In the Goat Rocks Wilderness you can get great views of Mount Adams.
The Pacific Crest Trail ascends to 7,000 feet in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, to the base of Old Snowy.
From there the PCT heads due north, along the Knife’s Edge.
The Goat Rocks Wilderness, located in the Central Cascades of Washington State, is filled with wonder. Goat Lake, Snow Grass Flats and Cispus Basin are but a few on the many splendors. The Pacific Crest Trail bisects the wilderness so it is usually a busy place in the summer. Here are two pics from a trip in 2016.
Depending upon your access point, its not hard to intersect the Pacific Crest Trail, which is what we did, from the Snow Grass Flats Trail. Its about 5 miles to get to the junction, and our goal was to camp as high as we could, making it easier to spend sunset at the main attraction, the Knife’s Edge.
Due to the unusually hot July we had, the south facing slopes we ascended were dry. Looking up, the peaks surrounding were almost naked, only a very few small snow patches remained.
We made our way up, looking for the elusive camping spot, made more difficult due to lack of water.
Our final resting spot for the night was a magnificent camp, just below the last remaining snow fields below Old Snowy.
We hid in the shade until the proper hour and ascended to the “summit” of the PCT. High above the timber line the PCT climbs to a junction. Heading right you’ll climb steeply up Old Snowy to a saddle where the trail makes a turn, here are the views towards the north and south.
This is the highest point along the PCT in the Goat Rocks. If you want to scramble up the rest of the way to the top of Old Snowy, it takes about 15 minutes, one way.
Continuing upon the PCT, (headed north) the trail now descends along what is known as the Knife’s Edge. The long ridge zigs and zags down, and the trail is blasted into the very top of the serrated, sinewy ridge line as it descends into the abyss…
Its a cool place.
A short way down the trail reconnects to the “bypass”. Back at the trail junction: If you’d gone left the trail skirts along steep slopes to meet the PCT as it descends along the first section of the Knife’s Edge.
And a very smoky abyss as you can see from the images. There are a forest fire nearby, and the horizons were smoggy. During the day, I could not see even a hint of Mount Rainier, or Mt Adams. Only at sunset could you make them out at all.
My plan was to climb up, camp a few days getting images of sunrise and sunset and night sky from that vantage point, but alas, the smoke was there to stay!
Here is my best shot from the trip:
Interested in Photo Tours? Photo Classes? Buying Prints? Visit Andy Porter Images and joy you will find.
The Goat Rocks Wilderness is located in the southern Cascades of Washington State. Remnants of an ancient volcano core eroded into crags of stone, the Goat Rocks lie between the mammoth summit of Mount Rainier and Washington State’s second highest peak, Mount Adams.
The Pacific Crest Trail makes its way through the wilderness on its way from Mexico to Canada.
In late July and early August the snow melts and the meadows are alive, painted with acres and acres of fantastically beautiful wildflowers.
Snow Grass Flats is a fairy-like section of trail nearby. The Bear Grass and Lupine creating such color splendor that its hard to hike!
If you’d like to purchase a canvas wrap or fine art print, here is the gallery to view and choose size and frame.
Next summer Washington State Photo Tours are available! Tulip Photo Tours, Night Sky Photo Tours and North Cascades Hiking Tours.
You have to backpack to these spots, no ‘drive and park’ camping! Each spot can be reached with one days hiking (although depending upon your fitness/motivation level Isolation Lake and Lakeview Ridge may require a two-day hike to get there). All 5 spots afford an absolutely jaw dropping, gob smacking, OMFG view from your tent that you will not soon forget. List out your favorite superlatives: all apply to these scenic camping spots.
Sahale Glacier Camp – North Cascades National Park
This just might be one of the best camping spots anywhere. The camp is situated atop 3 piles of glacial rubble at the toe of Sahale Glacier. Stone rings protect you from the wind. Goats often come for a visit. And the views! An ocean of jagged summits spread out before you… oh, and the toilet has the best view in the state!
Isolation Lake – Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Hiking up Aasgard Pass with a big pack is no picnic, but once you get up, Isolation Lake is there, waiting. This is a land of rocks and ice. The serrated peaks cut the sky and the crystal pure, icy cold lake, blue/green lake beckon. The images of the visit will stay imprinted in your brain.
Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park
Camping on the beach is always awesome: The ocean breeze, the sounds of the birds, the feel of the sand in between your toes, a fire at night. Point of the Arches has it all: surreal sea stacks jutting out of the Pacific, tide pools filled with critters and unbelievable sunsets.
Lakeview Ridge, Pasayten Wilderness
This is one of the highest points along the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington, located just south of the Canadian border. The hike in is sublime, from the trailhead at Slate Peak you will meander up Rock Pass and shoot through Windy Pass onto Lakeview Ridge. Covered with wildflowers and affording views in every direction, you will have a hard time leaving.
