Another short loop in Cougar Mountain Park with the daughter. The weather was clear and very sunny (needed my sun glasses on for much of the drive and hike). The first thing I noticed was that while the air temperature was relatively warm, there was frost on the ground. In some places on the Quarry and Coal Creek Falls Trails, the frost was more like ice/mud slick, brown and hard to see. As noted in a recent report, the Old Man, Nike, By Pass and Fred's Railroad Trails are all in good shape with minimal mud (in part due to the cold ground which turned mud into a hard packed surface). The Quarry and Coal Creek trails were icy on the south slope with the Coal Creek Trail going down to the falls quite icy in places. The frost did make for some interesting views of ferns. The falls were great with lots of water coming down them. After the falls the Coal Creek and Cave Hole Trails were muddy with several nice mud holes to step around. The weather made this hike a good one if not great exercise.

This was a short loop and reconnaissance hike to see the condition of trails after a week of warmer weather a melting. In early January all of the trails in the area had snow, ice and slush present. Snow was hard to find on this date but mud, water and general muck were on most of the trails. A WTA party was working on the Mine Shaft Trail raising the bed in places and adding water drainage. The East Fork Trail is in need of work including better drainage - water was running down about 1/3 of the trail bed. The other trails were in better shape but muddy due to the recent snow. Saw deer and bear tracks in the mud.

I took this 7.5 to 8.0 mile loop in Cougar Mt. Park as a tune up hike for several planned summer hikes including a traverse of Rattlesnake Ridge. Saturday turned out warm and pleasant and a great day to be out. My allergies which had been bothering me did not affect the hike which took about 3.5 hours with two breaks at Longs Peak and Far Country Look Out. Lots of people were out with pets, trail running, or their children. The most notable parts of the hike were low land flowers and a deer family on the Cave Hole trail. The attached photos are of Skunk Cabbage near Doughty Falls and Phlox on the Coal Creek Falls Trail. Coal Creek Falls were as stunning as I have ever seen them. All an all a great trip, with about 1200 to 1400 feet of elevation gain and loss. Trails were generally dry with some mud holes particularly on the horse use trails.

Today was a great day to hike--by February standards. A balmy temperature of 47 degrees, light misty rain, and no snow...what more could one ask for? Signs of spring continue to slowly appear: triliums and salmonberrys are blooming, and skunk cabbages are popping up in the wetlands. In particular, the wetlands along the Shy Bear Trail feature a nice growth of skunk cabbages. I started my Cougar Mountain hike at the new Sky Country trailhead, and from there rambled a wide selection of trails. For the most part, the trails I hiked were in good shape. King County does a good job staying on top of trail maintenance these days. The main problem I saw were numerous flattened and useless drain dips. Here's the rundown on specific trail conditions: Old Man's Trail: Good condition. Bypass Trail: Good, but east end is a bit eroded, needs drainage work. Freds RR Trail: Good condition. Shy Bear Trail east of Deceiver Trail: o.k., a bit rooty and muddy. Deceiver Trail: Good, a few mud holes especially east of Long View Pk. Klondike Swamp Trail: Good, recently worked. Coyote Creek Trail: Good, some mud holes.

Coal Creek Falls is one of the highlights of Cougar Mt. Park. I have often hiked from AA Peak and Red Town trail heads in loops that include these falls. The opening of the Sky Country trail head offers new opportunities to loop through the falls area as well as using a paved parking area as part of the trail head. The loop I chose on this day went from Sky Country via the Old Man Trail to the Cave Hole Trail then via the By Pass Trail to Fred’s Railroad and from Fred’s RR to the Quarry Trail and then via the Coal Creek Falls Trail back the the Cave Holes Trail with the final leg of the trip on the Nike Horse Trail. The trails were all in good shape with no mud holes but with recent horse activity and the normal deposits from said activity on the By Pass and Nike Horse trails in particular. I did not see the horse or horses but the signs of passing were fresh. Other than this there were no problems on the trail and the weather was superb! Sun and mild temperatures. I did not see people on the trails from Fred’s Railroad until I came to the falls were a young family was eating lunch. Trip length about 3 miles with about 400 feet elevation gain.