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Getting There
I woke up early in Packwood, WA after some awesome hikes around Mt Rainier. I planned on this being a travel day so I took my time driving north to Snoqualmie Pass. I made good time up Hwy 123 and joined 410 at the pass. The visibility was terrible up there. I kind of hoped to have some photo opportunities of Mt Rainier from the northeast.
By around 10am I had already reached Hwy 18 which was closed a couple of weeks before due to a wildfire. It was open and I looked like a typical, foggy PNW morning. I was hungry so I made a requisite stop at Twede's Cafe for breakfast and coffee. I was only about 30min from Snoqualmie Pass.
I finished by breakfast and headed out on I-90. I had no idea what my plan was going to be once I got there. I knew I was hours from being able to check in at the Summit Inn & Pancake House.
I thought about Twin Peaks and the scene where Laura Palmer & Donna Haywood are picnicking. I knew it's not Mt Si but I pulled over and checked AllTrails. There was a hike to the summit. It was totally cloud-covered so I mentally put it on a To-Do list of hikes.
When I took the Snoqualmie Pass exit, I immediately turned left and drove to the Kendall Katwalk trailhead. I pulled into an empty space and looked at my watch.
I guess I'll go for a hike. I had the energy. I had the time.
I geared up and set out.
The Hike
Distance: 13.05 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,943 ft
Moving Time: 5:07:02
Avg Pace: 23:31
Calories: 2,705
Total Time: 5:31:35
I stopped at the pit toilet to relieve myself and then filled out registration card at the rules & regs sign. There was another hiker starting a hike as well. I hurried along and immediately took a wrong turn, the trail to the auxiliary parking lot.
I waved at this other hiker and laughed. Oops.
On the way up I ran across some other friendly hikers, including a dad and his two younger boys who had good trail manners.
At times I had glimpses of recollection from my hike last year. Phaedrus had been there.
The weather really never cleared up. The photos were kind of moody, flat lighting, quite a contrast from the day before when the weather good at Pinnacle/Plummer Peaks.
I happily reached Kendall Katwalk and said hello to a group (family) that was resting and snacking. I crossed the Katwalk and kept going toward Ridge Lake. I checked the time and decided to turn back. Not today. (If I'd left at 8am instead of after 12noon, I would have had the time.)
Just before crossing the Katwalk again, I stopped to drink some water, and change into a dry shirt for the descent.
The trip down was mostly uneventful. I noticed that the lower I got the more I noticed the freeway traffic noise and the ski slopes below. It takes you "out of nature". I realize now after looking at the map, I'd missed a short but likely steep climb to Kendall Peak. (I'm not sure I'll go back to Kendall given the wealth of trail options nearby but if I do, I want to get up there.).
The cellular signal is strong, even way up there so I did short Instagram Live video. LOL.
When I got back to the car, I marveled that my body was in a lot better shape that last year when I was barely able to hobble across the parking lot. The long descent was especially difficult on the knees and IT band. On this day, I was not suffering any unusual aches & pains. Woohoo!
