Decided to head to a local summit today. Saw No one until almost back to the trailhead.

On my 3rd straight day of hiking, I decided to try something a little less hardcore. I have been wanting to see the Bullitt Fireplace so I hiked the Bullitt trail (following signs to Central Peak) starting at the Squak Mountain park. I really enjoyed this hike, very well maintained trail with very little footing problems. Also, there are quite a few markers on this trail, so it's very easy to find your way. The hike up to the fireplace is pretty steady and doesn't really climb incline much until the last mile or so. I had a great experience on the way up as well. A beautiful young deer bounced across the trail about 100 feet in front of me, and we had a nice little staring contest for a few minutes before she moved along. Up at the fireplace was very peaceful, and I ended up going a little farther and up to the right, which pretty much was nothing and ended w/out a view. Next time I'll continue on straight to get to Central Peak. Overall a great day of hiking, especially w/sore legs etc. Looking forward to another trip up there, as well as some of the other trail options. Weather was unreal on Tuesday, probably the warmest I've been on a hike since summer.

Started out on Sycamore Access trail in a neighborhood because this route looked steep and I wanted something for a conditioning hike. After Sycamore, I took the East Ridge Trail, went left at Thrush Gap, then took Phil's Creek Trail to Summit Trail and finished up with .2m on the South Access Rd, which is a utility road edged with power lines leading to the towers and buildings at the summit. All trail segments were in good shape, the day was gorgeous and sunny. RT stats were 5.2m and 1800ft gain in 2.5 hours (with several photo ops on the way up and about 25 mins at the peak for a lunch break). Not bad for an old lady! There is a tiny bit of a view at the summit, in a notch where some trees have been cleared, and you can see Seattle and the Olympics on a clear day. Lots of big ferns and mossy trees on the way up. Surprisingly pretty hike.

Started out on Sycamore Access trail in a neighborhood because this route looked steep and I wanted something for a conditioning hike. After Sycamore, I took the East Ridge Trail, went left at Thrush Gap, then took Phil's Creek Trail to Summit Trail and finished up with .2m on the South Access Rd, which is a utility road edged with power lines leading to the towers and buildings at the summit. All trail segments were in good shape, the day was gorgeous and sunny. RT stats were 5.2m and 1800ft gain in 2.5 hours (with several photo ops on the way up and about 25 mins at the peak for a lunch break). Not bad for an old lady! There is a tiny bit of a view at the summit, in a notch where some trees have been cleared, and you can see Seattle and the Olympics on a clear day. Lots of big ferns and mossy trees on the way up. Surprisingly pretty hike.

The trail’s in great shape. No downed trees. No missing signs. Minimal mud or water on the trail. This was our first time on Squak Mountain. The first half of the Central Peak Trail is a gentle ascent. The second half is much steeper. We could have easily stopped at the Bullitt Fireplace. There’s no payoff at the summit, unless you’re a fan of cell towers, etc. There’s one peekaboo view of downtown Seattle that requires a telephoto lens to capture. Likewise, near the fireplace you can catch glimpses through the trees of Lake Sammamish, the plateau, and a prominent peak to the north (Glacier?). Despite the lack of views, we enjoyed the hike. We only saw a few people, a few dogs, and one horse on the trail. Everyone was friendly. If you appreciate solitude but are bent on hiking near Issaquah, this is a great option. My son took photos, as usual, and I shot a quick 3-minute video (below).