Nagoon Mountain (4403 ft)

Nagoon Mountain (4403 ft) in the Berries Group, Chugach Mnts

Sunday, August 5th, 2012

19 miles, 5690 ft total vertical, 7 hours roundtrip

Sunday, August 5th, was another overcast weekend day (like most other weekend days this summer) with the cloud ceiling hovering around 3500 - 4000 ft.  The weather looked a little better to the East so I decided to head out to the Berries.  It had been a few years since I had been up the Berry Pass, so I thought I could at least go that far.  And if the weather cooperated, I would try Nagoon Mountain, the northernmost mountain in the Berries.  Most of the peaks in the Berries have berry names. Nagoon is the Tlingit name for arctic raspberry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_arcticus).

The route follows the Winner Creek trail from Girdwood up to the Berry Pass.  This is the same route used by 20-mile River packrafters.  From the pass, I headed up in a southeasterly direction until I gained the northeast ridge.  I stayed with the northeast ridge all the way to the summit.  This was a great ridge with the right mix of scrambling, exposure and route-finding, and some close-up wildlife encounter.

Nagoon Mnt left and Highbush Mnt (4669 ft) right seen from the Upper Winner Creek

View from Berry Pass looking North.  Kelly's Knob (2858 ft) in the right foreground and Longspur Peak (5401 ft) in the center.

From the summit ridge looking Northeast.  20-Mile river in the foreground, 20-mile glacier in the background.

Half-way up the summit ridge I ran into a flock of Mountain Goats.

Sitting quietly, I had a whole flock pass me at no more than 12 feet.  We had a staring contest for about 5 minutes. 

Only once they had continued on their way dared I get up and continue on my merry way.  

Summit pyramid of Nagoon Mnt.

Self-portrait from the Nagoon summit with Kinnikinnick Mnt (4468 ft) in the background.

View from the summit overlooking the 20-mile glacier, Kinnikinnick Mnt and some of the central Chugach mountains.

South view from the summit with (left-to-right) Blueberry Hill (4531 ft), Lowbush Mnt (4229 ft), Highbush Mnt (4669 ft), Lingon Mnt (4098 ft), and Berg Peak (3917 ft).

Southern panorama from Nagoon Mnt summit with (left-to-right): 20-Mile Glacier, Kinnikkinnick Mnt (4468 ft), Blueberry Hill (4531 ft), Lowbush Mnt (4229 ft), Highbush Mnt (4669 ft), Lingon Mnt (4098 ft), Berg Peak (3917 ft) and True Summit (4423 ft).  Right of True Summit is Mnt Alyeska (not a true summit).

True Summit & Berg Peak in "the Berries"

Alyaska True Summit and Berg Peak, October 18th, 2009
Start/finish: Kern Creek on Seward Highway
Highpoints: True Summit 4423 ft and Berg Peak 3917 ft

A long fall with continued high pressure has provided some great hiking and climbing conditions  in the Western Chugach mountains in September and October.  After an early squall of termination dust in September I climbed Bramble Knoll on September 26th.  This 3264 ft "hill" along the Seward highweay is too steep for hiking but to flat for climbing.  With an average grade around 45 degrees and ample bush-whacking, Bramble Knoll lives up to its name and is a challenge in itself.  But the views from the summit are exquisite.  The first panorama below shows the Bramble views from West to East.  I decided to come back to these hills as soon as the conditions were favorable.  The chance would come sooner than expected.  The termination dust melted and provided superb conditions in mid-October.  On October 18th I found time to try True Summit (of Alyeska) and Berg Peak.  Starting from the Seward highway after 12 pm I knew that I would have to hustle to make the whole circuit before dark.  I didn't quite manage.  I finished at 7:30 pm after bush-whacking in the dark for the last hour or so.  Every time I visit these mountains I am reminded how tough the bush-whacking can be, but also how superb the ridges and peaks are ... well worth the struggle and hard work!

Panorama from Bramble Knoll (3264 ft). Left to right are Turnagain Arm, Penguin Ridge, Kern Ridge, True Summit, Berg Peak, Highbush, Lowbush and Blueberry Hill.

Map cutout of "the Berries" ... mountain group East of Girdwood with names such as Lingon, Blueberry, and Highbush.  Short red loop indicates my trip on Bramble Knoll on Sept. 26th.  Longer red loop is trip to True Summit and Berg Peak on Oct. 19th.	Kern Ridge towards True Summit.

Bauman Bump with Girdwood in the background	Winner Creek drainage and Northern part of the Berries (Kinnikinnick and Lingon mnts).

Berg Peak seen from True Summit.  The route up the facing ridge was at times quite exposed and tricky, especially with frozen conditions whenever I got forced out on the North side.	Kern Ridge and Turnagain Arm as seen from high on True Summit

Highbush with Lingon in the background (to the left)	Blueberry Hill

Self portrait

Panorama from Kern ridge looking North towards (Alyeska) True Summit.

Panorama from Berg Peak looking Northeast.  Left to right in the panorama are Lingon Mnt, Highbush, Lowbush, and Bluberry Hill.  Certainly a lot of great hiking and climbing still to be had in this mountain group.