Leech Lake, Pacific Crest

Crossing the Bridge of the Gods into Washington, the landscape immediately shifts. Lakes dot the terrain, even if many stay hidden beyond the thick tree line. The trail winds westward, passing Ice House Lake first, then weaving through dense forest. Before long, it circles around Gillette Lake and skirts the west flank of Table Mountain. This is where the land tells a dramatic story—600 to 800 years ago, Table Mountain and Greenleaf Peak shed their southern faces, sending debris crashing down to dam the Columbia River.

This stretch of the PCT lies entirely within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, one of the country’s oldest. It spans a staggering 1.3 million acres, from the Columbia River to Mount Rainier National Park. Named after Gifford Pinchot, a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt and a pioneer in forest conservation, this protected land is a wild and rugged expanse of rivers, lakes, and peaks.

The trail enters Indian Heaven Wilderness first, a high plateau scattered with over 150 small lakes. Deer, elk, and chipmunks roam the area, while in late summer, the trailsides come alive with huckleberries, attracting black bears. Mount Adams Wilderness follows, a section dominated by the massive, glacier-capped peak of Mount Adams itself. It’s the second-highest mountain in Washington, and its sheer size is humbling. Though it hasn’t erupted since around 920 AD, the volcano is still considered active. It boasts 12 glaciers, with Adams Glacier being the second largest in the Cascade Range. Climbers tackle the peak by more than 25 different routes, with easier ascents on the south side. The north and west headwalls require serious technical skills, including crampons and ice axes. On clear days, the summit offers a breathtaking panorama of Cascade giants like St. Helens, Rainier, and Jefferson, to name a few.

The final wilderness on this stretch is Goat Rocks, named after the countless mountain goats that frequent the ridgeline. The PCT winds across Packwood Glacier, hugging exposed ridges with views that stretch for miles. Below, minerals like copper and lead once drew prospectors.

After a final climb over Hogback Mountain, the trail gradually descends through thickening forest, eventually arriving at Leech Lake near White Pass. Nestled within Wenatchee National Forest, this peaceful lake is a haven for fly fishers and an ideal spot for me to take a break.