It's new, because WTA is building it. In conjunction with King County Parks, WTA is building a trail from the Issaquah Highlands development all the way to Duthie Hill Park. It will be open to hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers.

Twenty five hardy souls showed up, despite the ominous forecasts. I can say the rain was moderate, except when we took breaks. After a serious 20 minute gully washer during lunch, most people people were sodden. As this was brand new trail, we were attracting a lot of mud.

I personally cut down a tree, and took all the glory when the small crosscut saw broke through a small log across the developing trail. At one point I saw several people heading off into the brush. I followed at a distance, pretending to clear the way. When I caught up with them, they were using the big crosscut saw. I knew something fun was happening without me. I watched the action, safely behind a big tree.

Alas, the sogginess proved too much, and the party was called early. Great, because I was feeling it. Round up tools, people and snacks, and head back to the barn for sodas and homemade biscotti. Crew Leader Laurie even had hot towels for us to refresh with.

I forgot how much fun a work crew is. I sincerely hope all WTA faithful have commited to being on a trail crew at some point this year. Remember, if you go with Kim B, you will be rained on!

Wow, the Issaquah area got hit hard by the recent snowstorm. Looking for a trail that involved minimal driving on icy roads, I rambled up the Grand Ridge trail starting at the High Point trailhead. A half foot of snow covered the trail, almost enough to make me wish that I had brought my cross country skis. There was actually a snowmobile track on the trail...definitely not a legal activity here. The cold and powdery snow made for a beautiful winter scene along the trail.

I followed the Issaquah-Preston trail west for a mile, then veered right onto the start of the Grand Ridge Trail at the signed junction. After that, I followed the Grand Ridge Trail for several miles, to a point where the trail leaves an old road bed and crosses a marsh on a turnpike bridge. Blowdown had been removed, and there were few difficulties encountered on the trail other than deep snow. However, the unsigned spur trail that leads to upper Preston at 280 Dr SE was in terrible shape with mud, brush, and blowdown.

Being an aficionado of one way and loop hikes, especially scenic ones, I'd had my eye on this one-way, 7-3/4 mile ridge walk in Olympic National Park for literally years. But the logistics of a shuttle (long) or key exchange (requires several willing and available people and cars) had eluded me. Until now!

With 60 outdoorsy-types attending a three day wedding celebration near Sequim I sensed the time had come. Sure enough, with a little planning (someone even broke out the white board) fifteen people jumped on the Grand Ridge bandwagon! Hooray! Six of us, including our almost 4-year old (mostly riding on my husband's back), started at Obstruction Point and headed east. Nine people, including three 8-10 year olds, started from Deer Park at the other end. We had the net loss of elevation. They were faster, though, and the big rendevous happened about 3 miles from the Obstruction Point end.

Really a beautiful hike! The west end where we started begins as an airy traverse across a shaly slope, levels out briefly on a ridge, and descends in some ups and downs until the final climb in the last 1/2 mile. It is open with great views until the eastern 3 miles, which is in forest. Except for a few places the trail mostly keeps to the south side of the ridgetop. In good condition but steep with loose shaly footing in a couple spots. There is absolutely no water. We were glad to be doing it on a cool day, and with only negligible wind. The coast was fogged in below us but not the mountains. Flowers were gone but we had dashes of fall color here and there. It took us about 4 hours.

I highly recommend this hike, and definitely the key exchange option if you can swing it. It would be a long shuttle, and it also seems a shame to only see part of the ridge. By the way Deer Park is a nice place to camp and the evening stroll up Blue Hill is very pleasant, we've done that in the past.

Faisel’s knee ailments precluded her from anything long or steep, so we got our Olympic National Park overnight permit for Roaring Winds on Grand Ridge. Of course the drawback at this time of year is no water, and reportedly no snow. The Sunday drive to the trailhead at Deer Park (5200 ft) is steep and ends in a ten car parking area. Equipped with 7 liters of water plus the other N essentials, we headed along the well-graded trail down 400 feet and then gradually back up 1000 as it cuts below Green mountain and along the shoulder between Green Mountain and the Maiden Peaks. This part of the trail is mosly an uphill forest walk with occasional views south to Baldy, Graywolf, and the Needles, and later north to Port Angeles and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The dried blooms implied that the flower show must be impressive in June.

At about 3 miles, the trail breaks out above treeline for nice views all around, and they would have seemed nicer had it not been so dry and hot. The next mile or so is a ridge walk with 360 degree views as far as Mt. Baker, gaining a few hundred feet as the trail cuts along the south side of the Maiden Peaks, then on top of the shelf southwest of the peaks, and down to Roaring Winds campground at 6000 feet. After setting up camp and fending off mosquitos, it was my job to get the snow for iced drinks from one of the two remaining snow patches below the camp. This required following the trail a hundred or so yards; departing the trail to the right; skirting up the knob and then across to the notch of the northwest-facing basin, and then heading steeply down either through trees or along the edge of the scree to the snow. After 45 minutes, I returned with 3 liters of snow for cocktail hour.

Iced Daiquiris and dining were on the shelf above Roaring Winds, where the views are even better than the fine ones at the camp site: north to the Straits; east past Deer Park and Baldy to Puget Sound; south to the Needles, Grand Valley, and Grand Pass; and west to the sunset. In the fading light, Faisel had an insight as to the naming of the Maiden Peaks. After sunset, the Daiquiris and dazzling stars asked us to forgive the mosquitos and the daytime heat: we almost did.

After Monday breakfast, we took the brief stroll west beneath Elk Mountain Ridge for more fine views. Then we packed up and headed uneventfully back to Deer Park, where beer and sandwiches awaited. We arrived with knees intact, none the worse for wear, pledging to return during the height of some future flower season.