This was a 5 or 6 day hiking trip from White Pass on US12 through the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area and to Walupt Lake. Joining me were high school friends, Paul Arons and Martin Hansen. Since it was a one-way trip, we got a drop off from my mother and a pickup by Paul’s folks (I think, anyway). The weather was lovely, sunny but not too hot as the days were lengthening and Fall was in the air.
What is nice about this route is that you start at a reasonably high elevation (~4400 feet @ White Pass) and stay high until you drop down towards Walupt Lake. My recollection is that the high point (just shy of 7,200 feet) of the Washington portion of the Pacific Crest Trail is in Goat Rocks as you cross the north ridge coming off Old Snowy Mountain.
Another nice thing about the route are its wonderful views of three major Cascade volcanoes, Rainier. Adams and St. Helens.
Mt. Rainier is northwest; >>
<< Mt. Adams is almost due south;
And, Mt St Helens (pre-eruption) is southwest.
1971 must have been a heavy snow year as I remember that Goat Lake (a 3-mile side trip NNW from Snowgrass Flats) still had lots of snow on it despite it being just after Labor Day.
I also remember the abundant ripe blueberries growing along Nannie Ridge as we descended toward Walupt Lake.
