The 2003 Goat Rocks Wilderness Hikes

The Goat Rocks Wilderness is a portion of the volcanic Cascade Mountain Range in southwestern Washington State between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams.  The Goat Rocks are remnants of a large volcano, extinct for some two million years.  This ancient volcano once towered over the landscape at more than 12,000', but has since eroded into several peaks averaging around 8,000'. The cluster of rocks and peaks have become known as Goat Rocks because of the bands of mountain goats that live there.

Much of the Wilderness lies above timberline, providing outstanding alpine scenery. Many high-elevation trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), remain impassable due to snow until July, and snow can return as early as September.

In previous years, Lucy and I have made visits to Goat Rocks from the southern access trail at Walupt Lake and traversed a short section of the PCT that leads north into the Wilderness.  As to goats, we could smell them, plucked their wool from low bushes and trod on their copious droppings, but never saw a single mountain goat, let alone a band!

This year was different:  We made four sorties into the Wilderness during the summer; the first from Highway 12 at White Pass and three from Chambers Lake trail-head.  Both locations gave us access to the highest sections of the PCT as it passes through the Goat Rocks.  Early one morning we came upon a 26 strong herd of goats at an elevation of 6,200 feet.  It was some time before they sensed our presence, giving us the rare opportunity to photograph these timid animals at close range.

©2003Peter Tremayne, Vancouver WA