These two mountains are considered sentinels of the Goat Rocks. Located just North of Mount Curtis Gilbert, 8,184’, they provide amazing views of Mount Adams to the South and Mount Rainier to the North. The Snowgrass Flats Trailhead is located about 16.5 miles from the town of Packwood, WA on Highway 12 West of White Pass. Snowgrass Flats is a popular area, with the vehicles divided almost evenly between Oregon and Washington.

In about 4 miles the lower end of Snowgrass Flats is reached, and the first campsites. This late in the season there was very little water running. We continued up the Trail another mile to join the Pacific Crest Trail. Turning North we followed the PCT to 7,000’ where we found a suitable camp on the west ridge of Old Snowy Mountain. Smoke for fires obscured Mt. St. Helens to the Southwest.

Nearby was a permanent snowfield with cold fresh flowing water. At the end of the ridge was the remnant of the Packwood Glacier. At this point the PCT reaches it’s highest point in Washington, 7,200’! Many hikers of the PCT consider this to be one of the most beautiful sections of the entire Trail between Mexico and Canada. Other favorite sections are the sections between Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass, and the John Muir Trail through Yosemite. One fellow we talked to had started on April 25. He was now covering up to 30 miles a day. It was great fun talking with him.

The last sheltered area at 7,000'. Just beyond our camp is the high point of the PCT in Washington. That is Old Snowy Mountain behind Doerte.

As the sun set we watched the alpenglow on Adams and Rainier. Soon, millions of stars appeared. The Milky Way lit up the mountains. Mars, gradually getting farther from the Earth, was big, and the brightest object in the sky.

I got up at 4 am, and by headlamp traversed around the West slope of Old Snowy to the South Ridge. From there I followed the ridge a mile to the South to Ives Peak, passing a few interesting false summits along the way. Mostly class 2 with a bit of class 3. Ives Peak offered great views of the sunrise, but is rarely climbed.

Mount Curtis Gilbert is the peak on the left. Looking South from Ives Peak just after sunrise.

Returning to camp, Doerte and I ascended the Class 2 Trail to the summit of Old Snowy Mountain, 7,930’. A popular mountain, we met lots of nice folks on the small summit. Through field glasses we saw about 20 Mountain Goats. Old Snowy makes a great spring ski ascent after avalanche danger has passed.

16 Miles, 4,600’, 2 days.