[pct-l] Goat Rocks and ice axe

[danandgailsc at aol.com]

Gutsy hiked through there recently, reaching White Pass on Aug. 2.  She used trekking poles only.
 
There's a little story behind that, and I hope she doesn't mind my telling it.  She was mentally prepared for something far worse than what it actually turned out to be, and was so scared she felt like puking the night before doing one of the narrow ridges.  She prayed and asked God to send someone to help her across the ridge.  Sure enough, He sent a southbound Boy Scout group, and one of the leaders agreed to turn around and go back across with her.  She said "thank you" with a money donation to the Boy Scouts.
 
I think she said the ridge was snow-free.  
 
During Gutsy's section hike I have picked a couple of the choicest sections to do with her--300 miles in the High Sierras, and the Willamette Pass - Ashland stretch that includes Crater Lake.  My next choice would have been the Goat Rocks Wilderness.  I really wanted to experience that with her.  I even considered briefly the possibility of flying to Seattle, driving to White Pass and hiking about 1 day south and surprising her.  That would have been priceless.  I have surprised her on the trail so many times, and she said she found herself looking up the trail in the Goat Rocks area to see if I was coming.  Too bad, it didn't work out this time.  :(   But I was very happy when she phoned from White Pass.   :)
 
Gutsy's Dan
 

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Has anyone been through Goat Rocks recently?  Do I need to bring my ice axe or can I get by with my trusty trekking poles?
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