carver
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2012
- Messages
- 382
Idaho has two Goat lakes (maybe more), one in the Sawtooths and one in the Pioneer mountains. This TR is the latter of the two. One accesses the trailhead from Copper Basin off of Trail Creek road, which is the road between Sun Valley and McKay. There are two nearly parallel trails going in, starting from close to the same area. They form a loop. We started at the Broad Canyon TH. It is about 5 miles in, but the last mile is absolutely killer. Lots of elevation in the form of "old man killing" switchbacks. Still, it is easy to follow the trail. Certainly thin oxygen up there. Goat is above the treeline so we camped at Baptie which is just below Goat. It has a few trees. One will definitely want a stove as the thin timber gives little in the way of wood.
This trip was the 3rd week of July, 2009.
Below is a view from the top, looking down into Copper Basin
Below is a shot from the Hike in

Below is from the plateau that Goat Lake is on, looking down on Baptie. We camped at Baptie just above Jutin's head in this photo, near the outlet.

Below is the view of Baptie from our Camp site. Justin was just taking in the view

Below is just another view from the same spot, but with the "old man" included

Below is a shot of Goat Lake. It is the 3rd week in July and the lake is still frozen over. As you can see in the photo Baptie is the better camping location and very little distance between them. To the right of the lake, with respect to this photo, is the trail over to Betty Lake. It was too snowed in so we returned the same way, via Broad canyon vs Jarvis canyon trail on the other side where Betty is.

Below is another shot of Goat Lake with the only clear spot other than some of the edges.

Below is the outlet of Goat Lake

Below is another view down on Baptie and the canyon we hiked up. If I were to turn around from where I took this pic I would be looking at Goat Lake.

Every backpacking trip I have taken to the Pioneer Mountains has resulted in a flat tire. This trip was no different. After a tiring hike back it is certainly no fun to see this site.

Then again, the Subaru did roll over to 200k on this trip.

Feature image for homepage slideshow:

This trip was the 3rd week of July, 2009.
Below is a view from the top, looking down into Copper Basin


Below is from the plateau that Goat Lake is on, looking down on Baptie. We camped at Baptie just above Jutin's head in this photo, near the outlet.

Below is the view of Baptie from our Camp site. Justin was just taking in the view

Below is just another view from the same spot, but with the "old man" included

Below is a shot of Goat Lake. It is the 3rd week in July and the lake is still frozen over. As you can see in the photo Baptie is the better camping location and very little distance between them. To the right of the lake, with respect to this photo, is the trail over to Betty Lake. It was too snowed in so we returned the same way, via Broad canyon vs Jarvis canyon trail on the other side where Betty is.

Below is another shot of Goat Lake with the only clear spot other than some of the edges.

Below is the outlet of Goat Lake

Below is another view down on Baptie and the canyon we hiked up. If I were to turn around from where I took this pic I would be looking at Goat Lake.

Every backpacking trip I have taken to the Pioneer Mountains has resulted in a flat tire. This trip was no different. After a tiring hike back it is certainly no fun to see this site.

Then again, the Subaru did roll over to 200k on this trip.

Feature image for homepage slideshow:
