Made it out to the Goat Rocks this weekend, thought I'd be too early for flowers, but the show is definitely beginning...
Took the N. Fork Tieton trail to Tieton Pass and went south on the PCT from there to find somewhere to camp. There were a couple easy snow crossings until the trail goes downhill into a basin just after a nice view of the Goat Rocks peaks. The trail down looked mostly snow covered so I went along cross country and met the trail again down in the basin. After finding a site I wandered up towards Elk Pass to scope out the way to Old Snowy. Still early for flowers in the meadows, paintbrush and a few others are starting though. Ridges are blooming nicely. Turned around a little past Elk Pass and found my way back to camp to catch sunset and the full moon coming up next to Mt. Curtis-Gilbert.
Goat Rocks peaks
The next morning I headed up the ridge to catch the PCT again and took it over to Old Snowy. There was one steep patch of snow over the trail that was a little tricky in the morning when the snow was hard, but I was able to kick some steps into it and get across. Should be melted out by now. The trail is narrow and covered in loose rock, some places worse than others. Poles are helpful.
Elk Pass
PCT, Goat Rocks crest
Goats grazing
goat watching
Old Snowy
Once over to the base of Old Snowy the hiker trail was mostly melted out and it was an easy walk up the obvious path. There are some very nicely situated rocks on the summit that make it a great place to lounge in nice weather. I had the summit to myself for an hour and a half or so, so I took advantage by taking my very first ever boot shot and hanging out on top watching other groups on the way up from the Snowgrass Flats side. A couple groups made it up and I gave up my perch on the summit. Hung around a little longer and headed back down.
boots...
Mt. Adams from Old Snowy
Mt. Rainier closeup from Old Snowy
Mt. St. Helens
Glacier Pk., Alpine Lakes area
Goat Lk.
PCT north from Old Snowy
The way out was uneventful, great place, snow is melting very quickly!
Sweet!
Some people have been worried about so much snow up there that they won't be able to get through. It looks like anyone going up starting this weekend should be OK.
Thanks for the update on Goat Rocks. Whoda' thunk it'd take this long to melt out. Great color on those twilight photos. Thanks for the photo of Goat Lake. That helps me gauge the levels on several of the approaching ridges.
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I need to make it down there this year.
Some people have been worried about so much snow up there that they won't be able to get through. It looks like anyone going up starting this weekend should be OK. 
