CHS 2 Hike - Kendall Katwalk

2. Tectonic Uplift 

“The slowest elevator on Earth. Going up?”

The ongoing collision of tectonic plates shapes Washington’s topography. The Cascadia Subduction Zone forces the land upward, building rugged mountain ranges at a creeping pace—typically just a few millimeters per year. But over millions of years, that slow rise has sculpted the dramatic peaks and ridgelines we see today. Tilted rock layers, fault scarps, and jagged summits tell the story of immense forces acting on the Earth’s crust. This hike will take us through a landscape where tectonic uplift is on full display, offering a glimpse into the slow but relentless power shaping the Pacific Northwest.

July Hike: Kendall Katwalk - <14.1 miles, 3139 ft gain

Kendall Katwalk offers a direct look at uplifted rock layers and faulted terrain in the central Cascades. As the Pacific and North American plates interact, large portions of crust are pushed upward, forming steep, dramatic cliffs. The hike takes us along an exposed ridgeline where we can see fractured bedrock, tilted rock layers, and the effects of long-term mountain-building forces in action.

Additional information on other geology themed hikes can be viewed here: CHS 2025 Hiking through Deep Time - https://tinyurl.com/mr2su9jb

TBD