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Trip Report    

Alpine Scramble - Kendall Peak

Fun scramble of Kendall Peak filled with beautiful fall color, great views, and a side trip to Kendall Katwalk.

Rose Gear Rose Gear
October 01, 2024
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • The majority of this trip took place on the PCT. The trail is in great shape. The scramble route is easy to follow and features loose, choosy rock and dirt until near the summit and the ridge leading up to the summit, which is solid rock. We encountered rockfall on the descent, including one large rock dislodged by a scrambler above us (not in our party).

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    Photo by Ashwin Mayya

Our group of 6 Mounties started from the Kendall Katwalk trailhead at 8 am. We arrived at the scramble portion - which is marked by a large stump next to the trail - at around 10 am. The scramble starts at around 5360 feet. The route is fairly obvious with few choices, and quite enjoyable views.

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Photo by Jacqui Sinatra

As we ascended, the weather took a turn towards windy and cold and we noticed some patches of frost. We made the summit and easily found the summit register, which we all signed. Several other scramblers came up behind us, and the summit was quickly crowded.

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Photo by Carolyn Graham

We worked our way back north on the ridge and tagged North Kendall (thanks to a suggestion from group member Jacqui who is an avid peakbagger) then began our descent. About halfway down the route, we heard someone yelling "ROCK!" above us  as a large rock tumbled down towards the path of all 6 scramblers in our party. We all yelled "rock" and some of our party had to move out of the way of the falling rock while others braced for possible impact. Thankfully, no one was hit. The rock broke apart and some in our party noted a feldspar scent. We descended to the trail a little shaken but uninjured around 11 am.

The group decided to visit Kendall Katwalk next as two of our group members had never seen it. The Katwalk was predictably photogenic. 

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Photo by Ashwin Mayya

After visiting the Katwalk, we returned along the PCT to find an area off the trail to sit and have our lunch. After lunch, we hiked out through variable weather that couldn't make up it's mind - clouds and snow flurries, or intense sun? - necessitating some wardrobe changes. Arrived back at the trailhead at around 3:40 pm. 

Distance: ~13.5 miles, Time: 7.5 hours, Elevation Gain: 3,200 feet.