Photographing in the Goat Rocks Wilderness
By David Cobb
The Goat Rocks are located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, between the Mt. Adams wilderness and Mt. Rainier National Park. The remnant of an old volcano which stood at over 12,000 feet is now an area of alpine scenery with many peaks over 8,000 feet. I’ve hiked through this area a few times before, but recently made a trip into the backcountry with my camera gear.
The Goat Rocks offers many beautiful trails and I decided on a loop beginning the trip at trail number 96. Connecting with the Pacific Crest Trail quickly put me in the high country and in position for some of the best photographic opportunities. On the way to the alpine country, I passed many of the best wildflower areas too such as Snowgrass Flats. The wildflowers were stunted this year due to a cool summer, so I’ll be back to photograph here another year.
The high country offers a number of knife ridges just off and along the Pacific Crest Trail. Camping near Packwood glacier allows views of the surrounding Cascade Mountains, like Adams, St. Helen’s and Rainier, and distant views of Glacier Peak and the North Cascades. A climb to the top of 7,930 Old Snowy in the early morning supplies views of many of the surrounding peaks and glaciers in this incredible wilderness.
Continuing on my loop, I stopped off at Goat Lake which is usually frozen into mid-August. Here is a fantastic spot to photograph the sunset of Old Snowy or sunrise reflections along the lake. This is also a good viewing area for mountain goats, and I spotted more than 40 in this area on my last trip. Marmots and Pika are common here too, and descending Goat Ridge I also came upon a wolverine on the trail.
Leaving Goat Lake early, I continued on my loop to photograph sunrise along Goat Ridge. The ridge stays high in the alpine scenery, but the valleys drop off immediately to reveal gaping views of the distant Mt. Adams. Descending from here, there are a few reflective tarns with views of St. Helens and the often cloudy valleys below. I completed my loop and my trip along trail 95 through woodlands and meadows, which offered wildflower macro opportunities. For photographing the peak of the wildflower bloom, a trip here in early to mid-August is the best time for backcountry photography.
Location: Mosier, Oregon
Website: www.dmcobbphoto.com
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As a long-distance hiker, I have sharpened my photographic perspective over the years on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide, the Canadian Divide and most recently walking across Iceland. My goal is to capture the wonders I see in nature for the enjoyment of all those with an eye for the extraordinary.
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