The next several miles flew by. Another cloudless day! Many campers found a place to camp on the peninsula between the two halves of Spectacle Lake, which was probably the right move to get great views at both sunrise and sunset. Pass through a small talus slope, staying at about 5400 feet of elevation for most of a mile, then dropping 150 feet to small Ridge Lake, beside the trail. Fitbit data: 45,380 steps, 466 floors. Then we walked over some ice before the next section of the forest. Jul 21, 2019 Private User Jul 14, 2019 Hannah. The lot was completely full, but after 30 minutes of waiting, someone left and I took their spot. Recommend continuing past the catwalk to see some views! I then held a piece in my fingers to see what would happen; one of the birds immediately flew onto my hand, grabbed the food, sat for a few seconds, and then flew away. These are Ridge Lake and Gravel Lake. In high runoff, there is not enough room to avoid minor splashing. There's a second lake nearby called Gravel Lake that is much less accessible as a water source and, as its name suggests, does not offer any campsites due to steep fields of scree surrounding its perimeter. Share. The extra mileage would have been better spent later in the trip for summitting peaks or exploring the Glacier Lake junction. The best feature that the Alpine Lakes Wilderness has to offer is that for most trails, with the exception of a handful of extremely popular routes (I'm looking at you, Enchantments), advanced reservations are not required. A pair of trail runners came by and gave us a tip that if we added a mile to our journey north and linked up with the Pacific Crest Trail, there were bridges we could take that would avoid the creek crossing. When we got to Spectacle Lake, it was PACKED since it was Labor Day Weekend. Yes - FAR worth it. Le sentier offre plusieurs activits et sa meilleure utilisation est de juin septembre. Heres a screen shot of where my camping spot was: Based on the condition of my knees, I knew there was no way I could do 55 more miles. There is one traverse of a small talus field (7.3 miles). On this particular day, with bright sun in the sky, I saw some people up ahead looking towards the hill. I caught and passed a few on the way up to Kendall Katwalk, which took just over two hours. One of our group members decided to explore the lesser-traveled path northward and later told us that it was a fun scramble that cut out 0.5 miles of distance. The viewpoint at Kendall Katwalk was unbelievable. All Rights Reserved. 10 minutes later I was on the trail, it was noon and the weather was spectacular. Sunrise from the Katwalk Sunrise from the Katwalk with the 4 Brothers in the background Sunrise on Red Mountain By 6:30am we were ready to start hiking. " Jackie Clark OpenMapTiles OSM 12.2 Miles Out and Back 5,420' High 3,038' Low 2,621' Up 2,620' Down 8% Avg Grade (5) 20% Max Grade (12) Toolbox REMINDER: the US Forest Service typically does not use their permit system to perform search and rescues for lost hikers. Tiene un lago y es calificado como difcil. After building the trail up to the ridge, Warren and his crew installed camp in the summer of 1976 at Gravel Lake, just north of what would become the Katwalk. We saw a lot of vibrant purple wildflowers blooming in this section, which I later learned was Fireweed. I gathered a group of 5 together for a backpacking trip on Labor Day weekend with skill levels ranging from 2nd time backpacking to backpacked every weekend this summer. Both have vault toilets. We enjoyed a nice breakfast at camp as we waited for the sun to rise over the surrounding mountains and cast its warm rays on our tent. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Let me tell you -- the creek was ICE COLD, but we had already committed. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud. Rainier provides the backdrop for Mt. There is no public transportation to get there from Seattle area. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. There's a small section of the Katwalk that is a sheer dropoff on both sides where we got a full 360 view of the mountain. Enjoy!! A section of the trail had been scarred by a wildfire a season or two ago and had already started to see a regrowth of its understory. more, Woodinville Wine & Snoqualmie Falls: All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour from Seattle, Luxury Leavenworth Day Trip through the Cascade Mountains, Haunted Seattle Ghost and Pub Walking Tour, Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour, Half-Day Guided Tour of Seattle City and Snoqualmie Falls, 20-Minute Narrated Seattle Seaplane Flight from Lake Washington, Visit Snoqualmie Falls and Hike to Twin Falls, Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass Combination Ticket, Skip the Line: Sky View Observatory Admission Tickets. While we never got to enjoy Glacier Lake, we enjoyed views of Park Lake to the south after reaching the junction. top 100 companies in cameroon. You are always responsible for informing trusted friends and family about your planned route and planned date of return. After climbing up and over the ridge near Kendall Peak, we passed through the Kendall Katwalk, a short, narrow pathway blasted out of the steep cliffside. Starting at Snoqualmie Pass, follow the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) first through forest then climbing to a scenic ridge crest and then along Kendall Katwalk, one of the most impressive walks on the Washington state portion of the PCT. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins. Take lots of water, you will need it!! Go Hiking Trip Reports Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, Kendall Katwalk, Gravel Lake - Ridge Lake, Spectacle Lake, Deep Lake, Peggy's Pond, Surprise and Glacier Lakes I sat in class drawing cartoons to make the time pass. Rainer. I knew it was going to be a push, but I was feeling good. We took off our shoes and socks, then tied them to our packs. At 3.6 miles, the trail "splits", and can be deceiving; as you exit the woods and come out into the open, you can climb some rocks in front of you, and continue on, or go to the right, which remains a nice dirt path. Skip navigation Sign in. I hit the head on the way out of the campground. 