Nice early morning hike. We parked at Harvey trailhead and there was no one there (8am on Saturday). By the time we left around 10 there were a few cars.

Along the hike we passed 4-5 people. 

Entered the park via Big Tree Ridge Trail. Looped Red Cedars, Surprise Creek, Shangri La, Protector, Tibbetts Marsh, West Tibbetts Creek, No Name Trail, Precipice Top, and then back out Big Tree Ridge. About 5 miles total.

Beautiful spring foliage! Ferns ferning, vine maple tinged with red, and some flowers around but I really just love seeing so many different layers and shades of green. 

Arrived at the Talus Bridge Trailhead a little before 5pm. There are about six parking spots right by the trailhead in the neighborhood, and only one spot left when I arrived. I hiked a clockwise loop from Talus Bridge > Bear Ridge > West Tibbet’s Creek > Protector > Shangri La > Surprise Creek > Bear Ridge. Only say 4 people the whole time. Was back to the car about 6:15pm. Gaia estimated 3.5 miles and 900’. 

Began my loop hike from the Sky Country Trailhead by the former US Army Nike missile base. Hiked the Old Man's Trail out to the By Pass Trail. I noticed some new flagging that looked like a future trail relocation. Once up to Fred's RR Trail I turned left, crossed the Clay Pit Road and started up the Klondike Swamp Trail. In about 1/4 mile I turned right on to the Cougar Pass Trail. In one section a small creek is running down the trail with a big mud hole, so looks like it could use some drainage work by King County Parks. At the next junction I turned left on to Harvey Manning Trail (formerly named the Anti-Aircraft Ridge Trail) and headed north. There were a couple of big mud holes on the lower part of this trail. Met three hikers going south. When I got to the Lost Beagle Trail, I went up it the opening in the old chain link fence and hike down to the Harvey Manning Trailhead on Anti-Aircraft Peak. From the parking lot I hiked up to the Million Dollar Viewpoint and had a snack break at the picnic table. No mountain view today with the clouds up north, but a nice view over Lake Sammamish.

After my snack I headed down the Shangri La Trail (on an old roadbed) to get to the Proctector Trail and took it to meet up with the West Tibbetts Creek Trail. Crossed the creek on a nice log bridge and then headed up hill to meet the east end of the Cougar Pass Trail. I stayed on the WTCT up to the old Clay Pit and used the wooden bench for my lunch. I had a view east to Tiger Mtn. and some snowy peaks in the distance. Felt good to have lunch in the sunshine after months of rainy weather. A lone lady bug joined me on the bench for some sun. After eating I headed down the Clay Pit Road a short distance and took the Mine Shaft Trail south. After passing the grated cover for the old air shaft that went down 1,200 feet get fresh air to the miners working at that depth. The trail goes up and then back down to get to Jerry's Duck Pond. The pond had a lot of algae and two Mallard ducks were swimming around enjoying it. From the pond the trails turns into the East Fork Trail to get down to Fred's RR Trail. Two spots on this trail had water running down it with some mud holes. One section had a nice turnpike with crushed rock to keep the trail out of the creek water. Once down at Fred's, I hiked north to get back to the By Pass and Old Man's trails to finish my loop hike. One of the old flooded mine shaft openings has water going over Fred's RR Trail.

Only saw a few other hikers on my trip, plus some dog walkers and trail runners, so now crowds on this hike. Some of the trails have some mud holes do to all the rain the passed months. A few fallen trees to step over. George

Continued the previous day of trail work starting at Harvey Manning Trailhead.

A group went down Lost Beagle Trail, like the day before, and a smaller group headed down Tibbett’s Creek Trail/Protector Trail, clearing out drains.

I wore my rain pants and gaiters, and got wet up to my knees, playing in the mud, clearing out drains that had turned into retaining ponds.

We were successful draining the tread down Shangri La trail, but there was a pretty strong stream flowing down a lot of the trail.

We cut the day a bit short due to the rain and wind, but still achieved a lot clearing up an incoming maintenance backlog on one of the rainiest days this year :).