Kendall Katwalk, WA

Kendall Katwalk, WA - 10/2013

If you want to hike Kendall Katwalk this year, you may still have a chance before the next summer. The Katwalk is snow free as of Oct. 26, 2013, thanks to all the sunny weather in the highlands above the fog for the last few weeks. But, the window of opportunity depends on how long the mild fall weather will sustain. Kendall Katwalk was one of my bucket list hikes for the last few years, so I'm glad I could do this hike this time before the hiking season phases out. This is a spectacular hike with breathtaking vistas of towering mountains and traversing a sheer cliff - the Katwalk. The trail is well maintained and gradual ascent although it's a bit long hike - 11 miles RT and 2,700 feet gain. I saw quite a few trekkers running on the trail, about a dozen or so. The trail must be a great workout spot for runners. About 0.5 miles before you reach the Katwalk, there are a few stretches of icy snow you have to cross (trekking poles are recommended)....enjoy a little thrill. Muddy spots, creek crossing, water falls and mossy forest with lots of mushrooms are your company until the trail breaks open into meadows - Kendall Gardens. Be inspired with the spectacular mountain views all along from there to the Katwalk...Mt. Rainier, Mt. Stuart, Red Mountain and other N. Cascades peaks you are familiar with. After crossing the Katwalk, you can keep trekking along PCT deep farther north into wilderness if you want, or turn around to the way you came from. The fall weather was perfect today, and the hike was SUPER! Fall foliage is about to end its display now.

How to get there:

From Seattle drive I-90 to exit 52 (signed for Snoqualmie Pass west). At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left (north) and cross under the freeway. In about 100 yards, turn right onto a dirt road leading into the PCT trailhead. Northwest Forest Pass required to park at trailhead.

Roundtrip	11.0 miles
Elevation Gain	2700 ft
Highest Point	5400 ft

 

Lake Ingalls, WA

Lake Ingalls, WA - 10/2013

This is one amazing hike and pristine wilderness you can experience if you want everything in one hike, particularly now to view fantastic golden fall colors of larches. This week may be the last chance to catch that. You can read other trip reports on Lake Ingalls for details which I found useful for my trip. Hence, my trip report is to be short and simple, and just to say TWO THUMBS UP! The hike also offers a variety of terrains to hike along (forest, water falls, switchbacks, traversing saddles, scrambling) and various vegetation/rock formations with grand vistas of mountain peaks all along until you reach Lake Ingalls. Be ready to drop your jaw as you trek up switchbacks and magnificent Mt. Stuart greets you at the pass....Wow! The snow is already 1 -2 feet deep over the pass, but you can follow well packed snow trail to reach the tarn. Route finding and ascending to the lake may be a bit tricky part of the way due to the snow. The snow was slushy when I started the switchback section around 1pm. Trekking poles are useful, and calculate the starting/returning time of your hike for the snow's slippery condition. I started a bit late around noon, reached the lake by 2:30, and trek back to my car a little after 5pm. If I had started earlier, I would have had more leisure time at the lake. It took me 3 hrs to get to the trailhead from Seattle. The last 10 miles of the unpaved road to TH are full of potholes (some are huge and deep!), so just go slow and take it easy. I highly recommend this hike. Feed your soul with all the spectaculars!

  

How to get there:

From Seattle drive east on I-90 to East Cle Elum, exit 85. Cross over the freeway overpass and turn right (northbound) on State Route 970. Cross the Teanaway River bridge, and in another mile turn left onto Teanaway Road. Drive north on Teanaway Road, veering right as it becomes first the North Fork Teanaway Road and then unpaved Forest Road 9737 at 29 Pines Campground. Continue to the road's end.

Roundtrip	9.0 miles
Elevation Gain	2500 ft
Highest Point	6500 ft

 

 

Camp Muir, WA - Third Ascent

Last Sunday I aimed at my third ascent to Camp Muir (10,100') - base camp for scaling Mt. Rainier (14,400'). It started out with a gorgeous blue sky, but when we reached above 7,000' near Pebble Creek, the notorious mountain cloud started to roll in....Mt. Rainier forms its own clouds at any time regardless of weather...."whiteout". Also, wind picked up and temperature dropped quickly.  But, we judged it would be safe to continue to ascend as other hikers kept going up and down as well....the visibility was about 100' - 200', depending on clouds density.  Wildflowers were abundant all over displaying beautiful colors along the trail....the very reason many people visit Mt. Rainier during this time of the year and autumn. In fact, I've seen a tourist strolling with her high heels on along the paved trail, no kidding! The views from Camp Muir was awesome and even magically austere with clouds rolling in before our eyes. It was a great hike with a little adventure as we breathed deep the thin air into above 10,000'.

