We had originally planned a Mt. Rainier hike off 410 but had to change plans just outside Enumclaw where they had closed the road down. So we switched gears and made our first trip to Taylor Mountain. We did the Holder Creek trail - we saw trail closed sign at the first bridge but the tape had been taken down so we thought maybe someone had just forgot the take the sign down. There were some blowdowns on the trail but nothing too bad. When we got to the end where it meets up with the Road K, there was another closed sign with a chain across the trail so I guess we should not have taken the trail but it didn't seem too bad. The worst part was when we took a wrong turn before the trail crosses the creek and heading up hill to the left. Trail continued some ways before it became overgrown and too hard to follow. When we retraced our steps we figured out our mistake and continued on the correct trail without problems. From the Road K junction we took that to the junction with Road A. From there we took the Holder Knob trail and are lunch at the Horse Picnic area. A smokey view but no Rainier views along that trail. We linked up with the Holder Ridge trail and took it back to the parking lot. Saw one little frog but that was about it. On the plus side there was good amount of shade for most of the hike and we ran into less than 5 people the entire time. Not what we had planned for the day but still a day outdoors is always better than a day working.

Set off for the final of the 24 Issaquah Alps peaks. Parked at the Tiger Mountain Summit lot and played Frogger across HWY 18 - be very careful here, as its a fast highway with limited sight distance. The trail starts at the HWY and follows the BPA right of way, a short distance before turning onto a former logging road. Taylor Mountain Regional Park is nearly 2000 acres crisis crossed by former logging roads. This route follows the prominent hill, contouring to the East, while gently gaining ground to the summit. This is an old logging road, very boring, with a redeeming view of Tiger East aka Tiger Mountain Summit, and also Middle Tiger. Other than one or two views of this are, there is not much to see, as you pass several cycles of logging over the years. The final road to the summit follows another logging road and leads to a viewless pile of logging debris. The only reason to climb this is to bag the peak for the Issaquah Alps 24. It could be a trail run, but HWY 18 crossing makes this dangerous and the history with Ted Bundy makes this hike and undesirable adventure.

We took the Holder Ridge route from the parking lot, then left where it intersected with the loop.  Beautiful forest with huge broadleaf maples and lots of moss.  Don't know if it's classified as a rain forest but has that feel.  Many nurse logs too!  Took the Road A back which is a very pleasant walk.

out in WTA work party with jack from King County doing drainage.   George was sporting a new hard hat