Goat Lake, Snowgrass Flat, Bypass Trail & Cispus Pass — Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

Arrived at the Snowgrass TH on a Monday and found 20 cars there (about another 40 at the Berrypatch TH nearby). Basic itinerary: Day 1, make camp at Snowgrass Creek along the ByPass Trail, then explore the Cispus Basin almost to Cispus Pass and then a mile or two up the PCT in the direction of Old Snowy. Day 2, return to Snowgrass Trail and go up to Lily Basin Trail and then Goat Lake, returning “counter-clockwise” over Goat Ridge, down into Jordan Basin and then back to Snowgrass TH from Berrypatch TH on the connector trail.

Bugs: Biting black flies on Day 1, no skeeters. That night, it rained and cooled off. Day 2 was considerably colder and windier so experienced no bugs. Water: Plenty, including a lovely waterfall about 6.4 miles from TH, or 1.5 miles east/south on PCT from the PCT/ByPass Trail junction, in Cispus Basin on the PCT. Flowers: A bit late, but still plenty. Some meadows dominated by Pasque Flower, others by a sort of yellow daisy. People: Far fewer than expected. At the Randle ranger station, I was told that due to the wildfires along Mt. Adams, the PCT between the Columbia River and White Pass was closed to thru-hikers. I arrived at Goat Lake to find not a single tent. By the time I finished lunch, one tent was pitched (dutifully well away from the water’s edge) and another party had just arrived. Treefall: Several large trees down across the trail between Snowgrass TH and the ByPass Trail junction. 

Reminders: You’re going to have to go, so bring a trowel, dig a cathole at least 400 yards from the lake and pack out your paper. There are just too many people visiting this area to not be mindful about where and how to do your business. And remember, the rule is pitch your tent no closer than 400 yards from the lake. Just because other people have cheated in the past (there’s plenty of evidence of this) doesn’t mean it’s okay for you to do it. If we all try to be inconspicuous, we’ll improve the quality of the view for everyone. Dogs: Keep them leashed. After helping patch up a ranger who got bitten by someone’s dog on the PCT north of Harts Pass a few weeks ago, I was very pleased to see every dog on the trail leashed. Keep it up, dog owners, your efforts are very much appreciated!