[pct-l] Washington PCT

[Joanne Lennox]

Well, if you could only wait a month - the Kendal cat walk might be open although there may be snow in that section all this summer.  I would not do the Kendall catwalk if the slope is under snow, but you never know maybe we will have global warming here for a change.  Although the rock face on the catwalk is steep enough that it might not hold much snow and may be snow free by now; there are some steep wooded gaps. ridges and slopes North of there that I would be more worried about  - the slopes leading into and above Alaska and Joe Lakes - these will accumulate and hold the snow and may also be icey; Chikamin Pass is also very steep but the slope is south facing; the backside of Park Lakes ridge falls steeply into spectacle lake-  a very steep and wooded and north facing slope.

The reports on the climbs of Guye and Snoqualmie Peaks on the nwhiker website will tell you exactly what the trail conditions are in the last two days on the PCT.  These two peaks( see map J1 in the PCT guide) are on the same ridge as the PCT and  Guye only one half mile away.  The PCT is higher than Guye Peak - compare the steepness,

Actually it might be easier in the Goat Rocks if you are competent with an ice ax and steep snow.  There will be more snow but less confusion about where the trail goes. The traversing trail ridges probably have some serious cornices on them too - beware the edge!!

There is always next year. Sometimes Nature does not cooperate with our plans.

I will be starting out from Mammoth on the same day, and I will be wondering about you for the whole 3 weeks I am in the Sierras.  Alas!! Come back safley with good stories!!

Goforth