Kendall Peak, Kendall Katwalk — Monday, Oct. 7, 2024

I wanted to do this hike to see this narrow walkway and get a thrill. If this had been the only reason I hiked this trail, I would have been extremely disappointed. The Katwalk is only a short distance and not narrow feeling, so don't go for that thrill.

On the way in, I opted to climb Kendall Peak, which I was nervous about after reading some timid reviews. The class 2 scramble was steep, but not that long or difficult. If you have climbed Mount Defiance or Bandera or the old route on Mount Teneriffe, then you have experienced more technical scrambling. before you know it, you will have a commanding view of the valley, all the peaks of the area, as well as Rainer. The fall from the top would be enough to kill you many times over, so approach with caution, but beyond that, there is little to fear from this extension.

The real draw to this hike was the cloudless blue skys and hills painted with all the brilliant purples, reds, and oranges our fall fire treats us to. You can keep your larches, I'll take mountain blueberry red leaves or the vivid orange of a mountain ash tree any day. plus, there are pika so automatically that makes this a 10/10. it's a long hike. I clocked 14 miles in 6 hours, so plan accordingly.