Pacific Crest Trail...Section J. Kendall Katwalk+++

  Once the summer turns in the Pac NW, there is no where better. Imagine sunny days in the 70's and 80's, no humidity, no bugs, and views of mountains everywhere you turn.  Take that image, then crank it up 10 notches and you would find yourself on the PCT.  Something every person should experience at least once in a lifetime, if not multiple times. I can only use amazing or wow so many times but it would not register by picks alone.  At times during the hike, the sights that lay before me cannot possibly be real. Too many times before have I thought this very sentiment during my adventures in the Pac NW and yet something inside tells me the exact same thing...This cannot be real, I cannot be living and experiencing such unbelievable sights.
  Yet, this is my life.
  Several years ago I turned to nature as my life, seemingly turned from great to downright terrible. Love lost can hit a person hard. It always hits me harder for some reason.  My saving grace was going out, seeking the beauty around me that I see everyday, the Cascades, Olympics, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Puget Sound, Lake Washington...etc. I called it my 'weekly medication,' as it seemed to work better than any anti-depressent could ever do. When I am on the trail my troubles leave me behind, if only for those moments that I am in nature.
  I wanted to return to Kendall Katwalk, since this was one of those defining times that brought out the best in me during a depressed time in my life. Looking at my trail book; "The Best Hikes within 85 miles of Seattle, BEYOND MOUNT SI" and the date I was last here, it was almost 2 years to the day that I was here last.  I am not sure if coincidental or just by fate but I wanted to go further than I have the previous time, past Alaska Lake.  I wasn't sure how much further, but enough to set in my mind that I have become better, I have progressed further than I ever thought I could, and to seek the beauty that is just around that next corner, having faith that unseen beauty exists and it is present right in front of us if you choose to seek it.
  I went further than I did previously, by several miles and the amazing beauty that I saw was far more than I ever thought I would see or imagine.
  I found this quote about the same time in my life that I try to put into practice, even though it can get very difficult to do so...
  "We are all capable of things we never believed, but first we need to believe..." Jesse Itzler.

Joe Lake and Me! 

                                           

                                                        My companion on my adventures.

Beautiful wildflowers everywhere! 

Mt. Rainier looming large and blustery.

About to go over the Kendall Katwalk

The PCT in the beautiful forest.

Halfway across Kendall Katwalk to the right, beauty to the left.

Surreal alpine views and the PCT continues.

Ridge Lake is a beauty.

Reflection on Gravel Lake.

Gravel Lake.

Above Alaska Lake.

A Marmot! 

Wow! 

Joe Lake with PCT half way up the mountain above Joe.

Me :) 

  Until next time my friends...

Adventure on!!!

2'fer...Mason Lake and Bandera Mountain on the 4th of July!

  Exit 45. I-90. Yeah Baby!
  If you would like a challenging hike that is just as good if not better than Granite Mountain than this would be the one.  This has the best of both worlds, an alpine lake and an alpine mountaintop view from Mt. St. Helen's to the Olympic Mountains. Incredible to me.
  This is a very easy hike to get to by car as the trailhead parallels I-90 and 3 miles from exit 45. Like any sunny day in the Pacific NW, the trails that are most easily accessible are the ones that will be the busiest on days like this one. Although the more challenging the hike, the less novice and total amount of hikers will be on the trail which in turn makes the overall experience more enjoyable.
  Miss Lucy and myself had a great time on this hike. It was a little warm for her as the hike up only offered up shade in short and sporadic spurts.  So we took our time, taking advantage of what shade there was and the few amount of water there was on the trail up until the ridgeline to Mason Lake.  Snow was present once we passed the crest of the ridge going to Mason Lake so Lucy was in heaven! Not only was there shade but what Lucy loves...snow and especially water! About a half mile down to the lake, there was still plenty of snow and postholing too. One step too close to a boulder led me to a step down almost to my hip. With the warmer temps this will occur more and more especially near rocks and boulders as they warm the snow will melt even faster. Mason Lake was still frozen for the most part except around the edges about 6' out from the shoreline.  It will not be long and the ice will rapidly disappear.  The dynamic of having one side of the mountain hot and dry then the other be cool and comfortable with snow is something that I really enjoy about the mountains.
  After both Lucy and I cooled off for a while we headed back to the trail junction to head up to the summit. Great views all around heading back to the trail juntion as looking straight ahead will give a face full of Mt. Rainier. The higher you get the better the views and as we made our way to the top Mt. St. Helens came into view...at least the very top of it. What's great about it is that my brother, Isaiah and I will be climbing to the rim of St. Helens at the end of the month! Back to the task at hand, from the junction the trail ascend rapidly as the grade of the mountain becomes more true to what a mountain climb is...steep! There are great natural granite steps all the way to the plataeu but don't stop at there! Although great views here, the trail continues up through the alpine forest with a little snow that is left on the trail.  Be careful here because the trail is sometimes hard to follow but as long as you are heading in an upward direction you will be just fine as the trail through the trees is not that long. Word to the wise...DO NOT venture out to the snow to your left!!! It is a cornice and if it breaks off you may not survive. Someone heeded my advice and went out about 10' with her boyfriend saying it was fine. My focused came back to the incredible views, peace filling my heart and spending a little time with my girl, Lucy. After we grabbed a small bite to eat we headed back down to the car.

• If you are crunched for time, as I kind of was, plan on taking pictures at the top and on the way down instead of on the way up and down. Keep a steady pace as you head to the summit. This way you know how much time is needed on the way down and can plan accordingly.
• My advice...go to Mason Lake first as you may not have the motivation or energy to head there after the summit!
• Plan on a solid 4-6 hours on this hike.
• If you are able to...plan this hike around a sun-filled day. The views are incredible!
• Bring extra water, esp. if you plan to skip the lake and only go to the summit. The trail faces the west and is very limited in shade and water.
• Starting elevation 3000'. 
• Summit elevation 5200'.

Great shot of the trail on the left and the fantastic view to the right.

Mason Lake and the ridgeline of Bandera Mountain summit. 

Alpine Lake Wilderness.

The view before going over the ridge to Mason Lake.

Lucy reminding me of a marmont I once saw at Rainier.

I turn my head for one second and she jumps out to the ice!

Thanks Lucy!

Looking south towards the summit of Bandera.

Beautiful blue!

The view to the top. Notice the hikers on the way to the top!

A happy Miss Lucy :)

Looking north to Mason Lake and the North Cascades.

Love.

Northwest view of the Olympic Mountains and a very faint downtown Seattle.

Me and my girl.

The very top of Mt. St. Helen's and Mt. Rainier. 

Lucy finding her spot to chill.

On the way down overlooking the granite boulder field.

Very nice beginning to the trail.

Until next time my friends...

Adventure On!!!