Snow Grass Flats, Goat Rocks Wilderness
If you want to have it all, this is the place to come camp! Endless meadows carpeted with wildflowers, views of both Mount Rainier AND Mount Adams, great camping spots and…what else is there? From the Snow Grass Flats trail head hike up, up, up, the higher you camp, the better the views. Don’t miss a visit to the Knife’s Edge, its close by.
Please take a minute and send me YOUR favorite camping spots, with a picture, if you can!
If you are interested in buying fine art prints or canvas wraps of any of these images, here is the link.
Maybe you’d like to go on a guided photo tour to one these spots? We do that! Here is the link to find out more and get signed up!
There were many highlights photo-wise in 2014.
I had two images chosen for the cover of Northwest Travel Magazine. Not a bad way to start the year!
Northwest Travel May June 2014
NW Travel Magazine March-April 2014
This image of Sahale Glacier Camp in North Cascades National Park got a lot of coverage. It was chosen as an Honorable Mention and is on display in the Smithsonian Museum, in Washington DC.
Sunrise, Steven Mather Wilderness – North Cascades National Park
Hiking along Sahale Arm
Palouse Falls State Park
Mount Rainier from Crystal Mountain Resort
Park Butte Lookout and Mount Baker
Glacier Peak
Mount Adams and the Milky Way, Goat Rocks Wilderness
2015 is looking to be another great year.
I have a new schedule of photography classes coming up.
And new articles and images being published in the Mountaineers Magazine and Backpacker Magazine.
I will also be teaching photo classes through the North Cascades Institute, more on that soon.
Travel Plans for the new year include a Washington State Tour, the Enchantments, Olympic National Park, Glacier National Park and a nighttime Tour of Mountain Lookouts in the summer.
Thanks for being there and happy trails to you all!
Thank you all for the wonderful feedback! Every month I am learning new skills and integrating things, be it with image capture or photoshop…I am definitely looking forward to 2015!
Here is my next set of 12 favorite images from this year. I hope you enjoy them!
Isolation Lake Panorama, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Tulips and Stormy Skies
Barn and Dandelions
Lake Ann from the Maple Pass Trail, North Cascades
Mount Rainier Milky Way
Mount Shuksan from Skyline Divide
Padilla Bay Sunset
Mount Baker and Park Butte Lookout
Sunset in the Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Mt Adams and Pacific Crest Trail, Goat Rocks Wilderness
Tractor and Sky, Skagit County
Virgin River at Night, Zion National Park, Utah
I shot many images in 2014. As I review them there are some that capture my imagination. Here are the first 11 images:
Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Skagit County Barn: Early Morning
Mount Adams and Split Rock, along the Pacific Crest Trail in the Goat Rocks Wilderness
Padilla Bay
Crystal Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Skagit Valley
Liberty Bell and the North Cascades Highway
Samish River
In the Subway, Zion National Park, Utah
Stormy Skies at Maple Pass, North Cascades
Skagit River Bridge
Colchuck Lake, Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
On September 3rd, 1964 President Johnson signed into law the Wilderness Act. This watershed piece of legislation has been a cornerstone in preserving the wild lands of America.
The Wilderness Act provides a definition for wilderness: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”
I have been lucky enough to visit many wilderness areas and enjoy their majesty and solitude. Here are a few images from my travels.
Sahale Camp, Steven Mather Wilderness
Pasayten Wilderness
Milky Way, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Point of the Arches, Olympic Wilderness
Mount Rainier and Avalanche Lillys, Goat Rock Wilderness
Left Fork Canyon, Zion Wilderness
Steeple Peak and Lost Temple Spire, Bridger-Teton Wilderness
Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Mount Olympus, Olympic Wilderness
Amphitheater Mountain, Pasayten Wilderness
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Mount Baker and the Park Butte Lookout, Mount Baker Wilderness
Sunrise, Steven Mather Wilderness – This image will be displayed in the Smithsonian Museum as a part of the Wilderness 50 Celebration starting on Sept. 3rd, 2014
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. Washington State is blessed with more than 30 Wilderness Areas, one of which is the Goat Rocks Wilderness.
The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the Goat Rocks crossing some of the most stunning terrain along the trail in Washington.
Here are a few images from the Goat Rocks Wilderness.
Mount Rainier and Beargrass from the Lily Basin Trail
Mt Adams and the Pacific Crest Trail
PCT along the Knife’s Edge, Mount Rainier in the distance
Avalanche Lilies along the Lily Basin Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
Snowgrass Flats
Mount Adams and Snowgrass Flats
Mount Rainier and Packwood Lake
Upholstered in Lupine
Cispus Basin
Morning light and Beargrass
PCT Thru hiker “Thirsty Boots”
Acres of wildflowers
Explosion of colors
Milky Way over the Goat Rocks
Nighttime in the Goat Rocks Wilderness
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 