DAY 148: GOAT ROCKS WILDERNESS

miles: 28

Yes, you read that correctly - we managed to go 28 miles today.

Little did we know at the time, but this would be our last high-mileage day of our trip.

This was one of the most enjoyable days on trail. The miles went by quickly, it was relatively flat up until we reached the Goat Rocks proper, and it was the perfect temperature out. We've been lucky with the weather so far, it's been pleasant, warm, and summer-like since we began Washington. I could tell by the clouds, however, that the nice weather was about to come to an end. Perhaps a thunderstorm tomorrow?

I've gotten really good at forecasting the weather. I am able to look at the clouds and (almost scarily) accurately predict the next day's weather events. Ask Ben. This might be because I am still terrified by thunderstorms...

Mt. Adams as we left camp in the morning. 

Mt. Rainier in a pink glow.

The moment I've been waiting for since April!

By noon we had already left Mt. Adams in the dust! This is looking back on the mountain after leaving camp this morning... so crazy how much distance we are able to cover in such a short period of time...

Fall colors match Ben's hair.

I love when I can tell where the trail is going to go next by studying the maps - we were bound to enter these woods below and cross them (staying relatively low and flat for a few hours) before making our way up and over the mountains you see here!

Mushroom destruction in my way.

Are Native Americans responsible for this? These were so cool!

Mt. Adams. Just a memory now.

We were camped UP ON Mt. Adams this morning, but have made it this far away! We've already come 23+ miles today! Feeling accomplished...

The hill leading up to a pass where I just KNEW a great view was coming...

I love when you have been hiking, hiking, hiking, and you are coming up onto a pass of some sort and you just get a feeling that there is about to be a view revealed to you.... The suspense is killer.

Coming up... I can already see the tips of the mountains.

Ben - taking it all in.

Ben taking in the view.

Just like Devil's Postpile!

Looking back where we had come from.

About to stretch.

Evidence of the recent storm that caused major flooding and erosion to parts of Washington. We were in Eagle Creek (back in Oregon) during this horrific storm. 

Erosion wiped out parts of the trail. Leaping must happen.

Erosion.

After coming up and over Cispus Pass we were greeted with this view. The white dots in the center of this image are goats.

Ben heading onward toward the mountain goats.

GOATS ZOOMED IN!

The trail went right under this herd of goats, and I was a bit frightened... are they aggressive?

goats.

goats.

We spotted two hikers ahead (since the trail was easy to see up to a mile ahead) and it was Dr. Slosh and Smiles! We had been tailing them since we left Trout Lake and hoping to catch them before hitting White Pass tomorrow! So excited to catch up with them.

Ultimately we camped at a waterfall, which was very populated with weekend hikers (It's a Saturday night in Goat Rocks, holla! It's the place to be!) and were disappointed to find hikers already camped in every nook and cranny of the mountainside. We settled on a sandy exposed spot, wary of the weather. I hoped and crossed my fingers that the storm would hold out until we got up and over the Knife's Edge near Old Snowy and reached White Pass...

The view from our tent.