Day 7: Woody Pass to Holman Pass

On the seventh day of our backpacking trek, we continued south on the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking from Woody Pass to Holman Pass, and checked out the great views from Rock Pass on the way, with a bonus meadow full of wildflowers.

We woke up late that morning, and didn’t really care. We only had six miles or so to hike, and most of it was downhill. There was one section where we had to climb 600 feet or so, in order to reach Rock Pass, but that wasn’t much of anything to worry about, so we decided to have a proper breakfast before getting started. The sun was already rising, and, as usual, it didn’t strike the tent until we were already packed. Once in a while it would be nice to get a sunbeam that would warm the tent on a chilly morning, but not today.

Our tent was still damp in the morning at Woody Pass while we packed up for an easy day of hiking

Vicki next to my shadow as we leave camp at Woody Pass, heading south on the PCT toward Rock Pass — Vicki next to my shadow as we left camp, heading south toward Rock Pass

The first part of the hike was fun. We went downhill on some switchbacks until we got below the scree on the side of Powder Mountain, then proceeded due south. When we hiked here a few days ago it was raining and gray and dismal, but today it was sunny and wonderful. The flowers were blooming and the sky was blue.

Holman Peak in shadow, with Rock Pass, center, and the PCT traverses across that slope, but below the scree — Holman Peak in shadow, with Rock Pass, center – the PCT traverses across that slope, but below the scree

This looks like the same marmot we saw in the rain a few days ago when we passed by heading north

Vicki on the Pacific Crest Trail high above the Rock Creek Valley as we hike from Woody Pass to Rock Pass — Vicki on the trail, high above the Rock Creek Valley

When we passed the midpoint of the long traverse, the trail began to climb again. Vicki groaned and plodded on. She used her spray mister to keep cool, until we reached the tiny flow of Rock Creek, where she huddled down near the water and wet her head. She also soaked her shirt in the water, and whooped out loud when she put it back on! But it almost instantly refreshed her, as she knew it would. After that, climbing the long switchbacks up to Rock Pass was far more enjoyable.

Vicki soaked her head in the tiny flow of the headwaters of Rock Creek, just below Rock Pass, on the PCT — Vicki soaked her head in the tiny flow of the headwaters of Rock Creek, just below Rock Pass

The fireweed flowers were blooming everywhere on the slope below Rock Pass, with Woody Pass in the distance — The fireweed flowers were blooming everywhere on the slope below the pass

Long switchbacks on the PCT ascending toward Rock Pass, with Powder Mountain on the far right — Long switchbacks on the final ascent of Rock Pass, with Powder Mountain on the far right

When we summited the pass, we stopped for a short break. It was nice to remove the heavy packs. Mine was still heavy, even though two thirds of the food was already eaten. Nine days of food for two people weighs more than you think! After that, we took our final look down into the Rock Creek valley and said goodbye to Woody Pass, then continued onward, leaving the Okanogan National Forest and entering the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.

We made it up to the summit of Rock Pass and took an extended break - the rest of the day would be downhill — We made it up to the summit and took an extended break – the rest of the day would be downhill

Panorama view from Rock Pass looking northeast, with Woody Pass, Three Fools Creek, and the Rock Creek valley — Panorama view looking northeast, with Woody Pass, Three Fools Peak, and the Rock Creek valley

Walking along the top of Rock Pass on the PCT, with Holman Peak on the left - we would be hiking down to the right — The summit of Rock Pass, with Holman Peak on the left – we would be hiking down to the right

We were looking forward to this next section of trail. Not only was it downhill, it also traversed across a wonderful high meadow full of grasses and wildflowers. We hadn’t expected to see a meadow up this high, and it was truly one of the gems of this trek.

Panorama view from Rock Pass on the PCT with Shull Mountain (right) and the Canyon Creek valley, below — Panorama view southwest, with Shull Mountain (right) and the Canyon Creek valley, below

Heading south from Rock Pass on the PCT, with the big meadow full of wildflowers up ahead — Heading south, with the big meadow full of wildflowers up ahead

Close-up of a black and white butterfly with orange spots on a purple aster flower, from the PCT below Rock Pass — Close-up of a black and white butterfly with orange spots on a purple aster flower

The first part was in the higher, drier meadow, but then we began to get into the wetter parts, where new flowers were abundant. Different plants were adapted to specific types of soil and moisture, so that in one spot there would be purple asters, in another lupines, while other spots might have yellow daisies or tall, waving fireweed flowers.

Looking back north toward Powder Mountain and Rock Pass (center) as we head into the big meadow — Looking back north toward Powder Mountain and Rock Pass (center) as we hiked into the big meadow

The main campsite in the big meadow south of Rock Pass was just below us in that grove of pine trees — The main campsite in the big meadow was just below us in that grove of pine trees

In the middle of the meadow was a large campsite, suitable for many tents. Nobody was there when we arrived, so Vicki and I decided to eat our lunch on a well-used log. We had time, so we ate one of our better lunches there, with single-serve packets of chicken and salmon spread on a soft flour tortilla. Yum!

