Tag Archives: Goat Rocks Wilderness

Hiking, PCT2020

Sep 3, 2020 PCT Between 2270 and 2280

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Good night and up at regular time to tackle the Knifes Edge. Nervous. As usual I have a hard time getting going. Everything is so fresh and pretty in the morning. Here are some pictures and videos from the start of the day.

  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Moon in the morning
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Still Mount Rainier
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Nootka lupine hanging out with some Indian Paintbrush
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Still Mount Rainier
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Another moon shot. Gives a little sense of the trail

After about an hour I get to what would probably be considered the start of the ascent to the Knifes Edge. There have been two really intensive ascents up to this point but I would say that it is at this point that things get real. Below are some images. Notice one sign is a livestock warning.

  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Heading up
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Heading up
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Hum… it should say “no place for old men”
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Still on course
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Wondering where it goes. I think part of fire bypass from 2018

Ok… so going up this slope was not bad. I would not want to come down it. Steep downhill with loose rocks is not a good combination. I believe this is part of the what the two guys were talking about. I don’t think I could go down this slope without making sure each foot was planted and secure before taking another step. Would have taken a long time. Going up however was not bad. At the top of this section is a little wide spot where people (and lifestock I guess) can pass each other. I take this video and some images just a little later.

  • PCT 2280 to 2270. View from Knifes Edge
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. View from Knifes Edge
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. View from Knifes Edge
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. View from Knifes Edge

A little later I have some MORE views of Mount Rainier and a view of Mount St. Helens. Between these points where I am taking the pictures I am usually going up a steep slippery slope or going down a steep slippery slope. It is pretty stressful for me. I am tight and I can feel strain on my shoulder and hip. At one point 4 hikers are coming the other direction and just by chance it was at a switchback point and I could wait for all 4 of them to pass by. They are not all together but only takes about 10 minutes before the last hiker indicates there is nobody behind her and I am free to go.

  • PCT 2280 to 2270. View from Knifes Edge. Mount St. Helens
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. View from Knifes Edge. Mount Rainier and Packwood Lake

The actual Knifes Edge where you are sure to die if you fall in either direction is a very short part of the trail as far as I can tell. I frankly almost missed it. It really is not clear to me how much of this part is considered the Knifes Edge and how much is just scary trail. I am making this sound pretty bad huh? Well, all I can say is that I did make it across all of it, which I would not have attempted if I was really in fear of my life. I stopped short of Canada by 7 miles so I’m not risking anything. That being said, I would never consider going back to this section and doing it again. It is no place for old men. I think I got the picture below from one of the spots where the trail falls away on both sides. Pretty near the top this is a picture of the other side where the snow is melting. The rushing water can clearly be heard.

PCT 2280 to 2270. Melting snow

I get to an alternate trail (Old Snowy Mountain Bypass) that I can take to avoid crossing the snow in the image below. As I have learned from others, crossing the snow is either no problem or it is treacherous. The alternate path takes you 400 feet higher and of course then down 400 feet to avoid the snow. I’m not in the mood to go up and down again and so decide to cross the snow. When I get to the snow it is indeed on a steep slope and slipping would not be a good thing. But it had been abnormally warm and even this early in the morning the snow is not ice hard but gives a little when I put my foot in it. I figure it is a lot closer to no problem than it is to treacherous and so I cross. I have mini spikes I can slip on my boots but I don’t figure I even need them. At this point the two guys that said the trail is nasty and the snow is no problem win the day.

Here are some images and videos of the snow crossing.

  • PCT 2280 to 2270. First snow crossing
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Approaching second snow crossing
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Approaching second snow crossing

At this point I am basically down from the Knifes Edge and I thank God that I am safe. Not that I was ever in danger :). But I take the time to look around and WOW. Watch the video below. It contains Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mount Adams. Turn on the sound.

So I stopped short of the Knifes Edge and only did 10 miles the day before and I will stop short after the Knifes Edge and only do 10 miles again. My legs are shaky, the shoulder and hip ache. I’ve only done about 3 miles 🙂 Here are a couple images of the end of day.

  • PCT 2280 to 2270. On the way down
  • PCT 2280 to 2270. Mount Adams

The hiking for the rest of the day was pretty exposed. They are having a little heat wave here in Washington which makes it nice at night and most of the walking in the day is OK because of tree cover. But this section was a little hot. I pass by Cispus Creek which was a really nice waterfall, then ascend to Cispus Pass and descend into and through a bit of the Yakima Indian Reservation (no hunting or trespassing…. stay on the trail). I stop very close to Sheep Lake. I walk down to the late (1/10 of a mile) and notice there are really nice camp sites on the lake BUT they are all occupied by local folks out for a hiking weekend. I just gather some water and return to my camping spot. As I go back up there is a young man sitting on a log and looking a bit worried. He indicates he is heading for Knifes Edge but is worried about the lack of water as all the sources seem to be drying out. I tell him there are about 5 miles of dry hot hiking but then Cispus creek is wet and beautiful and once he gets to the Knifes Edge area there is water from the snow melt. He is also worried about crossing snow since he will be taking side trails and could have more snow that the PCT. I offer him my mini spikes because I am sick of lugging them around and he gladly accepts. When I get back to camp I notice a knife on the ground. Whoever lost it there is probably very upset. A good HEAVY knife. I think I broke out even on weight.

PCT 2280 to 2270. Tent site

Hiking, PCT2020

Sep 2, 2020 PCT Between 2280 and 2290

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It was a good night and I get up early and try to quietly pack, eat, and start the day. By 5:30 I am hiking with a head lamp on but that usually comes off by about 6 in the morning. I think I have a good planned but what I really do not realize until later is that my intended camping spot for tonight is on the other side of the Knifes Edge. When I find that out my plans will change. Such a beautiful morning. Here is a collection of videos and pictures. I just kept stopping and looking.

