PCT is easy. At mile 2.3, took the turn towards Lundi. 1.2 miles later, near a shallow pond, turned right at the cairn for the scrambling trail to Red. Followed the trail up, but at some point, missed a turn of 90 degree right, ended up some real scramble. I can find solid rocks amids the scree, with well spaced footholds. Steep but no danger.
Red is really red. Must have a lot of iron. Too bad, totally cloudy, we could see nothing. So abandonned the crosscountry traverse on the narrow ridge. On our way down, met one guy going up.
Dropped ~2000'. Cut one corner bushwacking to get back onto PCT, and more hikers. It started to drizzle until we were on the rocky flat part. The side trail going upto Kendall Peak is easy to follow all the way up.
Fall color is better here, but no huckleberry.
The clouds cleared a bit, so at least we had some view. Now I realized that traversing from Red wouldn't work, because there's a sharp drop, like a knife had cut the ridge. The view from Kendall in winter (my trip this Jan) is a lot better.
Back down the same way. Instead of taking PCT all the way back, we took Old Commonwealth Trail which is a mile shorter. Less zigzag, didn't seem much steeper.
I went to Trader Joe's before walking to the transit center for my bus home. Didn't wait long.
V's photos of this hike.
