On the weekend of July 23rd and 24th, I explore the north half of Goat Rocks Wilderness between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. I start hiking from White Pass to the Packwood Glacier and then head back past Chimney Rock to Lost Lake, and eventually the Clear Lost trailhead. I then road walk back to my car at White Pass.
I met one group of PCT hikers, Josh (keefebear) and Annie. They may call me this later in the week for a ride from Cascade Locks to Portland.
The hike starts with a long climb up from White Pass. I pass several lakes and stay in the trees for quite a while.
Finally Mount Rainier starts showing up through the tree line.
And the trail hits above tree line, following some ridges.
Snow covered mountains and wildflowers are the vista...
along with lakes...
and Mount Rainier.
The trail then dips into the woods for many miles. When it comes out of the woods, the mountains are even more spectacular.
The wildflowers are also thicker.
I meet Josh (keefebear) at the top of the ridge on the other side of this valley. He is resting and we talk about Billy Goat, Squeaky, and other PCT subjects.
Finally I come to the ridge walk that is the signature feature of Goat Rocks along with the Packwood Glacier. The trail follows the ridge so narrowly and so closely that it has passing zones for horses. There is no way a hiker and a horse could get by each other on the normal trail.
I turn around when I get to the Packwood Glacier as I'm now walking in the exact same spot I walked in last week. The snow bank I stood on last week for the picture is noticeably smaller.
The trail I will start back on cuts off the PCT trail several miles back. A fog starts to roll in, making everything less clear. I re-pass Josh on the way back to my trail as I'm walking a little faster than they are.
I camp near the Packwood saddle around 9:15. There are lots of trees to choose from on where to pitch my hammock. The next morning it is clear and starts with a big climb. The ridges are again spectacular.
Chimney Rock is just ahead and UP, UP, UP.
However looking back along the ridge I just climbed up makes it worth it.
And looking down and seeing at least a half dozen elk also makes it worth it.
It is good to see Packwood Lake and know I'm making progress.
It is also nice the trails are signed as the trails off the PCT trail are not as obvious.
Lost Lake is less lost since a forest fire burned the foliage off the trees, although it is still fairly hidden.
Mount Rainier is a constant presence in the high country.
I finally reach a place where my cell phone works. I change the message in case Dad calls to let him know what I'm up to. It didn't work again until I had driven over 30 miles toward I-5.
I then climb down in the woods again. Some of the trees are huge.
There is even a shelter. Because the trail was so bad in this area, I'm happy to find the trail so quickly away from the shelter. However, it turns out two trails intersected here so I walk two miles down the wrong trail before seeing a car and realizing I'm in the wrong place. After I return to the shelter, I find the correct trail. I then ford a creek with the water raising just above my knees but below my shorts, and climb up to the road. About three miles road walk later I reach my car. On the way I stop at the Time Wise grocery to pick up tasty beverages. Many a PCT hiker has re-supplied here. I really enjoyed this hike.