Arrived at the trailhead on a sunny Tuesday a little bit after 9am. There were a few cars parked in the lower lot but my car was the only one parked in the upper lot. The restroom in the upper lot was clean and well-stocked. To shorten the hike a bit, I decided to take the Old Commonwealth trail to access the PCT. The trail through the Commonwealth Basin was snow-free but frozen solid and it was chilly enough for a fleece and some thin gloves. The water levels in Commonwealth Creek are very low so the two creek crossings are not a problem.
After 1.5 miles, the Old Commonwealth trail connected with the PCT and in another mile or so, consistent snow and ice made its appearance on the trail, but no microspikes were needed to navigate through the woods and reach the beginning of the open talus fields. The fall colors - along with the white snow and the cloudless blue sky - provided excellent views of Red Mountain, Guye Peak, Snoqualmie Mountain and Mount Rainier during the ascent to the Katwalk. About one mile before the Katwalk, the snow and ice on the trail became a little bit more treacherous and trekking poles and microspikes were super helpful. However, the Katwalk itself is still snow-free and the views of Alaska Mountain, Mount Stuart, and Alta Mountain were awesome!
11 miles, 5.5 hours, 2,700 feet of elevation gain
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