On Wednesday I walked the Katwalk, not to be confused with the catwalk, you won’t find me strutting my stuff on one of those anytime soon. The Kendall Katwalk is a man made narrow pathway that was blasted out of a steep sloped rock face. Sounds pretty wild right?
I strut my stuff on the katwalk, katwalk.
Fellow hikers on the katwalk to the right.
The blasted path was meant to allow the Pacific Crest Trail to continue north towards Canada (it starts down at the border of Mexico.) I long to thru-hike this trail someday, but in the meantime it was fun to bite off a chunk of it. I managed 15 miles round trip, which is like a penny into a dollar for the overall trail. Not much, but it’s a start!
The trail leading to the Katwalk was lovely, as all Washington trails are.
I took note of a cluster of berries, determined to discover what they were.
These tiny plumcot looking berries are called “False Lily of the Valley Berries.” Interesting.
While the trail itself was nice, the Alpine Lakes I discovered stole my heart once again.
Be still my heart.
It’s a good thing I had to open at work the next morning, because every fiber in my body told me to keep going. I hope to soon return to this section of the PCT and hike the 75 miles from Snoqualmie pass to Stevens pass. At 15 miles a day it could be done in 5 days.
Ohhh how I wanderlust for backpacking. If anyone wants to join me I’m accepting applications.
Q: Would you ever hike for multiple weeks (or days) at a time?
Blissfulbritt 
52 thoughts on “Walk the Katwalk”
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
Uh can you say terrifying? You guys have some guts 🙂 but that’s a good way to live…on the edge! Those berries are really cool looking too. I know I say this every single time I comment but you really make me want to take a trip out West. I’ve never really explored mountains before and seeing all your pictures is absolutely gorgeous.
Rach @ This Italian Family
That is just absolutely incredible. I’ve never done an overnight hike before. It’s honestly never even occurred to me before, haha! But I’m sure it would be really cool!
IHeartVegetables
Oh my goodness it looks beautiful!! Great photos!
Caitlyn
Amazing. Nature is so beautiful.
Samantha
I have got to move out to Washington soon! So much beauty!
Brittany
Yes, you must! 🙂
kathy@vodka and soda
i’m reading wild (as i noted on your IG) and i loooove it. and i love the fact that you;re on this very trail but i’m jealous as hell that you get to hike this beautiful piece of land!!
Aja
That is beautiful but it looks so thin! I would be terrified.
Brittany
I think this photo is deceiving, it really wasn’t bad at all!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Super cool 🙂
Ellie
It is on my bucket list to hike the Grand Canyon…I don’t know how long that would be though. I’d like to do a multi-day running race too, that would be cool!
Brittany
Mine too!! I’ve visited only once, and it was just to look at it. I need to climb it though!!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
That scenery. Those lakes. With every post I am amazed at the beauty of the PNW. I hiked several days in a row in that area as part of a Backroads trip I took a few years ago. It was hard to get up each day and hike a dozen miles but the scenery was so good it was definitely worthwhile! You can totally do that 75 mine stretch! What an experience that would be.
The Vegan 8
I seriously cannot get over you Brittany! You are simply amazing. I admire you! I am deathly afraid of heights. I am very bold in life and have confidence and go after what I want and have tons of guts in that sense, I’m not afraid of anything, but when it comes to heights, I shake so badly. I just couldn’t do that…it looks soooo steep! How do y’all not fall??? That one pic of your friend was SO steep! Yikes!
Choc Chip Uru
I have an extensive list of places to hike from your blog… and I don’t even like hiking 😛
Another fantastic post!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sophie @ life's philosophie
so much trail porn! YES I would totally hike for multiple weeks/days. But I would need it to be somewhere insanely beautiful….like the PCT 🙂
Brittany
Bahaha trail porn, I love it. You should drag Megan out here and we can hike for daaayss on the PCT. 🙂
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
WOAHHHH brit, 75 miles? You guys should start doing vlogs! Such beautiful scenery though, I can understand why you feel the way you do when you hike x
http://www.journeysthroughmeadows.com
Cassy
Okay, that’s it. I’m quitting my job and moving to Washington. These hikes you take are too beautiful! #superjealous
foodielovesfitness
Ahhh, this looks gorgeous!! I want to walk the Katwalk! 🙂
I adore hiking & hit the trails often, but I’ve never done a multi-day trip. Part of me thinks that it would get kind of old after the first day (both mentally and physically, as I’m pretty sure my nagging foot/calf injuries would be throbbing after awhile), but part of me just wants to try it!
B
Those views are AMAZING! Talk about breathtaking!