  • PCT 2290 and 2280. Heading that way
  • PCT 2290 and 2280. Trail and Mount Rainier
  • PCT 2290 and 2280. Its called Shoe Lake.
  • PCT 2290 and 2280. Amazing full moon

There are two guys heading north and have recently gone over the Knifes Edge. They indicated the snow was not a problem but that they were not prepared for how steep and slippery the trail was on the way down. Narrow trail with loose rock underneath at a 16 and sometimes 20 degree slope. They indicated the trail had not been maintained. True actually for most of Washington this year I believe because of COVID. They also indicate that a number of people did not attempt the Knifes Edge yesterday because of high winds. Right now the winds are mild. I meet another guy and his two adult children at Lutz Lake and he indicates that the trail is perfect but that the snow was treacherous and they opted to use the optional trail to go above one of the snow fields. He said as far as he could tell if you slip on the snow field you will end up going down for 1/4 of mile with nothing to stop you.

So the trail is either good or bad. The snow is either not a problem or treacherous. I just have to laugh.

Around noon a gal passes me and we talk a bit. She is doing an 8 day hike. Going from Trout Lake north for 4 days and then turning and returning to Trout Lake. So she has gone over Knifes Edge and is about to do it again. She said there were no issues. Anyway she asked where I camped last night and I indicated at the top of the climb from White Pass. How about you I ask. She said, I’m not sure, it was just called “small campground”. This is chatty girl. Anyway she asked if I wanted my picture taken against the background. OK….. I respond and she takes three pictures. Of course, I return the favor and take some pictures of her. She takes off, never see her again. She is doing 20 mile days.

  • PCT 2290 and 2280. Just me and some scenery
  • PCT 2290 and 2280. Just me and some scenery
  • PCT 2290 and 2280. Just me and some scenery

It is not long after this, about 2 hours, that I do my first little 16% slop section up to flat spot. The ascent to the Knifes Edge is beginning. I decide to do it in the morning when I am fresh and alert and so I set up camp for the night. There is a small stream flowing from the snow melt by my campsite. Always a plus to have water, especially cold water. Here are some videos and pictures from around campsite.

  • PCT 2290 and 2280. At campsite
  • PCT 2290 and 2280. At campsite
  • PCT 2290 and 2280. At campsite
PCT 2290 and 2280. At campsite
Hiking, PCT2020

Sep 1, 2020 PCT Between 2290 and 2295

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The Send Off Version 5

It is a 6 hour drive to get from Oroville (home base on the Candadian Border) to White Pass which will be my starting point. Plan is to head south to Trout Creek to complete that section of Washington. Early in the month I hiked from Bridge of the Gods (Oregon/Washington border) to Trout Creek.

I’m excited about this section because it contains the famous Knifes Edge in the Goat Rocks Wilderness which, as I understand it, is a very narrow strip of trail that falls off to oblivion on either side. When I was here in 2018 there was a fire in this area and although the trail was not closed there was a very long detour to avoid the fire area. I really had not studied the area until last night and after reading and watching videos on it (search for PCT Knifes Edge) I started to get a little nervous. I wasn’t so worried about the Knifes Edge itself but of the descriptions of the trail leading to the Knifes Edge. After the failure to get to Canada because of trail conditions, I am concerned.

Almost immediately I get to a sign indicating that I am entering the Goat Rocks Wilderness. I am a little shocked because I figured that was a day ahead of me. Turns out I enter, exit, and will enter again. The PCT has about 31 miles of trail within the wilderness. Goat Rocks Wilderness is 108,024 acres in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

About this time I get to Ginnette Lake and decide to get some extra water. I saved 2 miles of carrying water by waiting till this point and the next water is in 8 miles, which is further that I am going today. White Pass is at 4400 feet and you climb your way out of White Pass to a flat area near the top of Hogback Mountain with a camping site at about 6300 feet.

I am seeing a number of day hikers coming back from somewhere. I expect to see a lot of them when I get to Ginnette Lake but when I get there I meet a single hiker that said he was doing the PCT and I asked him about the area ahead and about the Knifes Edge. He said it was very difficult and told me that if I could do the next 20 miles, I could do any section of the PCT. He said it was the hardest part of the PCT he had seen. I asked him how much he had done and he indicated he had only done this section and one other in Washington. Not a very big sample size.

PCT 2295 to 2290. Goat Rocks Wilderness
PCT 2295 to 2290. Ginnette Lake

Continuing to drudge up the slope I pass by a nice looking meadow and then some ski lifts. Perhaps the meadow looking area is part of a ski slop.

PCT 2295 to 2290. Nice Meadow

Just before I work myself up to the top of Hogback Mountain two hikers pass me that are in a pretty big hurry to get down to White Pass but one of them says: It’s a hard climb but the views are fantastic.

There are good views. I look back towards the north and see the fire that we passed driving on the way to White Pass. Pretty impressive amount of smoke but the fire is moving the other way and is a far piece off. You can also see a glimpse of Clear Lake which is a good size lake we passed on the drive. The dead trees I am sure are part of the fire that was here in 2018 that caused the PCT detour.

PCT 2295 to 2290. Fire burning to the North. We passed on drive down

There is a small campsite and that is where I am staying for the night. I hear two other hikers come in during the night. A guy who is quiet and a gal who is very talkative and chatters to the quiet guy. Turns out I will meet the gal later. On the hiking applications the spot I choose is called “small campsite”. That is how I know the gal I meet later will be the same gal.

  • Miles: 5.7
  • Steps: 14914
  • PCT Mile: 2290
  • Elevation: 6350
  • Location: