Did a 2 day backpack on a loop to Goat Lake via Snowgrass Flat then down via the Goat Ridge Trail. The trail is challenging gaining 2,000 feet on over 6 miles (in ascent). The loop trail down is steep & rocky in parts, esp. at the beginning of the descent, where the trail heads down from the lake. But the views of the meadow with a stream meandering through it far below are wonderful. A number of blow-downs on the descent. Thank God for shaded portions of the trail on the way down.
No insects in the marshy area on the ascent. There were some flies on the descent. The day was hot (80 degrees) and the exposed sections were hard. Bring lots of water for the trail. More than you think you'll need. That was the hard part.
Now the good part: it was an amazing experience. Beautiful skies & views of Mt. Adams, which I'd rarely every seen before. The camp sites all had amazing sweeping vistas looking toward Mt. Adams. I didn't notice any formal campsites, but there were many suitable locations and people were spread over acres around the lake. Perhaps the most beautiful campsites I've seen. No pit toilets.
In the upper elevation there were still wildflowers, but the season is on the wane. Lots of marmots. We saw one in the most perilous place (not for them clearly) in a tiny crevice in columns standing 300 feet high off the ground. I also saw a ground bird, perhaps a ptarmigan (?). Only the 2nd time I've seen one in the field. Also one goat high up a mountainside.
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