by Location In general, things are sorted with the newest items near the tops of albums and galleries. Photography by Jonathan Ley » Washington » South Washington Cascades » Goat Rocks Wilderness Mt. GilbertAlso known as Curtiss-Gilbert, this is the highest point in the Goat Rocks.Mt. Rainier from the Goat RocksA view of Mt. Rainier from near the summit of Old Snowy Mountain in the Goat Rocks.Phacelia sericeaSilky Phacelia near the top of Old Snowy Mountain in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Not the best photo, but such a cool flower, I had to include it.Look - GoatsThere's a reason this is called the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Quite a few mountain goats roam the slopes. They tend to be a bit wary of humans, which is a good and natural thing.TraverseThe trail traverses an alpine slope in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, along the way to Goat Lake.A Good SignThe lay of the land at the intersection of the PCT and the Snowgrass trail in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.Trail Through the RocksThe Pacific Crest Trail heads through the rocky highlands of the Goat Rocks Wilderness, just below Old Snowy Mountain.Paintbrush AboundsA clump of paintbrush brightens an otherwise drab cloudy day high in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.Sunset over Warm LakeWarm Lake is a bit of a pond below the icy slopes of Gilbert Peak. A colorful end to a wonderful day on the mountain!Whitebark PineAn ancient skeleton of Whitebark Pine withers behind a young tree of the same species... which might already be a decade old. Summers are short and harsh up here, and it takes a long time for these trees to reach maturity.Looking Back at GilbertGilbert Peak sticks out from the Klickton DivideThe Final ApproachReaching the summit pyramid of Gilbert Peak... the way to the top is around the left side here, where there is mix of snowy slopes and boulders.Jump!Sometimes you have to take a plunge when negotiating a ridgeline like this.Making ProgressAlong the Klickton Divide, on the way to Gilbert Peak.The Klickton DivideFrom here, it's a scramble over snow and rocky slopes to the summit pyramid of Gilbert Peak.Reaching the RidgeThe top of Gilbert Peak can be seen at the center of this frame. This photo is taken from further down the Klickton Divide.Up the SlopesIf you want to climb a mountain, this comes with the territory.Mt. Rainier in the MorningMt. Rainier bathed in clouds and soft morning light.Night in the Goat RocksLooking toward Mt. Adams and the Milky Way beyond.Mt. Adams BackdropMt. Adams - glowing in the setting sun - makes a nice backdrop to camp.MeepA pika pokes out of the rocks to watch the sunset.PCTThe Pacific Crest Trail has been routed up the slopes of Old Snowy, to what is now the highest point of the PCT in Washington (around 7500ft or so). Previously, the trail cut across a steep, often icy slope below on the the Packwood Glacier. Some people still travel the older path.The Slopes of Old SnowyOld Snowy Mountain is in the heart of the Goat Rocks, and fun destination.St. Helens in the HazeRidges of mountains extend toward the horizon and Mt. St. Helens, looking from the slopes of Old Snowy.Old Snowy AheadHeading across early season slopes toward Old Snowy mountain... which is the only thing without snow on it.Over the EdgeThe heavy snows of winter still hadn't melted at the end of July. Conditions were about 6 weeks behind "normal".A Lot of SnowIn a normal year, this view would mostly be of green, flowering mountainsides, with a few white fingers of snow here and there.Further ReflectionsLight reflects off the rocks and water in Walupt Creek Falls.ReflectionsLight reflects off the rocks and water in Walupt Creek Falls.Endless WaterfallThere is no trail to Walupt Creek Falls. I have to say that I'm a bit thankful for that. If there was a trail here, it would be overrun by well-meaning brightly colored visitors, screaming kids... and the magic would be lost. As it is, someone camped near the base of the falls and sawed-down a clump of Alder Trees... when there is an abundance of fallen wood for anyone really wishing to make a fire. I pulled a few beer bottles out of the dirt too.Across the FallsAnother view across the cascades of Walupt Creek Falls.Walupt Creek FallsThe staircase terraces of Walupt Creek Falls make it easy to walk right up the face. That's a rare treat in a waterfall.Life in the WaterfallA clump of flowers finds a foothold among the rushing waters of Walupt Creek Falls.Waterfall EverywhereThe cascading waters of Walupt Creek Falls can envelop you.Walupt Creek FallsWalupt Creek Falls is a mammoth waterfall along Walupt Creek, just where it joins the Cispus River.View on the RocksNannie Peak affords a nice perspective on the Goat Rocks.Sheep LakeMt. Adams makes a nice backdrop behind Sheep Lake in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.Flowers and SunPaintbrush splatters the green alpine landscape in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.Mt. AdamsMt. Adams rises to the south, far beyond the PCT.BeargrassAbove the Snowgrass Flat area, a multitude of flowers bloom in the high summer. Here, some beargrass blows in the wind.PCTThe Pacific Crest Trail winds through the alpine wilderness in the Goat Rocks.Make a WishThe Perseid meteor shower put on a show at night in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. This annual shooting star bonanza happens each August.Water, Rock, LightAnother view up the headwaters of the Cispus River.Rocks... Goats?A field of boulders is lit by the setting sun. Far above and just out of view, a herd of about 50 goats grazed peacefully on the high slopes.Evening GlowThese western anemone glow in the evening light. This photo shows the seed pods of these flowers. The flowers bloom early in the season.Mt. AdamsA view of Mt. Adams from the Goat Rocks WildernessGoat on the RocksThe goats of the Goat Rocks were out in abundance. I saw a couple herds of 8-10 animals, plus a few solitary wanderers. All of them were sporting very thick coats of long white wool. This goat took one last look back at me before disappearing over the ridgetop.Old SnowySurveying the scene in the Goat Rocks Wilderness toward Old Snowy Mountain and beyond.Reflections on the Goat RocksA view over Goat Lake, with Mt. Adams reflecting in the distance. Goat Lake is frozen much of the year. It usually melts some time in September, and refreezes by the end of October. Some years it never fully melts.Looking back at Old SnowyI spent the night on a bare ridgetop at 7100 ft elevation, just below Hawkeye Point. Overnight, it never got colder than 45F, almost unheard-of for this time of year. This is a view toward the snowgrass flat area & Old Snowy from the outlet stream of Goat Lake
