Asars - Day Hiking Mount Adams & Goat Rocks Wilderness

Green hillsides make a stunning foreground near Tatoosh Peak as Mount Rainier looks on from afar.

Wildflowers display a quilt of seasonal color on the Cowiche Mountain Loop.

Lupine thrive in the moist soil near Deer Lake.

A fly enjoys a meal of nectar on a Sitka valerian flower in Bird Creek Meadows.

A sea of green along the trail in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest demonstrates a very healthy ecosystem.

With a keen eye and a quiet gait you may spot mountain bluebirds on the east side of the Cascade Crest.

From the rocky summit of Hamilton Buttes, hikers are treated to vast landscape views.

Fall foliage adds a splash of mauve to trailside greens near Cougar Lake.

Jeffrey shooting star flowers are common in the moist soils of Indian Heaven Wilderness.

Sunlight through the trees in Indian Heaven gives a foggy morning a divine feeling.

The short green-so-much-it-hurts trail to Camp Creek Falls presents a very Northwest landscape.

DAY HIKING

Mount Adams
and Goat Rocks

Indian Heaven Yakima Area White Pass

by Tami Asars

Mountaineers Books is the publishing division of The Mountaineers, an organization founded in 1906 and dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and enjoyment of outdoor and wilderness areas. 1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134 800.553.4453, www.mountaineersbooks.org

Copyright 2014 by Tami Asars

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

Distributed in the United Kingdom by Cordee, www.cordee.co.uk

First edition, 2014

Copy Editor: Julie Van Pelt

Layout: Jennifer Shontz, www.redshoedesign.com

Cartographer: Pease Press Cartography

Cover photograph: Meadows bursting with wildflowers accompany hikers near Goat Lake in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

Frontispiece: Red huckleberries add a vibrant hue to the ghost trees on Coal Creek Mountain.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Asars, Tami.

Day hiking: Mount Adams and Goat Rocks / by Tami Asars.

pages cm

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-59485-764-5 (pbk.) ISBN 978-1-59485-765-2 (ebook)

1. HikingWashington (State)Mount Adams WildernessGuidebooks. 2. HikingWashington (State)Goat Rocks WildernessGuidebooks. 3. Mount Adams Wilderness (Wash.)Guidebooks. 4. Goat Rocks Wilderness (Wash.)Guidebooks. I. Title.

GV199.42.W22M639 2014

796.5109797dc23

2013048308

Maps shown in this book were produced using National Geographic TOPO!

Printed on recycled paper

ISBN (paperback): 978-1-59485-764-5

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-59485-765-2

A California quail poses on the Yakima Skyline Trail.

A trail of wildflowers shows hikers the way to Sheep Lake.

There is no way the pages of this book could contain the amount of thankfulness I have for the people who have graced my life and helped me follow my dreams. First and foremost, Id like to thank my husband, Vilnis, who, while I was away from home, spent an entire summer eating frozen meals, being a bachelor, caring for our aging dog, Summit, and suffering through my tales of backcountry bliss and challenges. A whole book could be written about the wild encounters and places I experienced while writing this guide, and he listened to every single story. This book and my dreams were fulfilled through his love and support.

The list of friends, family, and neighbors who support me and share my passions is too large to list, but you know who you are. Im honored to have you in my life. Id also like to thank the many people I met while researching this book, who went from complete strangers to trusted friends. Together we hiked the hills, bumped up forest roads to hidden trails, laughed endlessly, and connected our spirits through the love of wild places. Among these friends is hiking legend, gentle spirit, and inspiration Herb Schmidt, as well as hiking animal Jerry Kobes. Your hospitality meant the world to me.