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)

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.

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.

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.