4 reviews of Kendall Katwalk "Finally hiked the Katwalk after hearing so many good things about it. Just ahead of Alaska Mountain, we found a white-furred marmot hanging out on the scree. Oct 9, 2014 - If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, thats part of it. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in February. The route was a great visual sampler of alpine lakes and mountains with each view better than the next. | Download for iOS | Download for Android, If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, thats part of it. These Photos Prove It. 19 miles in 8 hours with some significant descents. View PCT Snoqualmie to Pete Lake Image Gallery - 22 Images. I guess that's the cost of not needing advanced reservations; campsites were a free-for-all. We saw the first people on the whole trip at Spectacle Lake. You are now following near the Pacific Crest. Its pretty cool. We dashed through the creek as quick as we could and found ourselves on warm solid ground on the other bank. Heading up towards Park Lake, I grabbed this photo of Spectacle Lake with some amazing peaks in the background. Day 3 . June 3, 2022 . As I sat and pulled out my sandwich, birds took a sudden interest; these are the infamous "Grey Jays", or more appropriate "camp robbers", known for their tendency to readily walk off with edible items whenever they surround a camp site. We missed the summer flowers, which we hear are magnificent. Log in and send us Despite being much less popular, the shortcut shaved off a mile and routed us away from another stretch of scree. The trail can be lost here; watch for where it dodges sharply to the right, sometimes hidden in shadows. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/kendall-katwalk, https://www.wta.org/site_images/hikes/0-dsc_3354-kendall-katwalk.jpg/@@download/image/Kendall Katwalk. to the Katwalk The amazing views made it so worth while enduring the climb to the top! We hit Lemah Creek shortly after Pete Lake. If you're going in the hot summer months, make sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of water. Climb two more switchbacks under Kendall Peak (5.6 mi, 5100 ft) and at the 5400 feet summit, turn due east. The creek was flowing shin-deep water with no easy rock hop or log crossing around it. At 5784 feet, the northernmost peak is the highest and the most visited. Draper Mermet E Screen. Round trip from Ridge & Gravel Lakes is 13 miles and 4,550 feet of elevation gain with a high point of 5,400 ft. Start of unmaintained scramble to the top of Kendall peak. This stretch is dangerous when snow is still on the trail as it drops off steeply to the west side. This makes the Alpine Lakes Wilderness the perfect destination for spontaneous backpacking trips or backpacking with large groups. Above a certain altitude, it's common to find scree fields, fields of loose rock in mountainous regions of the Pacific Northwest. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. kendall katwalk to spectacle lake. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. After a short break, and a snack, I trudged forward, as the path led around open curves, and beautiful vistas of the valley and ridges that surrounded the path. Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Snoqualmie Ranger District (MBSNF), The experience scramble is a one day field trip where actual summits are attempted and, Difficulty: Strenuous, Technical 3, Strenuous 4, A conditioning hike to help prepare and train for backpack trips, longer backpack trips, glacier, CHS hike led at a CHS 2 pace (2.0-3.0 mph), Trip will initially open to Tacoma Branch Conditioning Hiking Students. 99% of travelers recommend this experience. Total distance (Round Trip) 12 miles to the Katwalk and 14.5 miles if go to two beautiful lakes beyond the Katwalk. 0. Otro sitio realizado con kendall katwalk to spectacle lake Leave the trail just before the catwalk to scramble to the summit of Kendall Peak. A Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent is required. July, and still some snow on the top. Top Things to Do in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington: See Tripadvisor's 721 traveller reviews and photos of Snoqualmie Pass tourist attractions. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Once full, these logbooks are archived at the University of Washington. When I take this route again, I'll be avoiding federal holidays. Gravel Lake - Ridge Lake - 15.2 Miles Round-Trip Gravel Lake is located 7.6 miles from the Pacific Crest Trailhead, just off Exit 52 on I-90 west of Snoqualmie Pass. Search. This area is known as Kendall Gardens due to seasonal massive wildflower displays. Keep one eye on the rubble at the bottom of the cliffs hundreds of feet below. From a camp at Ridge or Gravel Lake, you can day hike about 2 miles round trip to Alaska Mountain or over eight miles round trip to the scenic Needle Site Gap. At the end of the off ramp, turn north and within 100 meters there is a dirt road on the right. But here, the real magic begins. There are blueberries in late August and September. From Kendall Katwalk, hike another 1.5 miles to Ridge and Gravel Lakes for a longer day hike or a nice backpacking trip and day hike access to Alaska Mountain and the scenic Needle Site Gap. The only human influences up there were the other campers (sparse) and an occasional plane that flew overhead. When we got to Pete Lake, we decided to take a snack break. It's pretty cool. This is Park Lake. But I kept going. The hike is most well-known for a section that has [] The trail to the Katwalk begins in the mixed fir and hemlock that quickly yield to thick patches of huckleberry and salmonberry flanking the path. Gravel Lake is the larger of the two and is a slightly greater drop from the saddle between them that the Pacific Crest Trail passes through. Most