Central PeakRecent Trip Reports
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Bullitt Fireplace, Central Peak, Bullitt Gorge, Perimeter Loop Trail, Chybinski Loop
— Dec 21, 2011
— whitebark
Day hike
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Just did a quick 5 mile ramble on some Squak Mountain trails, starting from the Mountainside Drive trailhead. There was...
Just did a quick 5 mile ramble on some Squak Mountain trails, starting from the Mountainside Drive trailhead. There was no snow anywhere on the mountain, and the condition of the trails was in general quite good, with a lot of recent tread work visible. Even the short path that leads from the Perimeter Trail to the south vista had been brushed (although there still is no sign marking the junction). I lingered quite a while at the vista, enjoying the bright sun and the view of Mt. Rainier.
A few trail issues that I noted: the top part of the Bullitt Gorge trail, from its upper end down to the Perimeter Trail junction, is overly steep in places and could use a reroute. There's a mucky creek crossing that needs improvement - a bridge would be nice. The west portion of the Chybinski Loop, downhill from the blockhouse, could use some drainage work on the steeply graded portions. For some reason, the trail crews that have done so much great work elsewhere on Squak have avoided this area. Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
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A short hike on Squak in the late evening. Trails are all dry and easy to walk the loop...
A short hike on Squak in the late evening. Trails are all dry and easy to walk the loop being about 4.2 miles in length with 1200 to 1400 feet of elevation gain.
Surprisingly flowers such as foxglove are out along with phlox and others. Seemed late in the season for these low land flowers but a nice treat to view. Lighting at 5 to 7 PM was interesting and I did not have a lot of company with the start of football season at UW. This is a nice hike near Seattle/Bellevue which can be done in a little over or under 2 hours. Day hike
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Beautiful night for a trail run. I started at the West Access trailhead where the trail climbs gradually and crosses...
Beautiful night for a trail run. I started at the West Access trailhead where the trail climbs gradually and crosses 2 bridges added/updated in the last few years. Then headed out on the Chybinski Loop to the base of the West Peak. These trails are in excellent condition right now. Dry, brushed, and blowdowns are cleared. From there I followed the Perimeter Loop trail which is far less travelled, but a trail you can almost always expect to have to yourself. There is a great viewpoint out there that looks to the southwest. Sunset was coming so I had to keep moving. Went past the May Valley trail intersection then climbed up to the Bullitt Fireplace trail. The forest in here is very dark, not enough light to even grow ferns. The west side of Squak is also mostly devoid of nettles which is a nice break. I climbed past the Fireplace and to the Central Peak Summit, now on C1. Not a great view from here, the trees block most of it but you can stare at the microwave tower (how exciting!)Down the road a ways, I take the plunging trail to the left and drop down .5 miles or so to Phil's creek. Don't step on a pinecone or round rock on this trail or you'll go down it on your backside. I took a left at the intersection onto Phil's to head back to West Access because my daylight was running out. To the right goes to May Valley trailhead, and can be a nettle-fest at times. The trail is a little overgrown now but blowdown-free. This trail switchbacks down and eventually dumps onto the east side trail (not sure of the name), which I followed back to the West Access trail. 1.2m from here back to the car. ~8 mile loop with some good runnable climbing. Dont expect to see wildflowers on Squak, however there are lots of mushrooms/fungi to examine. I also saw a barred owl on the Chybinski Loop. This is by far my favorite of the "Issaquah Alps" if you want a more quiet experience.
Central Peak, Bullitt Fireplace, East Ridge, East Side
— Jun 20, 2011
— bushiker
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Ripe berries
Issues:
Overgrown | Bugs
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Started from the 554 bus stop at Sunset and Front, past the IATC, along the access trail behind the condos...
Started from the 554 bus stop at Sunset and Front, past the IATC, along the access trail behind the condos along the creek. Some few ripe Salmonberries that hadn't been picked off yet along the gravel road, both the yellow kind and the dark red kind. Late afternoon Monday, clear, warmish, not too warm, sunny. Up the East Ridge Trail, then up the Summit trail straight to the Central Peak. Lots of little flowers, white pink and yellow, two types of each color. Some mud here and there but not too bad. Trail in good shape, no big holes or mud puddles up to the peak. Some sticky mud with lots of paw prints on the Summit trail.
