MossReport

Descending Cispus Basin at dawn I took a completely gorgeous trip through the Goat Rocks today. This was a stunning walk through some beautiful high alpine country. I was lucky to have fairly clear views and good weather for most of the day. The skies were a bit hazy toward Rainier due to some fires but otherwise the views were spectacular. I had not expected to see so much absolutely sublime scenery. I started at 6:15am, descending cross-country through the meadow down to the PCT. I dipped water out of a giant waterfall which ran right across the trail. Then the trail meandered up and down in subalpine forest and across a talus field with a long hand-built rock wall. The trail ascended up into the one of the largest meadow systems I have ever seen. There was a profusion of blooms all around. In the cool early morning, everything was totally lovely. Looking back at Cispus Basin Mt. Adams The trail continued to climb, traversing below Mt. Ives and then every...

Walupt Lake in the distance During the night, the wind stopped, the flies stopped buzzing, and it was completely quiet. At about 2am, I heard a really loud sound, "whomp, whomp". It took a few moments as my heart was beating rapidly and the hair on my neck was standing up before I realized it was a bull frog. Later, around sunrise, I lay in my tent and listened for the first sounds of the day, the distant trills of calling birds. Several birds trilled back and forth until eventually the flies started buzzing again and drowned out the bird calls. I hit the trail at 6am, again trying to beat the heat. The climb up toward Sheep Lake and Cispus Pass started immediately. It was a pleasant climb, in the shade many sloping wildflower meadows along the way. I finally reached the pass at about 10am. I had to figure out what to do with the rest of my day, because this was my destination for camp! I had thought to maybe set up camp and try to climb one of the main peaks of the G...