of the available campsites were on hard rock, which did not accommodate our, There's a reason it's called Spectacle Lake. Day 2. We left camp bright and early the next day. In 0.1 turn right onto an unmarked road with a sign stating the need for a Northwest Forest Pass to park. Many backpackers have been to one of Washington State's three iconic National Parks, but the routes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness are often overlooked. This is the entrance to the famous Kendall Katwalk. On August 28, 2016, I packed up WAY too much gear and headed to the PCT parking lot on Snoqualmie Pass. The Kendall Katwalk is a hike along the Pacific Crest Trail from Snoqualmie Pass to reach the Kendall Katwalk. If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, thats part of it. We saw a bear foraging for berries, picas, mountain vistas, streams. I guess that's the cost of not needing advanced reservations; campsites were a free-for-all. I set up my tent, filtered water out of the lake and ate some dinner. Then its 0.5 miles on switchbacks below Kendall Peak to a mini Katwalk with new views of Red Peak and beyond (6.1 miles, 5380 ft). It was my first "encounter" of one of these animals, just another discovery in a series of adventures. You can see that there are some portions of the trail that are a bit exposed. Leaders should print and copy this designation letter to show rangers they may see on trail or carry a digital copy on their phone. The Kendall Katwalk hike is about a twelve mile round-trip stretch along the Pacific Crest Trail, with the trailhead at Snoqualmie Pass. Though a bit of a scramble beset with loose rock, the path is fairly well defined and easy to follow. I cant imagine trying to find it in any snow conditions. Ski resorts have a different personality in summer. If you enjoy hiking, this is certainly one you should put on your list. This is a popular hike so get there early or you might be walking with quite a few other folks. View of the Kendall Katwalk Gravel Lake Ridge Lake 207S map, Buy the Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. Look down on Guye Peak and the Pass to the west and the shores of Keechelus Lake to the east. Then shortly the road splits. We wanted to get to Gravel Lake to camp and watch the sunset from the Kendall Katwalk on our way. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Apparently these beautiful flowers are some of the first plants to regrow after a wildfire in North America - isn't nature awesome? Ridge Lake is to the east and Alaska Lake is visible below Ridge Lake. Kendall Katwalk The Kendall Katwalk is a nice moderate hike within easy reach of Seattle, only about an hour to the trail head. It had been used A LOT this summer. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Snoqualmie Region. The route between Spectacle Lake and the Glacier Lake junction saw rolling hill, with some sustained uphill sections. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins. Rainier, fitting between the cracks of the pinnacles of Kendall Peaks. No water is available at the trailhead. So, I packed up my gear (again, WAY too heavy) and headed back up towards Park Lake. As we waited for our gear to dry, we enjoyed morning calisthenics and watched neighboring campers swim and kayak in the lake. Our group, already exhausted from over ten miles of backpacking that day, decided to take our chances with the creek crossing. We met a lot of folks equally confused and wondering if theyd somehow missed the infamous Katwalk. Uncategorized. Trip will open for registration, **Preference given to Olympia Branch Conditioning Hiking Series participants. At 2.25 miles, a small waterfall on the steep uphill side of the trail alerts you to the stream crossings ahead. Wildflower displays are generally best in August after the snow is gone. Friday was quite brisk with hard blowing mist especially along the shale trail below Chikamin. The "katwalk" is found where the trail narrows to a thin ridge, featuring steep rocky slopes along either side of the path. I put on microspikes by the switchbacks. We took a break in the blueberry fields at Eagle Lake to snack and refresh our water supply. While this section of trail is not particularly steep, it is 2.6 miles long and can feel especially long if you are tired on the way down and were thinking the day is over at the waterfall. The hike to Pete Lake is an easy 4.5 miles with 450 feet of elevation gain and is essentially a continuation of the Cooper River Trail near Snoqualmie Pass. We dutifully filled out our names while idly wondering how many of these wed missed on previous hikes. Chikamin Ridge. We started off our journey by meeting up with our party at the Kendall Katwalk trailhead. by. It looked pretty great, and I figured I could get there in about an hour. This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips The trail was full of people heading home. Up to this point we had complete solitude. Dynamite was used to blast this portion of trail out of the granite mountainside. Looking at this for hours is not a bad thing. Continue up and to the right on the Pacific Crest Trail. (Maybe Ill take a few more days and only do 15 miles per day)! Sign up for Outside+ today. Many campers found a place to camp on the peninsula between the two halves of Spectacle Lake, which was probably the right move to get great views at both sunrise and sunset. To get there, take the Snoqualmie West exit off I90 and head North where there is a large parking lot and a dry toilet. Catherine and Silver Peak. On the left is the horse trailer and overflow lot. For the final section of the trail, we took a small shortcut that branched off from the Pacific Crest Trail directly to the Kendall Katwalk trailhead. The approach is long, never leaving the hum and scattered views of I-90 until around 2 1/2 miles. The Kendall Katwalk Trail is actually a part of the world famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which runs 2,650 miles from the border of Mexico in the south to the border of Canada in the north.