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Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns
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Beautiful day for a trail run, lots of people out today. I started at the West Access entrance off of...
Beautiful day for a trail run, lots of people out today. I started at the West Access entrance off of HWY 900. There is plenty of blow-down in the first 3/4 mile, so for now it is really slow going. Big chainsaw stuff. That was the worst of the trails i saw today. There is still a little snow here & there, but dont expect much. Instead of retracing my route, here is the status (your mileage may vary!):
Cleared: Coal Mine Old Griz (except the top 100 yards) Perimeter loop Coming up from May Valley TH (you wouldnt even know there was a storm there) I didnt take C2 very far but I m guessing the rest is in also good shape Not Cleared: Phil's Creek between south summit trail and Griz intersections (many limbs) Chybinski loop (though someone was working on it with a chainsaw when i went through) EastSide Trail (south of Griz) South Summit (one large, difficult tree down, and many limbs)
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.
Bullitt Fireplace, East Side, Phil's Creek, Perimeter Loop Trail, Chybinski Loop, Bullitt Gorge
— May 26, 2011
— whitebark
Day hike
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Doing the 7 mile loop hike around Squak Mountain is one of the nicest close-in hikes around. There are not...
Doing the 7 mile loop hike around Squak Mountain is one of the nicest close-in hikes around. There are not many views, but the well-aged second growth forest, with trees 60 to 100 years old, is beautiful. Spring has finally arrived and lush greenery clothes the hillsides.
I started the loop hike at Mountainside Drive trailhead, then followed the wide, well-maintained Bullitt Fireplace trail onward and upward. After 1 mile, I veered left onto the East Side Trail, which takes a nearly level course along the side of a steep hillside overlooking Lake Sammamish, passing a succession of lovely ravines with trickling creeks. Someone has been working on this trail recently - several new turnpike structures have been built. About a mile of easy strolling brought me to the next junction, where I turned right onto Phil's Creek Trail and commenced a switchback climb of 300 feet to the Old Griz trail junction and site of an former sawmill, according to Footsore 1. I continued the loop hike on Phils Creek, which gradually descends from the sawmill site on a narrow old roadbed to Thrush Gap, passing some impressive mossy cliffs along the way. Tucked between Squak's Central and East Peaks, Phils Creek is an exceptionally tranquil place. I always get a nice relaxed vibe here. The lower portion of Phil's Creek trail is a minor miracle: a horse trail that is pleasant for hikers, too. Extensive use of turnpikes and thick gravel "plating" of the trail has worked really well. Eventually I reached the south access road. A quarter mile uphill hike on the road took me to the upper end of the May Valley Trail. Followed that to the start of the Bullitt Gorge Trail, which now sports a horse exclusion gate. Then it was a short, steep uphill slog on that old-school trail to the Perimeter Loop Trail. I headed west on the Perimeter Loop trail, so-named because this was a portion of a once-planned loop trail around Squak dating from the Harvey Manning days (another more-or-less abandoned piece of the old Perimeter trail can be found connecting Thrush Gap and the East Side trail). The Perimeter Loop trail gradually climbs through lovely old second growth forest to a junction with the Chybinski Loop Trail. I followed the CLT down and down to the West Access Trail, took that to the Coal Mine Trail (at the junction, be sure to follow the WAT a few feet to see the nice new handcrafted bridge over Chybinski Creek). Followed the CMT past the frog lady's ponds to the Bullitt Fireplace trail and back down to Mountainside Drive. Maintenance needs: In general, Squak's trails are very well maintained, and there is little to report, mostly minor stuff. I spotted one failed drain dip on the Bullitt Fireplace Trail just beyond the Sierra Court trail. A few very minor blowdowns on the East Side Trail. The steeply climbing portion of Phil's Creek Trail near Old Griz has some narrow slumped tread. Bullitt Gorge Trail is overly steep in spots and could use some rerouting. The west part of the Chybinsky Loop trail near the Blockhouse needs some attention. Mudholes near the summit. Drainage improvements are needed on the steeply graded portions. Water is running down the trail and eroding it in places. There's a section of trail in a deep trench in the hillside that need some extensive retread and drainage work. More mudholes where the trail approaches Chybinsky creek.
May Valley Trail, Perimeter Loop Trail, Chybinski Loop, East Side, Phil's Creek
— Mar 19, 2011
— mtnlou
Day hike
Issues:
Mudholes
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This was the first time hiking from the May Valley TH in a long time. A new trail takes you...
This was the first time hiking from the May Valley TH in a long time. A new trail takes you off the road right away. The steep section of the May Valley trail has been lovingly tended to by what can only be called a "trail angel". At the steepest, most rutted and muddy point, there is a detour to the left, flagged with ribbon and small wooden signs that read, "easy".
The viewpoint off the Perimeter Trail was beautiful, with a full view of the south sound and Mt Rainier. On the Chybinski Trail, we ran into lots of people and their (mostly) well-behaved dogs. But then again, I love dogs, so it really didn't matter. I missed the Thrush Gap Connector trail, as that is not marked and I was lulled into ease with the rest of the well-marked paths. No matter, we went to the East Ridge Trail to meet up with Phil's Creek. Along the way, we had views of Poo Poo Point across the valley on Tiger. It looked like fresh snow up there. The turnoff to Equestrian Loop from Phil's Creek is marked as closed, with a gate and a threatening sign. Best to leave that alone and head down the road for a half mile, then the rest of the way on May Valley Trail, a nice and easy descent and end to a lovely hike in the Alps. Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Mudholes
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To celebrate the new month and a mighty fine weather day, I hiked all the way around Squak Mountain using...
To celebrate the new month and a mighty fine weather day, I hiked all the way around Squak Mountain using various trails. The 7 mile Squak Mountain Circumnavigation must be one of the nicest hikes in the Issaquah Alps. All of the trails were in great condition--it's like all of last month's storms never happened.
All of the loop is nice, but a particular highlight is where the East Side Trail crosses pretty Crystal Creek. The trail weaves its way around a collection of huge mossy boulders near the creek. I started the hike at Mountainside Drive. Trails followed on the loop hike, in order: Bullitt Fireplace East Side East Ridge Phils Creek South Access Road May Valley Trail (upper end) Bullitt Gorge Perimeter Loop Chybinski Loop West Access Coal Mines Bullitt Fireplace Maintenance needs: All of the trails were in good condition, and few problem stand out. Even most of the snow from last week's storm is gone. The efforts of the Mountains-to-Sounds crews really have improved things in recent years. The Chybinski Loop has a steep muddy section downhill of the Blockhouse that could use some check steps or a total reroute. Drain dips need clearing. A section of 40 - 50% grade on the Bullitt Gorge trail could use a reroute. The West Access Trail downhill from Chybinski has a large log over the trail that needs to be cut. |
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