Goat Lake, Cispus Pass & Old Snowy Mountain - Elk Pass — Monday, Sep. 9, 2024

Arrived about 10 am on a Monday at Snowgrass TH, six vehicles. The dirt part of the road was bumpy with washboard but easily doable in a sedan. It was bow hunting season for elk and “any weapon” season for mountain goat, so we all wore hi-viz gear. Encountered several bow hunters in full camo in the parking lot and on the trail. None reported seeing any goats, only cow elk. We didn’t see any goats either for the entire three days, and heard no gunfire. Day one took us out to Cispus Basin, about 7 miles, where we camped on a knoll above Cispus Creek and below Goat Citadel. Amazing sunset colors. Plenty of water along the way including Snowgrass Creek along the PCT Bypass Trail and a lovely 30-foot waterfall right on the PCT in Cispus Basin. No bugs.

Day 2 we hiked back “northbound” on the PCT. We lightened packs at the junction with the Snowgrass Trail and continued on to Old Snowy where we scrambled toward the summit. After easily crossing two snowfields with trekking poles (sometimes kicking steps) we found the last 100 feet of vertical quite challenging, more like an all-fours scramble on broken rock, and two of us opted out of climbing the last 30 feet of the summit block: too much hand-work required and too much exposure for our taste. If you’re not an experienced scrambler or climber, this probably isn’t for you. But the views were still spectacular as we enjoyed a snack just below the summit block. We returned to our gear and then down the Snowgrass Trail to the Lily Basin Trail where we turned right and headed for Goat Lake. Plenty of water along the way, total of about 12 miles. We arrived at Goat Lake and saw only two other parties at the lake. It rained and blew pretty hard that night but aside from wind-blown dust blanketing the inside of my tent (and my face as I was sleeping), we were okay. A few bugs at the Old Snowy pass.

Day 3 the rain stopped right at our “wake up” time and we hiked back out the Lily Basin trail to the Snowgrass Trail and back to the Snowgrass TH. Spotted Mt. Adams through a gap in the clouds. Saw few hikers, a few hunters, and a party of four equestrians with pack animals. No bugs.

Many thanks to the trail crews who removed all the downed trees that I’d seen two weeks earlier. Bravo!

Recommendation: Consider not camping at Goat Lake. It’s difficult to respect the Wilderness regulation of camping no closer than 100 feet from the water, especially on a crowded summer weekend.  There are many campsites with water and views along the Lily Basin trail, or continue on around the “loop” and drop into Jordan Basin. Make your camp elsewhere and just bring your lunch (and a towel if you dare) to the lake. Three reasons: First, you’ll sleep better, with much less wind and much less fear of lightning. Second, you’ll protect this fragile ecosystem from one more load of poop where it’s virtually impossible to dig a cathole far enough away from the lake that you won’t pollute it. Third, you’ll enhance everyone’s experience of Goat Lake, where the beauty is mainly about the emerald green waters in this incredible stark and steep cirque. If you MUST camp at the lake, forget about digging a cathole, bring a blue bag and carry your stuff out. If you can’t stomach the blue bag (try it, you’ll like it!) get as far away from the lake as you can, bring a metal trowel to make a hole – pro tip: make your hole before you need it -- and absolutely do not leave your TP or wipes behind; bring an extra Ziploc and pack them out.