Sharon and I, together with our friends Janel, Susan, and Dawn went for a 4 day, 25 mile hike in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. This stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail has to be one of the most beautiful high alpine hikes of the whole trail.
A one way trip from the Berry Patch trailed to White Pass. Required 2 cars and a shuttle back to the starting point.
At the trailhead
On the first day we hiked to Goat Lake. No goats were in evidence, but plenty of wildflowers which showered us with their beauty for the remainder of the trip.
Indian paintbrush and other flowers
The trail approaching Goat Lake
A sociable marmot near the campsite
Stunning campsite a thousand feet above the valley and overlooking Mount Adams
Sunset in camp, with the valley below.
The next day we headed up to about 7,000 feet for a scramble to the summit of Old Snowy Mountain at 7,400 feet, and then on to Leech lake.
Leaving goat Lake
High Alpine Meadows on top of the world. That's Mount Adams in the background, and a really hazy Mount Saint Helens.
Wildflowers!
With a bit more elevation, the vegetation starts to disappear and the terrain gets rockier
The scramble up Old Snowy Mountain. Mount Rainier in the background!
At the summit, 7400 feet and great weather
The descent, with a bit of exposure
Walking along the spine of the earth – the trail extends all along the ridge here for several miles
Beautiful little flowers growing where very little else is. And hummingbirds finding them…
More wildflowers
We’ve dropped down a few thousand feet now, vegetation has returned but there is ominous thunder and rain off to the north. And of course more flowers.
Indian paintbrush in front of a a little stream. Felt very Tolkienesque.
Horseshoe Lake, a relaxing spot for a really late lunch
Disaster! We had heard distant helicopters earlier in the day, but didn't realize they were fighting a fire near our final campsite for the night.
With the ambience of the lake a little disturbed by a firefighting helicopter scooping up water every 10 minutes, we decided cut our hike short and head all the way out to the trailhead a day early.
All in all, one of the best high mountain trips I've done in Washington state. Great views, wildflowers, great weather, and great friends.