Left PCT trailhead at Snoqualmie Pass about 7:00 am on perfect, cool, clear and sunny day. Patchy snow and blow-downs to junction with Commonwealth Basin Trail, but trail is in good shape. More snow patches and blow-downs to where PCT crosses the winter avalanche runout area from Kendall Peak. Snow cover becomes 90% as trail climbs in the trees to Kendall ridge. Several large blow-downs make following the trail difficult. Trail is mostly snow free traversing the Western facing upper-talus slope of Kendall Peak. Once the trail climbs the shoulder and turns onto the North facing slope, snow is deep and steep to the Katwalk proper. Ice axe is a must to cross the steeper snow chutes. I used crampons as the snow was still to hard to kick steps. A slip while crossing the chutes would result in a long, painful slide/fall into upper Commonwealth Basin. The Katwalk is snow free but right after the PCT totally disappears under a continuous, deep-snow field all the way to Ridge Lake. Looking through binoculars it looked like the PCT is not hikeable above Alaska Lake and across the face of Chikamin Peak. I would guess about 3-weeks til it melts out. Round trip to Katwalk covers about 10 miles and 2,900 feet.

Hiked to Ridge Lake on the PCT north of Snoqualmie Pass. Snow mostly obliterates the trail just prior to the final switch back which gains the south ridge of Kendall Peak. Tip: at a major avalanche chute, travel directly upslope to where the chute intersects the trail. The trail is snow-free at this point and stays snow free until just prior to the ""Kendall Catwalk."" This ""short-cut"" will save you at least a half-hour and guesswork with where the trail goes. We came down this way. There is some moderately steep snow just prior to the ""Catwalk,"" although the ""Catwalk"" is snow-free. Just after the ""Catwalk"" the trail once again becomes covered with snow. Ridge Lake is 95% snow covered although there exists one snow-free campsite in trees. Bugs aren't too bad, yet.

The clouds followed us up to the Katwalk which made it difficult to enjoy any views. The trail was clear, albiet dry and dusty. We actually didn't run into huge numbers of people even though the parking lot seemed quite full; however there appeared to be quite a few packing into Ridge Lake. On the way down, the sun finally broke through and scattered the clouds. We had a fabulous view of Red - aptly named - which was stunning with the sun hitting it. All in all a great day to be out and about.

About a dozen blowdowns, 6 of them big. 5 patches of hard snow on Katwalk. There does not appear to be a trail down to Alaska Lake but we did find a ridge to follow on the way back. A scramble from the PCT to Alaska Lake. Ice axe recommended to slow you down if you slide on something.

Trail to Katwalk virtually snow free. Very few muddy spots. A couple of recent blow-downs that are passible but do take a little effort. Trail past the Katwalk to twin lakes about a mile and half further is in very good condition. Camping around lakes may be crowded. Be sure to enjoy the flowers when walking around Kendal mountain. Currently not many bugs, so enjoy.