[Blowdown]

We had hiked the PCT from Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass several years ago. The first half was beautiful, then we got caught in an intense thunderstorm, and the last half of the hike, including the Kendall Katwalk, was in drizzle and fog with visibility of 200 feet or less. Trip Report. So we wanted a do-over! I had recently worked on a 5-day WTA trail crew logging out the Pete Lake trail to the PCT, and realized that this trail would be a perfect entry point to re-do the second half of our trip to see all the spectacular scenery we'd missed. And wow, it is spectacular! The PCT was in very good shape, with only a few step-around blowdowns in the 30-plus miles we covered. On day 3, it was clear and hot, and we saw a pyrocumulus smoke cloud riding from a new fire in the Wenatchee area. The next day we woke to a smoky sunrise and reduced visibility for the Katwalk, but it still was spectacular!

GPS Track

Pete Lake TH

Camp at Pete Lake

Burn area toward Spectacle Lake

Delate Creek Bridge

Weirdly destroyed box toilet at Spectacle Lake

Spectacle Lake

Heading up Chickamin Ridge from Park Lakes

Long day ahead

Rainier and wildfire plume

Pyrocumulus

Plenty of airy trail

Paintbrush!

Marmot!

Smoky morning light at Ridge Lake

Kendall Katwalk

Snoqualmie Pass

Done! Now to pick up the Outback at Pete Lake TH.

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