Just me and my backpack - Goat Rocks Wilderness, 9.3.19 - 9.5.19, Part 3 of 3
After soaking up the awesome views from Hawkeye Point it was time to head back down. As I approached Goat Lake, a herd of maybe twenty-five mountain goats were grazing on the hillside right above my camp next to the lake. They ended up staying there until around 8:30 PM when they finally slowly headed up and through a high notch. The whole time they were grazing, the big alpha male would stay apart from the rest of the herd and and stand guard.
I guess that’s why it’s called Goat Lake
Alpha male
My camp at Goat Lake
After getting back to my camp it was still pretty warm so I went up to the lake and took a refreshing swim. The water was not on the wallowable scale but was certainly swimable and if I had hung out there all day I would have swam a bunch.
The water of Goat Lake
My marmot buddy by my camp
After a great dinner of spicy chicken gumbo wrapped up in tortillas, hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies I settled down in my camp chair, lit up a fine cigar and watched the goats as the sun slowly sank behind Hawkeye Point. The minerals in the Goat Rocks have a lot of reds and the setting sun just lit up the peaks in a blaze of orange. Absolutely beautiful!
Setting sunlight
Blazing evening light on Old Snowy
Last rays on Mount Adams
That last night was surprisingly warm so I slept with both vestibules rolled up so I could see out both sides of the tent. Out one side I could see Mount Adams and Old Snowy and the other side I could observe the first rays of the day when they kissed the cirque surrounding Goat Lake. I was pretty wide awake in the morning before the sun even rose so as the dawn broke on the cliffs surrounding the lake I was up and out of the tent in no time. There was a thin film of clouds that gave Mount Adams a look almost like a painting. It was just an incredible light I very rarely experience. I took many photos as the sun rose followed by breakfast and packing up camp.
Leaving Goat Lake, I followed the same trail up above the lake to the junction with the Goat Ridge Trail, only this time I descended into Jordan Basin and then followed Goat Ridge. Six and a half miles later I was back at the car, having only passed two pairs of people the entire way down to the trailhead. It had been a great experience. As I’ve stated before, I prefer hiking with other people to be able to share the experience as it happens, but being completely on my own out there gives me a sense of satisfaction that I can’t easily explain. Being totally self reliant in a setting like a wilderness area nourishes my soul in a way nothing else can and I feel more complete having experienced the wilderness that way.
Pastel light on Mount Adams
More incredible light on Mount Adams
Last look at Goat Creek Valley and Mount Adams from my camp
Looking back after dropping into Jordan Basin