This was a last minute trip to the Goat Rocks Wilderness. I hiked the Snowgrass - Goat Lake loop with a side trip up to Hawkeye Point. Since it was last minute I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go so I went solo. A shame since the weather was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better day.
I saw maybe 6 or 7 other people on the trail all day, rare for the Snowgrass Flat area on a nice weekend. At the lake I was pretty tired and was having reservations about doing the side trip up to Hawkeye Point, but once I got to Goat Ridge I decided to go for it and climbed the remaining 600-700 feet to gain the old lookout spot on Hawkeye Point. Above Goat Lake there was a herd of about 20 mountain goats. I watched and photographed them until they decided to move along. After I left the lake on my way up Goat Ridge I caught sight of the goats again, this time crossing a very steep patch of snow. Four or five of the goats seemed to lose control and slid several feet down the snow. I always thought goats to be sure footed but I guess in the snow, all bets are off.
During my hike I met a guy that told me about a shorter way to get home via the Skate Creek Rd. I took this route on my way home but it didn't seem much shorter to me. Maybe all the people leaving from Mount Rainier made the drive seem longer. I will definitely try this way again as it was more interesting than the route 7 way through Morton that I am accustomed to.
Panorama from Hawkeye Point
