TunaMac (+ Inga, the world’s best backpacking huskie), bmay and I arranged to meet at 7 AM on Wednesday morning for the 3-hour drive north. We were hiking on the dusty but relatively lonesome Goat Ridge Trail by 10:30 AM under flawless blue skies. The rough plan for the two-day trip was to hike from the Snowgrass trailhead, up the Goat Ridge Trail to Goat Lake (where we would do some goat scoping), spend the night, and then return to the trailhead via the Snowgrass Trail. We ended up camping below Goat Lake in a more secluded campsite next to a small stream that leased epic views of the basin and surrounding peaks.
Jordan Basin and the Goat Ridge Trail
flowers along the Goat Ridge Trail
The wildflowers on the route were astoundingly beautiful. Carpets of lupine, indian paintbrush, beargrass, bistort, heather, monkeyflower, penstemon... The basins and drainages were literally bursting with color and scent. My photos don't do the area any justice, but TunaMac had a very fancy camera with him so maybe with some gentle cajoling he will post some as well.
Quintessential jaw-dropping mountain vistas presented themselves every time we turned our heads. It has been a strange season in the mountains with the long, cold spring; everything is blooming late and simultaneously. I mean, beargrass blooms at the end of August???
climbing the Goat Ridge Trail out of Jordan Basin
Goat Rocks
monkeyflower and the Goat Rocks
Mt. Adams
After a couple hours of hiking/stopping to gawk at the scenery, we came to Goat Lake and settled in for a hour or so to watch for goats on the ridge above the lake. We were rewarded for our patience when half a dozen goats made their way along the top of the ridge. They looked like very small white specks on the hillside, but were fun to observe through my 200mm camera lens. One large goat steadily made his way down the steep slope to a patch of snow and promptly flopped down and rolled around in it for a good 20 minutes to cool off.
goat
Goat Lake
TunaMac chillaxin' at Goat Lake
Goat Lake waters
We started heading down to the Snowgrass Trail around 3PM to look for a suitable campsite for the night. We found a nice site that could accommodate three tents that had perfect views, thousands of wildflowers, and the soothing nighttime rush of a creek. The flies were still fairly aggressive, but they didn't prevent us from lounging in the shade and soaking up the views. We enjoyed a very leisurely afternoon around camp, reading, napping, and photographing the flowers and views.
leaving Goat Lake
Mt. Adams and our campsite (just above the scree field)
on paper and in real life
kicking it in the shade
tons of lupine and paintbrush
beargrass flowers with purple centers
Mt. Adams at sunset, helped with a layer of forest fire haze
We woke to blue skies but a brisk wind soon brought cool temperatures and dark gray clouds. By the time we were packed up and heading back on the Snowgrass Trail, the sky was matte grey and I was wearing three layers of clothes.
camp
TunaMac's dog
Goat Lake in the background
trailside flowers
Hiking out on the Snowgrass Trail, we ran into at least six groups of backpackers who were heading up for the weekend. We also ran into the only wilderness ranger for the district, David W., who was headed up to stake out a camp for an SEA trail crew. He was probably the nicest field ranger I have ever met. He stopped to chat with us for about 15 minutes and told us about how he had to dig up and bury at least 40 trailside feces latrines the last time he came through the area. [shock, horror!]
He also clarified where the restricted area for Snowgrass Flat camping was actually located. I apparently don't have the "modern" map, which has more detailed information, but TunaMac was confused by the markings on his more up-to-date map, too. As it turns out, camping is prohibited at the headwaters of the creek, not in the flattish part north of the trail that enters the flats. All those people you see camping in the trees? All legit. But here's a tip: if you walk 15 minutes north on the Goat Ridge Trail, you'll have more solitude, better views, and better access to water.
Except for the annoying deerflies, an almost perfect one-nighter.
I'm looking forward to getting together for another trip!
