PCT Section H, Episode 1: Goat Rocks & The Knife’s Edge

A 34.6, 6923 feet elevation gain hike through the Goat Rocks portion of Section H of the Pacific Crest Trail. The hike of the agora aRocks section started at White Pass PCT South Trailhead and ended a few miles south of the Walupt Lake Trail intersection.

[@zam6877]

Ridge walks are so amazing This was wonderful treat, thank you

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

Ridge walks are the best!

[@lcb9807]

Great description, and beautiful video takes. Perfect. You hike super fast!!!❤

[@509trailblazers5]

What a beautiful trail. So much non stop beauty

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

It was so amazing. So hard, but so worth it.

[@cq7415]

Beautiful scenery of Goat Rocks Wilderness and Knifes Edge trail part. Nice how you gave the mileages. Did August 6, 2022. Thanks for sharing.

[@ratta_tat]

Nice video! This section is in our backyard...so to speak. We live at the bottom of forest road 20. That little pond you camped at on Nannie ridge is a couple miles from where my friend and I saw the biggest cougar (and only one) I've ever seen. Haha.

[@kassiesmall3823]

I'm pretty sure I'm doing this section this summer. Great video!

[@tonyshikes]

Fantastic. Thanks Richard. Great video.

[@johnlynn8468]

I use his site and document key sites and water.....it is a hard hike

[@stevec2433]

what a fantastic (almost) end of summer!

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

It was next-level amazing. Really difficult, but so worth it.

[@tonyshikes]

Dang, just watched it again Richard. Your mileage counts from White Pass were soooo useful. Calling out possible tent sites along the way. I'm going to change my plans to do the "K" section (I was quite intimidated by the thought of it anyway) and break in my new boots on this section. I'll probably hit 'Walupt Lake' and then head back to White Pass. Wish I could go all the way to Rd. 23 but can't seem to arrange a shuttle back home. That's ok though. Experiencing the Goat Rocks will be well worth the trip.

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

There were good campsites at the Cispus River crossing, too. I wish I would have put more campsites into the video, but I just got tired. A person could easily make White Pass to Walupt Lake a single multi-day trip and Walupt to RD 23 as a separate multi-day trip. If you’re willing to drop your car at a trailhead and hike through to it, my wife and I could probably help out by driving you through to the other trailhead so you can hike to your car on the other end.

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

In other words, we could leave your car at either white pass or rd 23 and we could drop you off at the other trailhead.

[@tonyshikes]

@@richardswearingenoutdoors Wow, that's a very kind offer Richard. Thank you. But it didn't occur to me to leave my car and have someone shuttle me to the other end. I was envisioning a family member having to drop me off AND pick me up. Let me run this by some family members and I'll let you know. Thanks again, that's a kind offer.

[@sbdreamin]

my sister is about at this section, going NOBO right now. now I'm scared for her. There is no way I would feel comfortable on that section. Nope.

[@AcrylicGoblin]

What did she say about her experience? I'm concerned I'll have a panic attack and fall off the mountain.

[@CerealKiller187]

Hey Richard, in the initial section are you hiking up Coyote Trail from the Packwood Lake area?

[@ihikealot]

I watched Episode 1 & 2 for Section H of the PCT. Will you be posting video for the rest of the section? Really appreciate your videos. Very helpful!

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

Shooting to complete these next month. I’m going to re-hike the last 3 sections to shoot better video. I was only happy with what I shot in the Goat Rocks. My apologies.

[@DannyScheid]

What camera are you shooting on? Footage looks crystal clear and smooth

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

Thanks, Danny! Nothing fancy. I have been shooting with an iPhone 13 Pro Max using the wide angle lens most of the time because I feel like it matches most closely what I see when I hike. Both the iPhone 13 & 14 have mechanical image stabilization instead of digital, so the phone does a pretty good job by itself--but then I pair it with a gimble which really helps to keep the images smooth--it helps to keep one from panning too quickly. The gimble is small--barely big enough to handle the phone weight, so it is not too heavy. I also use a MOTIV MV88 iOS Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone with a windjammer, which works pretty nice for the sound. I know my videos when I first started this hobby were, well, pretty bad, lol!

[@whatthefunkwasithinking7645]

Thanks for the video!! I'm heading back to hike that section again and taking a buddy. I hiked it on my 2016 Thru-hike sobo and I'm curious, If you could hike it nobo or sobo, what would recommend for easier elevation gain? Thanks!

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

If you are doing the entire section from White Pass to Bridge of the Gods, SOBO for sure. If I were just going to do the Knifes Edge, I would come in from Snowgrass Flats.

[@whatthefunkwasithinking7645]

@@richardswearingenoutdoors Thanks!! We are headed up to Cascade Locks for PCT Trail Days Festival next weekend & then driving the backcountry as close to Mt. Adams as we can get for a few days hikes (any suggestions) and then up towards Goat Rocks. The ultimate goal is to find the less strenuous 35-50 mile loop that can crosses over the Knife's Edge. Any suggestions? Appreciate ya!!

[@OliverHikes]

What date was this?

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

It was August 5. The Goat Rocks is one of the last places to melt out.

[@OliverHikes]

@@richardswearingenoutdoors thanks, I’m planning a Goat Rocks loop starting July 28. Hopefully it will be mostly clear.

[@austinroeda4351]

What time of year did you make this video? What are the trail conditions like in the beginning of July?

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

I shot this video August 6, 2022, a high snow year. The Goat Rocks in early July, during any snow year, will still have significant snow on the trail.

[@austinroeda4351]

@@richardswearingenoutdoors Do you have any other recommendations of large sections of the PCT in Washington that would be a good 7 day trek at the beginning of July?

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

Section H, Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie pass is a touch over 70 miles with a ton of elevation gain. It is hike-able in July, usually, although you would still hit areas of snow but not like you would in the Goat Rocks. I knocked that section out in 3 days and it was a butt-kicker. I think most people I have seen make it a 6-7 day trip. If you try this one, it is easier to hike it southbound rather than northbound--less elevation gain in that direction. If I remember correctly, I think Tony Hikes has a pretty good set of videos for this one, although he hike it going northbound.

[@underdgk9]

What was the date of your hike?

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

The footage was shot August 6, 2022.

[@happycamperfamily]

Great video, loved the mileage counts. But, you are using the word "foreground" incorrectly. Every time you used it, you were actually referring to something in the background. Not trying to be a troll at all, just to help you with future videos. Also love that we hear you hiking and you don't cover your video with music soundtracksn

[@richardswearingenoutdoors]

I absolutely did make that error-I was thinking about it from a facing-the-camera perspective, but the viewer has the same perspective as me. I was editing the video when I realized the error and there was not much I could do to fix it-until I hike it again. Sometimes I put music in the background, but not usually. I generally prefer to have just the sounds of the hike with some exceptions. When I first started this hobby. I put music to everything. Live and learn.

[@happycamperfamily]

@@richardswearingenoutdoors Well, again, of all the pct videos we have watched, I enjoyed yours the most!

[@hiker-uy1bi]

Mileage sounds horrible. Takes away from scenic enjoyment in my experience.

[@gregorycickavage8503]

You need a go-pro.