Round trip	10 miles
Elevation Gain	4,600 ft
Highest Point	10,100 ft

"Mount Rainier contains the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings."  - John Muir -

*Click to view large.

 John Muir and his climbing party at summit of Mt. Rainier, 1888.

(Properties of Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries)

Sauk Mountain - WA

Sauk Mountain - Recently I read about this hike and was intrigued.  Drive up to trailhead at 4,000 ft on the rather rough forest road - pot holes and wash board.....but, no worries, you don't need a SUV, carefully driving, though.  The trail is short - 4.5 miles RT, and only 1,200 ft gain.  However, be well prepared for the steady elevation gain up on the very steep face of Sauk Mountain.  Also, the trail faces to west/south, which means you have to fight with the direct sun when it's sunny. So, bring plenty of water and sun screen.   The day I went was cloudy, so it was cool and comfortable....and luckily bugs were quiet!  The views at the summit were cloud covered, but I found it mystically beautiful and enchanting....crags, wild flower meadows and emerald green Sauk Lake are among Sauk Mountain's beauties. While clouds lingered to hide the spectacular mountain vistas (Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak and N. Cascades), a special treat was lots of wildflowers and marmots!  I saw at least four friendly marmots along the trail. 

It's a rather long drive from Seattle (3 hrs), but worthwhile for going to Sauk Mountain - great getaway for breathtaking mountain views, wild flowers and making friends with marmots in this short hike.

Round trip	4.2 miles
Elevation Gain	1190 ft
Highest Point	5537 ft

 

Mailbox Peak, WA

No Pain, no gain. That fits Mailbox Peak. My second ascent since 2010. It's a butt kicker and thigh burner, no doubt. This hike is one of the steepest hikes in N. Cascades - 3 miles and 4100 ft gain. How does it sound?  Feel challenged, or intimidated? You'll be surprised to see so many hikers go up there...trail gets crowded. Often on weekend you find the parking lot full.  It's a bit crazy hike, though, the rewards at the top make it all worthwhile.....spectacular 360 views and wildflowers. And remember, once you reach the summit, you have to descend the same steep trail. Hiking poles are a must for this hike. There is a mailbox at the summit as the mountain is called Mailbox Peak.  5 mile long new trail is under construction now, so you won't have to be intimidated by the elevation gain soon!


Round trip:       6.0 miles
Elevation Gain:  4100 ft
Highest Point:   4926 ft

Skyline Divide - Mt. Baker

After 3 years late due, I finally made it to Mt. Baker's Skyline Divide.  This hike had been on my bucket list for quite a while.

The trail goes through treeline about 2.5 miles with gradual ascent similar to Mt. Si, but not many switchbacks, which leads you to wild flowers meadows along the ridge with breathtaking vistas of Mt. Shaksun, Mt. Baker and Cascades mountains. Hike along the meadows and/or the ridge stretching to the climbers route to summit Mt. Baker as long and far as you want and feed your soul. There's no shortage of nature's grand vistas all along the way!

The ridge trail "divides" the skyline; hence, it's "Skyline Divide" trail.

Round trip: 7 miles
Elev. gain:  2500 ft
High point: 6500 ft

 

Hannegan Pass and Hannegan Peak - Mt. Baker, WA

 
Heaven on earth! Mt. Baker's Hannegan Pass and Hannegan Peak offer jaw dropping spectacular views with wildflowers and mountain vistas. This hike is equally beautiful as Yellow Aster trail which is also in Mt. Baker (I hiked there last year and fall colors were just gorgeous!). Hannegan Pass/Peak also reminds me of Mt. Rainier's Summerland trail (part of Wonderland trail) for its dramatic display of the terrain,  vistas and atmosphere.  Hannegan Pass is a hike where "the hills are alive with the sound of music......" resonates. In fact, the song kept going around and around in my head yesterday as I hiked through the stunning views all along the trail.  Overall gradual ascent with partially strenuous/steep climb. Mostly hike along open terrains with some treeline.  
 
Hannegan Pass and Peak:
10 miles RT
3,100 ft. elevation gain
Highest point 6,200 ft.

Driving Directions: Drive Hwy 542 about 46 miles, to 13 miles past Glacier Public Service Center. Just before the Nooksack River bridge, turn left on road No. 32. At 1.3 miles, take the left fork, Ruth Creek Road, and continue 5.4 miles to the road-end at Hannegan Campground.