Preston Trail, Bootleg, West Tiger Railroad Grade
Nov 23, 2009
by
whitebark
—
last modified
Nov 23, 2009 06:50 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Preston Trail
- Region: Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Bootleg
- Region: Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
- Trails: Bootleg (#TIGER)
- Avg Rating: 3.25
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: West Tiger Railroad Grade
- Region: Issaquah Alps -- Tiger Mountain
- Agency: Department of Natural Resources, South Puget Sound Region
- Trails: West Tiger Railroad Grade (#TIGER)
- Avg Rating: 1.80
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
Rambled various trails on Tiger today, starting from the little-used Preston DOT trailhead. Here is the rundown on trail conditions:
Preston Trail, DOT trailhead and utility line section
The section of the Preston Trail that follows the power line corridor is still hard to walk on, due to the rocks they dumped on it to pave over the mud. The walking gets better after about a third of a mile. A directional sign is missing where the trail coming from the DOT trailhead first joins the power line corridor. This is a problem because you could miss the turnoff if you are returning to the DOT trailhead. Pink flagging currently marks the turnoff point. The trail at this turnoff point is too steep and could be improved.
Preston Trail, Utility line corridor to Dwights Way junction:
The point where the Preston Trail leaves the power line corridor is now well marked. There's a new bike and horse barrier installed here. The trail from here is old-school Tiger quality, narrow and steep in places. Lovely old second growth forest to see. Higher up, the trail follows an old logging road that in the past suffered from runoff and erosion problems. Nowadays, the drainage on the trail has been greatly improved and the various drainage features are working well.
Preston Trail, Dwights Way jct to Bootleg Trail jct:
Trail is in good shape. In the past, runoff and erosion were out of control here, but the situation is far better now. Drainage dips are working well (they look like they were recently maintained). I noticed the recent track of a rogue mountain bike that had ridden down the trail, something I have not seen before here. This sort of activity could quickly destroy the tread of the trail if it occurs unchecked--skidding bike wheels wreak havoc on trail surfaces and make mincemeat of water bars.
Bootleg Trail, from Preston Trail junction to Fifteen Mile Pass:
I like this old school Tiger trail; it travels through quiet and remote country. In fair enough shape, though steep in places. There are some muddy areas that could use some work. The rogue biker came down here, skidding and churning up mud as he went.
Bootleg Trail, Fifteen Mile Pass to Preston Tr junction:
This trail is steep in places as it climbs toward W Tiger I, and could use drainage work. Someone spray-painted orange spots on the trees to mark the trail. The spots are ugly and should be removed. Old bike tracks here, too. The trail's tread become narrow and slumped as it traverses toward the Preston Trail junction--needs work. There is slushy snow on the trail above 2500'. I would rate this trail as in "fair" condition.
Preston Trail, Bootleg junction to W Tiger RR Grade Junction:
Several inches of slushy snow cover parts of the trail higher up. Drain dips need clearing. Excessively steep section near the top ought to be rerouted with switchbacks. Overall, the trail is in decent shape.
W Tiger RR Grade from Preston Trail to K3 Trail:
Rebuilt part of the trail east of Freds Corner is in great shape. West of the Corner the trail is also in good shape, though narrow and overgrown by ferns in places. A bypass trail has been built across the massive landslide at the head of High Point Creek. The bypass trail's tread has slumped and could use work.
K3 Trail to Tiger Mountain Trail:
Though officially "unmaintained", it is in decent shape. Steep.
Tiger Mountain Trail from K3 to High Point Trail:
No notable problems except for the bridge across High Point Creek, which has not been repaired after being damaged by a flash flood/ debris flow. A sign says to keep off the sadly listing bridge, though hikers are using it anyway. Crossing the damaged bridge is preferable to fording raging High Point Creek.
Dwight's Way:
A narrow, twisty, old-school trail. No notable problems. The forest is the show here: though it is second growth, the forest has not been logged in a century and is starting to take on the characteristics of an old growth forest.
Preston Trail, DOT trailhead and utility line section
The section of the Preston Trail that follows the power line corridor is still hard to walk on, due to the rocks they dumped on it to pave over the mud. The walking gets better after about a third of a mile. A directional sign is missing where the trail coming from the DOT trailhead first joins the power line corridor. This is a problem because you could miss the turnoff if you are returning to the DOT trailhead. Pink flagging currently marks the turnoff point. The trail at this turnoff point is too steep and could be improved.
Preston Trail, Utility line corridor to Dwights Way junction:
The point where the Preston Trail leaves the power line corridor is now well marked. There's a new bike and horse barrier installed here. The trail from here is old-school Tiger quality, narrow and steep in places. Lovely old second growth forest to see. Higher up, the trail follows an old logging road that in the past suffered from runoff and erosion problems. Nowadays, the drainage on the trail has been greatly improved and the various drainage features are working well.
Preston Trail, Dwights Way jct to Bootleg Trail jct:
Trail is in good shape. In the past, runoff and erosion were out of control here, but the situation is far better now. Drainage dips are working well (they look like they were recently maintained). I noticed the recent track of a rogue mountain bike that had ridden down the trail, something I have not seen before here. This sort of activity could quickly destroy the tread of the trail if it occurs unchecked--skidding bike wheels wreak havoc on trail surfaces and make mincemeat of water bars.
Bootleg Trail, from Preston Trail junction to Fifteen Mile Pass:
I like this old school Tiger trail; it travels through quiet and remote country. In fair enough shape, though steep in places. There are some muddy areas that could use some work. The rogue biker came down here, skidding and churning up mud as he went.
Bootleg Trail, Fifteen Mile Pass to Preston Tr junction:
This trail is steep in places as it climbs toward W Tiger I, and could use drainage work. Someone spray-painted orange spots on the trees to mark the trail. The spots are ugly and should be removed. Old bike tracks here, too. The trail's tread become narrow and slumped as it traverses toward the Preston Trail junction--needs work. There is slushy snow on the trail above 2500'. I would rate this trail as in "fair" condition.
Preston Trail, Bootleg junction to W Tiger RR Grade Junction:
Several inches of slushy snow cover parts of the trail higher up. Drain dips need clearing. Excessively steep section near the top ought to be rerouted with switchbacks. Overall, the trail is in decent shape.
W Tiger RR Grade from Preston Trail to K3 Trail:
Rebuilt part of the trail east of Freds Corner is in great shape. West of the Corner the trail is also in good shape, though narrow and overgrown by ferns in places. A bypass trail has been built across the massive landslide at the head of High Point Creek. The bypass trail's tread has slumped and could use work.
K3 Trail to Tiger Mountain Trail:
Though officially "unmaintained", it is in decent shape. Steep.
Tiger Mountain Trail from K3 to High Point Trail:
No notable problems except for the bridge across High Point Creek, which has not been repaired after being damaged by a flash flood/ debris flow. A sign says to keep off the sadly listing bridge, though hikers are using it anyway. Crossing the damaged bridge is preferable to fording raging High Point Creek.
Dwight's Way:
A narrow, twisty, old-school trail. No notable problems. The forest is the show here: though it is second growth, the forest has not been logged in a century and is starting to take on the characteristics of an old growth forest.
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