Summary: I hiked the Old Commonwealth trail to Red Pass and then to a false summit of Lundin Peak. To reach the true summit requires climbing skills and proper gear, neither of which I possess. Overall, this is a great alternative to the much busier Kendall Katwalk, offering comparable views and no crowds (I had the trail to myself). I highly recommend adding on the extension up to the false summit of Lundin after reaching Red Pass. It is non-technical and gives you some amazing views.
Trail conditions: For an "unmaintained" trail, Old Commonwealth is in pretty good shape. The beginning section is getting a bit brushy, but the trail is still easy to navigate. If you end up on any side trails that peter out, you have likely gone the wrong way. The trail should be pretty well defined all the way up to Red Pass. Downloading a map was helpful. There are several creek crossings but none were too challenging or required me to get my feet wet. The hike from Red Pass to the false summit of Lundin was steep with some loose sections, but not too exposed. Poles are recommended. Bottom line: if you can make up to Red Pass, you should have no problem with this extension.
Parking/crowds: This hike shares a parking lot with folks doing the PCT / Kendall Katwalk route, which means it can get crowded. The main parking lot was full by 8am, but there were plenty of spaces in the overflow lot. By noon when I finished, cars were lining the street. Despite a full lot in the morning, I didn't pass a single person on the trail, which is remarkable for a summer Sunday. I did see one hiker heading up Red Mountain and another pair (and their intrepid dog) descending the Old Cascade Crest trail from Red Pass.
Bugs: Not too terrible, especially compared to other spots in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness this time of year. There are some spots along Commonwealth Creek that are particularly buggy, but you can walk through those quickly. Mosquitos became annoying up at Red Pass and on the switchbacks up to Lundin false summit, but not to the point where I felt the need to apply bug spray.
Wildflowers: There's a pretty good flower show right now!
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