This was a muddy walk on a great day, warm but not hot. It took about an hour to do the loop via the Tibbett's Marsh to the West Tibbett's Creek Trail and then return via the Bear Ridge and Shangri La Trails to the AA Peak Trail head.

It was a moderate workout with not too many on the trails, I was surprised by this as the parking lot was full. Maybe a trail crew or crews out? The trails are all muddy with the Tibbett's Marsh trail being the worst, but not by much.

Lots of flowers still in bloom, phlox, bleeding heart and others lined the trails and helped take you mind and eyes away from the mud holes and slick trail conditions.

2.9 mi/+660/-660 ft, 100 min round trip (hiking times will vary)

trailhead & endpoint 47.54111/-122.09594, 1420 feet, Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead

No snow. Some puddles on trail. Several blowdowns.

This is a easy hike. Route taken clockwise: Shangri-La, Bear Ridge, Tibbetts Creek, Tibbetts Marsh Trails.

Shangri-La Trail is a former logging road on a wide alignment with a gentle descent. Bear Ridge climbs gently to its junction with Tibbetts Creek Trail and then descends on a moderate grade to the Fantastic Erratic, a large fern-covered glacial boulder. Tibbetts Creek Trail climbs along the watershed on a moderate grade that is not as steep as that on Bear Ridge returning from the Fantastic Erratic. The final leg on Tibbetts Marsh Trail climbs on a gentle grade.

The trail is in fair condition with a few puddles. There are two blowdowns, one 12"d and one 10"d on Bear Ridge within 0.1 mi west of Fantastic Erratic. There is a 8"d blowdown on Tibbetts Creek Trail 0.1m south and east of its junction with Tibbetts Marsh and a 4" blowdown on Tibbetts Marsh Trail 0.1m north and west of its junction with Tibbetts Creek.

Bear Ridge trail to Claypit and beyond in good shape.
Found item: pair of Rx glasses on upper side of claypit. pls call to claim 206-363-6978

Winter just won't let go on Cougar Mountain, which sported a coat of new snow on its higher elevations today. But the sun finally did come out in the afternoon, promising better weather to come. There were lots of new leaves and buds on the plants--I even saw a trillium blooming.

Here are the conditions of the Cougar Mountain trails that I visited:

Old Man Trail (C11):

Good, a little muddy.

Bypass Trail (C9):

Good condition. One short slope was a bit scoured by water runoff.

East Fork Trail (C8):

Mud is a problem in spots. Recently worked on by the WTA. Drainage is working well, but some of the clay soil used for fill is mushy.

Tibbets Marsh Trail, south end from Clay Pit Road to creek(N9):

Some of the recent work done by the WTA may have to be redone, because the clay fill dirt has turned into a mushy, trampled mess in places. Hopefully, summer weather will solidify the clay permanently.

W. Tibbetts Creek (E10):

One of the prettier trails on Cougar, which gives views into Tibbetts Creek's little gorge. An old low-standard trail, muddy and rooty in places.

Bear Ridge (E3):

Another nice trail with some interesting scenery, home of the Fantastic Erratic. A few mud holes and eroded sections with failed drainage higher up. Great condition lower down.

Talus Connector

A new and well-crafted trail forming a useful link between the Bear Ridge Trail and the Talus development. In excellent condition.

Surprise Creek Trail (E2):

Serious drainage problems and erosion below No Name Trail junction. One big blowdown. This trail needs help! Above No Name, the trail is in much better condition, although the somewhat undersized drain dips (as usual) need maintenance.

Coyote Creek Trail (C3):

In good shape, mud holes are the main problem. There are a few filled-in drain dips toward the top end of the trail.

A hike in the clouds was what this day was for the most part. Our group from the Issaquah Alps Trails Club started in the sun at AA Peak heading down the Shangri La Trail to the Surprise Creek Trail, looping down to the Talus Community area and then up about 400 feet to the Bear Ridge Trail.

The Bear Ridge and parts of the Surprise Creek Trail are quite muddy from recent rains and snow melt. The Surprise Creek Trail is also a bit rough once past the Precipice Top junction.

The new Talus Bridge Creek Trail is a short 1/4 mile walk off the Bear Ridge Trail and connects with the new Talus Community. The bridge over the West Fork of Tibbetts Creek is quite impressive and is made of a plastic/fiber glass composite material. Scott Seamans who organized most of the work on this trail was present, still working on sections just north of the bridge and gave us all a guided tour of the trail discussing its construction and the assistance of Issaquah community in obtaining the land and putting in the bridge.

The hike was fairly easy with about 3.5 to 4.0 miles of walking, 400 feet elevation gain and about 1400 feet of elevation loss (a bit hard on my knees, but good conditioning for the upcoming summer hiking).