Down the other side without sticking around the big cell towers and pavement, to the Bullitt fireplace--very muddy, lots of dog paw prints and numerous boot prints. Some group was obviously there recently burning wood (still a big thick chunk left unburned) and something with a chemical smell, despite many signs requesting in words and pictures not to burn anything. Smelled too chemically to stay and enjoy it. Skipped the second peak and back along the East Side Trail, enjoying glimpses of sunlight and lake view, down the East Ridge and back along the access trail to the bus stop in time for the half hour wait for the very last bus of the night home--11.5 miles, 2,000' gain over 3+ miles on the way up, more or less. Saw not one single person nor domesticated animal. Wow, even for a weekday that's pretty fabulous, 11+ miles and several hours of complete solitude, in cell phone range for safety no less. I love this hike, I don't care if there's no views! I always smile the whole way. Day hike
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7.8 mi loop, +2000/-2000 ft, West May Valley Loop, Bullitt Gorge, Perimeter Loop, West Peak, Bullitt Fireplace, Central Peak, Truck...
7.8 mi loop, +2000/-2000 ft, West May Valley Loop, Bullitt Gorge, Perimeter Loop, West Peak, Bullitt Fireplace, Central Peak, Truck Road, Summit, Phils Creek, Truck Road, West May Valley Loop (clockwise)
Trailhead 47.48192, -122.05426, 340 feet, May Valley Trailhead 3.2 miles, +1655/-0 feet Waypoint 47.50378, -122.05826, 1995 feet, West Peak 1.0 miles, +345/-315 feet Waypoint 47.50416, -122.04751, 2024 feet, Central Peak 3.6 miles, +0/-1685 feet Endpoint 47.48192, -122.05426, 340 feet, May Valley Trailhead This is most certainly my last hike in the Northwest as I will be heading back home to Texas tomorrow. Was planning on going to Denny Creek, which is named for the founder of the restaurant chain that shares his name, but didn't figure the snow and broken bridge would allow much progress. The May Valley Loop begins near the trailhead, rather than further up the truck road like it used to. The trail is wide and on a shallow to moderate grade. The old part of this trail which began at one mile of the truck road is now named the Bullitt Gorge Trail. This trail is narrower and climbs on a moderate to steep grade but levels off as it approaches a junction with the Perimeter Loop Trail. This trail climbs on a shallow to moderate grade for 0.4 miles where a side trail to the left ends at a viewpoint overlooking May Valley to the west (also known as May West). From the viewpoint trail, the Perimeter Loop is mostly level until it meets the West Peak Trail. The West Peak Trail climbs on a moderate grade (the approach from the other side is much steeper) to the top of West Peak where there is a collapsed structure. From West Peak, the trail descends steeply and climbs steeply over the top of a bump and descends on a less steep grade to a junction with the Bullitt Fireplace Trail. This trail climbs along what was probably a truck road to the Bullitt Fireplace, which appears to be part of a construction project that went bust when the mortgage market collapsed. From the fireplace, the trail descends on a moderate grade to a junction with the Central Peak Trail, which climbs on a moderate grade to the top of Central Peak where there is a collection of microwave towers. Some pranksters have mounted huge bass drums on the towers. About a quarter mile down the truck road, the Summit Trail heads off the the left (east) and descends on a moderate to steep grade to a junction with Phil's Creek Trail, which is narrow and overgrown. The trail is obvious but should not be used by herbiphobes (people with an irrational fear of people named Herb) as vegetation seems to be winning over trail. Phils Creek Trail ends at the truck road. The East May Valley Loop (formerly the Equestrian Loop Trail) is closed. A short descent along the truck road and the newer West May Valley Loop can be accessed off to the right, which lands at the trailhead after a little more than a mile and a quarter. |
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