PCT Day 123: Goat Rocks Wilderness

Daily Miles: 21.5, Total Miles: 2287.5

I started to get up at 5:20am but heard the pitter patter on the rainfly. It drizzled for about an hour and then stopped.

After over two hours of hiking, I hadn’t seen any goats or many rocks so what’s with this wilderness anyway? Fast forward to the end of the day – Goat Rocks ROCKS! Absolutely one of my top, favorite days on the trail!

The views are spectacular. Mts Adams, St Helens and Rainier looming and getting closer.

The jagged, snowy Goat Rocks and several glaciers, cascading waterfalls and icy lakes.

The trail is crazy ridiculous in a good but treacherous way. On steep ridges, some parts just wide enough for a trail, and high above glaciated canyons. The name “Knife’s Edge” is very fitting.

The hiker route around Packwood Glacier was a highlight with a “top of the world” feel.

The wildflowers were some of the best I’ve seen on the PCT with most colors represented.

I ran into OTC (Oh That Craig) for the first time since Mt Whitney. This is home country for him. I took a pic for him in the same location he posed for a pic 20 years ago on his first PCT hike.

I found a great camp at the first water after Knife’s Edge. A huge snow wall above me, glacial stream below me and a great view of upcoming Mt Rainier.