Alex
Ummm these shots are gorgeous and heck YES let’s go! I wanna backpack so bad too! Dude you should look up the Stampede trail in Denali!! If youve ever read Into the Wild, its a backpacking hike to the abandoned bus where Chris McCandless died. Definitely a bucket list hike!!! 😀
Brittany
Oh my lanta, can we please go? I seriously think you would be the PERFECT backpacking buddy! We should bring your dad too….for extra protection and guidance. HA!
Alex
DITTO!!! I think we’d have such a blast together!!! I have a feeling you’d have to teach me your higher altitude ways with my Texas lungs though haha 😀
And YESSSS! My dad could protect us from bears/bigfoot AND haul more food. Win-win haha 😉
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Wow that looks amazing- although where’s Tyra Banks judging you?
I would go for a multiple day/week hike- as long as I have a sherpa or ten to carry my things and bring a portable kitchen, laptop and supermarket. And a car.
Brittany
Please see Davida’s reply. You two are soul mates. I also laughed out loud at this.
Davida @The Healthy Maven
If I was super fast and could walk it in a day without having to camp at night then yes, I would totally do it! Unless there’s hotels along the way…I’m such a diva.
Brittany
Same for you, see Arman’s reply. Two peas in a pod you are.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I’m right there with you. I’m game only if there’s a lovely comfortable bed, a private bathroom and hot meals with cold beers waiting for me at the end of each day. Someone to rub my feet would be nice too. That might be pushing it, but I wouldn’t turn it down.
Amy
I did a few super short backpacking trips when I was in middle school and early high school, but because I’m so tiny, it was hard to carry my fair share of the weight! You know how much my dad loves backpacking though… I’m sure he’d be happy to share all of his tips about trails and equipment! 🙂
sara @ real fun food
I just discovered your blog – I love this post and the pics are gorgeous! I’m American, but I only started hiking once I moved to the UK so I’m really looking forward to doing some hikes in the US. Just this weekend I hiked the highest mountain in the UK but it’s probably nothing compared to mountains out west!
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
Your amazing!
http://www.journeysthroughmeadows.com
Charlotte
Woww that looks so fun!! it looks absolutely amazing- especially that part where you have to hang off a cliff to get by- i think that would literally stop my heart- so i’m in awe of this hike!!
apartmentwife
jon and i were talking about where we want to take our next vacation, and i literally just started thinking about all the pictures on your blog – washington was my choice, maine was his — we’ll see who wins!!
Brittany
COME TO WASHINGTON! There is so much to explore. 🙂
Melanie
Oh, your pictures are absolutely breathtaking!!!! That lake doesn’t even look real. I’m not afraid of heights, but I think that little trail would FREAK me out a bit. Yikes.
Lauren
Those views are unreal!!! Here in Northwest Ohio, I have nothing like that. Wow! You’re lucky!
P
I would so want to go hiking (and eat all the vegan cupcakes in the state!) with you…that is if I ever get to Washington 😛
katalysthealth
Wow, a 75 mile hike? Sign me up! Although my old lady knees would probably hate me after 2 days of walking, but that’s what advil is for right? 😉
Absolutely gorgeous scenery as always girlie
Brittany @ DulceVie
I have actually never been hiking before but I really want to! All of your pictures make me want to hike right now!
allieksmith
Beautiful, beautiful pictures! I have always wanted to visit (and hike) the PCT since I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Have you read that book?!
Brittany
I’ve been wanting to read this book for like TWO years now, but haven’t. I don’t know WHY! I need to, especially before the movie comes out.
allieksmith
I highly, highly recommend it! I think you would definitely enjoy it 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities
WHOA DUDE WHOA! This reminds me of WY so much! I miss home now. Thanks for that. All I can really think about though it how we will be HIKING Magic Mountain next week! WHAT UP!!!!?!?!
Change of Pace
Such gorgeous photos (again!)! Was the path kinda creepy sometimes? Looks like it would be scary in the rain!
Pease, please let me come with you on a few days of backpacking! I’d be a great partner! However, i think I’d leave the baking up to you!
Brittany
You would be the PERFECT backpacking partner!
di @ life of di.
Beautiful photos as always 🙂 I would love to hike for a several day period. At this point, I wouldn’t do more than 3-5 days; however, that’s just because I’m somewhat of a wuss and inexperienced 😉
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I want to live there. Right on that cliff!
Luv What You Do
Ooo! You have the BEST trails! so jealous!
I did a 3 day backpacking trip and it was incredible! I was lucky enough to go with a friend who hikes often so she led us through. The pics are somewhere on my blog but Michigan looks a lot different than the Pacific Coast : )
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I’m 100% certain you’ve found your happy place and I’m thrilled you’re spending so much time there.
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
Again Brit, these photos just blow me away!
http://www.journeysthroughmeadows.com
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