This is a loop series of trails about 7 miles long with about 1300 to 1500 feet of elevation gain/loss over a series of ups and downs. My first destination was Coal Creek Falls from the Sky Country Trail Head. The route to the falls had lots of folks with dogs and is a nice down hill walk for the most part. Not much water in Coal Creek and the falls were silent to my ears. Trees are leafy and grass is very high after a cool wet summer so not much in the way of views on any of the trails. From the falls I headed to De Leo Wall via the Marshall Hill trail, on parts of the trail you could see a sharp drop off but no real views due to foliage. All the trails are in good shape with no mud. As most of my hiking in the area has been in fall/winter/spring this was a welcome change. I passed Far Country falls but again could not see or hear the falls from the trail. The rest of the walk was a nice amble through a shady green forest. Weather the last two Sunday's has been muggy and warm so I am glad I took extra water with me.

This hike is a short walk on the ridges of Cougar Mt. Park. The trails are slightly muddy but not at all as muddy as they can be. Patches of snow linger in the forest from the recent snow fall and spring is still 2 to 4 weeks away for this area, by my estimation. Overall trip is about 4 miles long with 500 feet of elevation gain. It took me about 1.75 hours to walk to Wilderness Peak and return to the Sky Country trail head. Not many people on the trails but I did pass a walker in socks, not sure what was going on but the wet muddy trails would surely ruin a pair of white athletic socks quickly. Other than a recent tree fall (Hemlock, I think) over some switchbacks near Shy Bear Pass, the trail is in very walkable shape. No big views on these trails (did see what I believe to be Commencement Bay from The Wilderness Peak Trail), just lots of trees, peace and quite. One last note, Wilderness Peak now has a nice bench made in memorial to two Japanese Americans (hope I got the ancestry correct). It is a nice resting place for a snack or to enjoy the forest that is the Peak.

Wet, Rainy and Sunny but no significant wind disruptions on this short walk (about 1.5 miles by my estimation). The trails were quite waterlogged but not overly muddy, several spots had 6 inch water "holes" or puddles that covered the trails, these will likely drain as weather improves to more normal levels. Flowers such as phlox were out and the whole park is in the midst of spring with green trees and shrubs everywhere. Other than the rain and water holes a nice walk.

A lot of trails for a 4 mile loop (approximate mileage) in Cougar Mt. Park, three of us, Alpine Art, Loren and Joani started from Sky Country Trail Head on a pleasant walk on trails and the Clay Pit Road. In general the trails are a bit muddy after recent rains but for most of our hike we had only drizzle if with mud holes. The East Fork trail was quite muddy at times but this is not unusual for this trail. My only misdirection on the hike was a short trip up Coyote Creek Trail rather than hiking Clay Pit Road to Klondike Swamp Trail. Other than the mud the walk was great. Lots of dogs, runners and others out prior to the predicted arrival of rain in the afternoon.

This time we did the east side of Cougar Mountain and found more interesting things. At the top of Wilderness Peak is a fabulous big wood bench with footrest, backrest, and arm rests. Pretty plush. The Clay Pit is big and still in production but there are rocks along the south edge for sitting and some views toward the north. Just a scant quarter mile west of the clay pit is an outrageous mine shaft that just goes deep deep deep. It is well grated with rebar and safe but fascinating. We dropped a few sticks down the mine shaft and they rattled down down out of hearing. Very fun. All the trails are clear and mostly dry and the signage is excellent. The flowers are already starting - trillium, mountain rose, violets, coltsfoot, and bleeding heart. There is a little mud here and there but nothing to interrupt the joys of getting out on a nice day.