We took a lunch break in the campsite at the big meadow between Rock Pass and Holman Pass — We took a lunch break in the campsite between Rock Pass and Holman Pass

This lunch was special for Vicki - pink salmon on a flour tortilla — This lunch was special for Vicki – pink salmon on a flour tortilla

While we were eating, a fast northbound PCT hiker arrived and told us the latest news: Harts Pass Road was closed! That thunderstorm we saw last night dumped a ton of rain over there and washed out parts of the road. She told us that we’d have to hike an extra twenty miles to get down to Mazama, and that there were a bunch of campers in cars that were stranded. We groaned. We told her that we were one of those cars! Well, this was exciting news, indeed. We also realized that there was absolutely nothing that we could do about it. We wouldn’t be back to Harts Pass for two more days. Maybe they’d get the road fixed by then. Meanwhile, we would stick to our current plan and hope for the best.

After that, we put on our packs and continued down across the meadow. We looked up with renewed appreciation at today’s batch of rapidly growing cumulus clouds. Would one of these wash out the road even worse? We didn’t know. But our immediate hope was that they wouldn’t wash us out today!

Cumulus clouds began building to the south over Canyon Creek, as we headed down the long slope to Holman Pass — Cumulus clouds began building to the south over Canyon Creek, as we headed down the long slope

The trail dropped down into a forested zone below the meadow, and we hiked along under the soft and quiet trees. Soon enough, we heard the sound of water up ahead. This was Goat Lakes Creek, and it was the last water before Holman Pass. We filled up our two gallon jugs and resigned ourselves to carrying them with us for the next mile into camp. Oh well. At least it was downhill! We kept on moving, as it became obvious that the clouds were getting far too large and dark. We really needed to get our tent set up soon.

We collected water from Goat Lakes Creek and carried it for over a mile to our camp at Holman Pass — We collected water from Goat Lakes Creek and carried it for over a mile to our waterless camp

We rounded the corner to the east and saw Holman Pass in front of us, with more cumulus clouds building up — We rounded the corner to the east and saw Holman Pass in front of us

Looking southwest down Canyon Creek from the Pacific Crest Trail north of Holman Pass — View southwest down Canyon Creek, where the clouds were building ominously

We felt a couple of sprinkles on the final switchback that led to the pass, so we hustled as fast as we could. We entered the campsite and met two men who arrived just before us. Naturally, they got first choice of spots. But that was OK as they didn’t pick the good spot we enjoyed last time we were there. We double-checked the slope of the site for proper drainage and got out the tent right away, leaving our backpacks under a sheltering pine tree. We set up the tent and began stuffing our gear inside, and putting our backpacks underneath the vestibules of the tent. I stood outside and blew up the two air mattresses while Vicki waited inside. She was tasked with getting the bed set up. I took one final picture and got inside. Safe and dry!

We arrived at the trail junction of the PCT and PNT at Holman Pass, and turned right toward the campsite

The clouds were building and it started drizzling so we set up the tent as fast as possible, at Holman Pass — When we arrived in camp it started drizzling so we set up the tent as fast as possible

At this point we were glad we already had our water nearby, in case we got stuck in the tent for a long time. If we had to, we could cold-soak our freeze-dried meal. But maybe it wouldn’t be necessary. Suddenly, the rain started pounding down and thunder began booming! We saw flashes of lightning through the tent fabric, and the crack of the thunder was almost immediate! This storm was right on top of us. And then it began to hail! It was impressive, let me tell you. The air got colder and we got out the goose down quilt. We stuck our legs and feet underneath, and put on our down jackets and gloves. After a quick check for leaks in the four corners of the tent, we got out our books and read for a while. Hunkering down can be fun if you want it to be!

We decided to stay in the tent while it rained, and Vicki finally took out the fantastic braid that hiker Z had created — We hunkered down in the tent while it rained, and Vicki finally took out the fantastic braid that hiker Z had created

It rained a LOT that afternoon, and left large puddles in the campsite at Holman Pass - our neighbors stayed dry, too — It rained a LOT that afternoon, and left large puddles in the campground – our neighbors stayed dry, too

The rain lasted for well over an hour, even though the hail was long since done. Plus, there were pine trees dripping everywhere. We decided that it was better to take a nap in the tent, and cook dinner later on. And that’s what we did. When we finally poked our heads back out, other hikers had arrived and set up camp. They had gotten drenched while hiking, and were now putting on dry clothing. We could see where the flooding occurred in the campsite, and which spots were the bad ones that formed puddles.

There was a puddle behind our tent, but luckily we set it up in a good spot at Holman Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail — There was a puddle behind our tent, but luckily we set it up in a good spot

Then we cooked our meal and sat around talking with the other hikers. The big news was the Harts Pass Road closure, of course. I wondered if the people trapped up at the pass would raid our car food (stored in the bear box) when they started starving to death. I decided that it would be OK, provided that they at least waited until they were truly starving and not just vaguely hungry. We all figured that they’d begin the repairs right away. I know that Vicki and I sure hoped they did.

The campsite was soggy enough, and crowded enough, that we decided to hit the sack early. We had about two thousand feet of climbing to do tomorrow, and Vicki had every intention of waking up in the dark once again, to get the jump on the sun and its heat. This was OK by me. I set my alarm, and then we snuggled together under the quilt. It was nice to be together in a warm, dry tent. We talked about the day, about how beautiful the flowers had been, and about the hailstorm. And then we fell asleep.

For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page

For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page

<< Back to Day 6 Onward to Day 8 >>

Up to “Pacific Crest Trail”

<< Back to Day 6 Onward to Day 8 >>

Share this:

Like this: