Got started this morning at 6:24 am from the PCT trailhead. Parking lot was about half full at that hour and was packed with cars lining the street when I finished at 2:08 pm. Took the Commonwealth trail up to the PCT and the followed the PCT past the Kendall Katwalk all the way to the climbers trail to Alaska Mt.
The PCT past the Katwalk is absolutely beautiful. Beautiful was the word of the day from many of the hikers that were on the trail today, as I heard it said many times!! Lots of day hikers, overnighters, and thru hikers. Met one hiker from France, who was heading south bound just as came down to the PCT from Alaska Mt.
There is a faint trail on the left heading up to Alaska Mt just as you start to go down to Joe Lake on the PCT. It disappears after a short while, so you are on your own to find a route to the summit. There are a couple of false summits that have a faint path up to them. The second one has a nice scramble up to, but then it is a 15 ft drop that blocks you from the true summit . I backtracked, then dropped down to the north side and then went under the drop off from the second false summit and over to the south side, and it was a walk up to the summit. Views here and all along the way were sweet.
Headed back and decided to go up to Collar Mt. The last time I was there in September 2019 it was cloudy. This time it was clear and the views were great. Summit is semi forested so no views to the SW but the view of Mt Thomson is great. There is a campsite just off the PCT to the right going northbound where the trail makes a sharp turn to the left to head down to Gravel and Ridge Lakes. To the left there is a faint trail that heads west toward Collar Mt. After a bit trail disappears and you have to go up a talus field and then up thru the trees to get to the summit . There is a small bottle up there with a summit register in it.
On the way back I went up to Kendall Peak. Views were great there also. It is a very steep climbers trail up to the summit. Trail is just past the stump as you are heading up to the katwalk, just as previous trip reports have stated. Poles were very helpful coming down. Hiked back to car taking the same route back.
Great day!! 17 miles with 4700 ft elevation gain
Comments
Ups n Downs on Alaska Mountain, Collar Mountain, Kendall Peak, Kendall Katwalk
Just another walk in the woods eh? Really enjoying the hikes vicariously.
Posted by:
Ups n Downs on Jul 25, 2021 04:45 PM
kidz won't hike on Alaska Mountain, Collar Mountain, Kendall Peak, Kendall Katwalk
Haha! It was a very loooong walk in the woods!! lol
Posted by:
kidz won't hike on Jul 26, 2021 05:29 PM
shegoat on Alaska Mountain, Collar Mountain, Kendall Peak, Kendall Katwalk
Great report. Sounds like a great day. I’m inspired to go past the Katwalk. Thanks!
Posted by:
shegoat on Jul 25, 2021 09:42 PM
kidz won't hike on Alaska Mountain, Collar Mountain, Kendall Peak, Kendall Katwalk
Thanks! It was so beautiful past the Katwalk. Go early in the morning as it is all in the sun. Beat the heat and the crowds
Posted by:
kidz won't hike on Jul 26, 2021 05:31 PM