Governors Ridge, Tamanos Mountain & Barrier Peak — Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009

Mine was the only car at the trailhead on this cold, but beautiful Sunday morning. The trail to Owyhigh Lakes meanders through forest until it suddenly opens up in a meadow near the lakes. I left the trail just north of the first lake and headed toward the col between Barrier and Governors Ridge. Passing the partially frozen lake I thought about grabbing my camera, but instantly realized that although I had the camera, I'd left the battery sitting in the charger on the kitchen counter. Oh well! I climbed heather and talus to the north of the swath of trees pointing toward the col. Once at the col, I followed a short section of climbers path/animal trail down about 100 feet and as it traversed across the slope. The gully just past the third buttress proved the right one and quickly led to the top. I was on top reading the register 2.5 hours after leaving the car. The view was spectacular, stretching from Baker to Hood and seemingly everything in between. Leaving the summit I headed toward Barrier Peak, making that summit 35 minutes later. The clump of trees on top shielded me from the cold wind while I took in the views. I dropped down the west ridge to where it intersects the trail and found the path to Tamanos on the other side. A gentleman waiting at the split said he had just heard from someone that a black bear sow and two cubs were spotted on the ridge earlier. I clanked my poles together in concealed areas, but just kept an eye peeled on the open slopes. 1.5 hours after leaving Barrier I was standing on the summit and looking back to Governors Ridge. No bears to be seen; no people either. I decided to follow the ridge NW from the summit and around to Point 6048. It's an easy scramble along there and prevented backtracking. I found a dime along the way, so was not the first one to do this. Not that I had any thoughts that way. Once at 6048, I headed east done the slope and quickly intersected the trail. A bear crossed the trail about 30 minutes from the car, but I didn't see any cubs. Two hours after leaving the summit I was back at the car. This was one of those days that will take awhile to fade from memory. No, I didn't have the camera, but on a day like today, a camera wouldn't have captured the day as well as my mind, anyways. Stats: 11ish Miles; 5000ish gain; 7.8 hours RT