A lot of trails for a 4 mile loop (approximate mileage) in Cougar Mt. Park, three of us, Alpine Art, Loren and Joani started from Sky Country Trail Head on a pleasant walk on trails and the Clay Pit Road. In general the trails are a bit muddy after recent rains but for most of our hike we had only drizzle if with mud holes. The East Fork trail was quite muddy at times but this is not unusual for this trail. My only misdirection on the hike was a short trip up Coyote Creek Trail rather than hiking Clay Pit Road to Klondike Swamp Trail.

Other than the mud the walk was great. Lots of dogs, runners and others out prior to the predicted arrival of rain in the afternoon.

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.

Another brief jaunt in Cougar Mt. Park, from the Sky Country Trail head up to AA Peak, via Coyote Creek Trail and Lost Beagle Trail and then down the AA Ridge Trail and By Pass Trails to the car.

Trip took about 1.5 hours to cover approximately 4 miles and 300 to 400 feet of elevation gain/loss. The trails were all in super shape, in part due to the frozen nature of much of the trail bed. While there were no grip problems, much of the trail bed was frozen below a light layer or dirt/mud which covered most of the trails.

The neat part was that the hike was above the inversion layer, with blue skies and sunshine.

The area around Sky Country Trail Head is melting out with lots of slush, snow and some ice on the trails. The trip I took was shortened by winds but I suspect was a good indication of the relative shape of trails on Cougar Mt. I tried out my new Yak Tracks and had no problems on the trails which were in the process of melting out. Many mud and swamp areas on the trails with sections of dirt but mostly snow, slush and ice.

I had no navigation problems as all of the trails were easy to stay on. Some blow down but noting to slow your pace. As trails melt out and with today's wind, more blow down can be anticipated.

I think I was the only one on the trails this morning - no other vehicles in parking lot at Sky Country Trail head. I looped back to the parking lot via 170th and 166th. There does appear to be a road with a more direct route back to the Cougar Mt. parking area but it is marked private property and probably good to avoid as the 166th signs, note video surveillance.

My guess is that the Cougar Mt. trails will be melted out by next weekend enough so that traction devices (Yak Tracks etc) will not be required.