Route: Norse Peak trail to Goat Lake trail, Goat Lake to PCT, PCT south to Bullion Basin (northern passage, short and steep), Bullion Basin to FS 7190-410, and 7190-410 back to my car. 11.8 miles, only saw 4 groups, started at 6:15.
The only snow patches were the 4 on the the Goat Lake trail. These were easy, less than 10 degrees, dirty footprints to step in, and no threatening run-outs. About 1 out of 10 people would want traction on the "worst" of these, see picture #3. The Little Crow Basin trail is melted out, see the upper left corner of picture #2.
There are 6 blowdowns on the Goat Lake trail, 5 are easy, one is a little tricky, you have to gain about 20 feet of elevation to get over it. When in doubt see where the elk hooves go, they are good at finding the best way around and down, they even used a switchback in one spot. There are 4 easy blowdowns on the PCT portion.
This was my first time on the Goat Lake trail. It is beautiful country. The trail does cross some rock fields, but they are not bad (picture 4, see a lot of the trail course including the 2 rock fields). Overall the tread is much better than the Basin Lake trail to the south. Most of the trail course was burnt in the fire, a plus is that you can always see the mountains that are around you. I saw nobody camping down at Goat Lake (there is a side trail that takes you down to the lake).
Flowers: There are flowers along the entire route, but the highlight was the 3rd mile of the Norse Peak trail. There is lupine, beargrass, arnica, and littleflower penstemon in thick volumes. There are dozens of other flowers blooming for variety.
There are many advantages to starting early, today the sun rising over the early morning clouds/fog created some beautiful colors with the trees on the ridgeline casting shadows.
A small photo album is attached and I have attached a map of the areas that burned and the severity of the burns.
Comments
bentley-edelman on Norse Peak Lollipop via Goat Lake Trail, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass, Bullion Basin
Thanks for the report! Very interesting--it looks like the trail we went on a few days ago from the PCT side, which we thought MIGHT be Goat Lake, was actually NOT Goat Lake--your pics don't look like where we were! I wonder if when you came out onto the PCT, you saw a burnt tree with nails where a sign had been?
Posted by:
bentley-edelman on Jul 06, 2020 12:00 PM
AlpsDayTripper on Norse Peak Lollipop via Goat Lake Trail, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass, Bullion Basin
I didn't see that sign. I remembered your report when I saw how hard it would be to see the Goat Lake trail from the PCT, I was glad I was coming in the other direction. Here is a caltopo map that shows my outward trip on Norse & Goat Lake to hook up with the PCT. https://caltopo.com/m/4FKL
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jul 06, 2020 07:07 PM
bentley-edelman on Norse Peak Lollipop via Goat Lake Trail, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass, Bullion Basin
Thank you! We'll try it from the other side next time, methinks!
Posted by:
bentley-edelman on Jul 06, 2020 08:06 PM