Old Snowy Mountain - Elk Pass, Goat Lake & Snowgrass - Cispus Basin - Nannie Ridge Loop — Friday, Jul. 19, 2024

Tobey Maguire got bit by a spider, but see, for Washington hikers it was a goat. Why else would so many of us be jonesin' to visit the Goat Rocks this time of year? Considering one of the last trip reports in this area was from myself, I figured it was time to revisit.

TLDR; snowy in some places, but not for long. Spectacular wildflowers. Many, many people camping in inappropriate places. Good road, but bad bugs. Smoky.

My partner and I left King County around 3:45 p.m. on Friday and arrived at Berry Patch Trailhead around 7:15 p.m. There were already cars parked parallel along the road, although we snagged a nose-in spot near the toilet. The bathroom was bereft of TP and was pretty gross; there was also an unsecure trash can outside full of garbage. Apparently bears aren't an issue for the USFS to leave these unattended across the forest? We hiked about 3 miles that night and found a delightful spot along goat ridge.

The following morning we walked to Goat Lake. The cirque just west of the lake, near Hawkeye Point, had numerous tents pitched on grassy areas next to water, with many parties only a few feet from one another. I saw no wagbags in anybody's kit, so I do wonder how everyone is disposing of their waste in such a fragile, but popular place.

Smoke quickly blew in from the southwest around lunch time, obscuring Adams and Rainier, and making St. Helens disappear entirely. Brilliant wildflowers dot the trail between Goat Lake, Snowgrass Flats and Old Snowy.

There are a few snow fields to cross between the Snowgrass Flats/PCT Junction and Old Snowy Mountain, but we watched maybe 20 hikers cross fine without traction, including ourselves. One section approaching the Old Snowy alt is probably non-life threatening. There's no snow issue in Cispus Basin or over Cispus Pass.

Water is plentiful this time of year, but there are a few miles south of Old Snowy without any, so plan accordingly.

On night two we camped in a forest road pullout about .5 miles from Walupt Lake, across the road from an equestrian camp. The remaining miles back to the trailhead are littered with blowdowns and brush, and the trail can be challenging to find in some areas. Try to channel your "trail within the trail" eyes! We were back at the car by 8:45 a.m. on Sunday.

Finally: we did see a party with an unattended campfire during the peak heat of the day. Friendly reminder to all make good choices when wildfires are rampant and temperatures are high.

Distance: 30.9 miles
Elevation gain: 7,316 feet