We followed the Swamp Monster story but the final panel(s) seem to be missing. Trail was muddy and soft in places but easy to follow and navigate. Trails were all well marked. Walked to the 'favorite old tree' sign on the next leg of trail and turned around. Total mileage was 2.35 in and out, starting in the parking lot.

Enjoyed starting the new year on the NW lower/side of Tiger. I continue to be grateful for crew and community folks who have cleared the trails. Almost this entire route was clear. It was fun piecing together these various trails. I lost the trail briefly on the NW side of Lake Tradition due to downed trails blocking the trail. I ended up down on the banks of the lake but it wasn't too difficult to bushwhack back up and find the trail on the other side of the blockage. 

Began my hike from the High Point parking lot to check out some of the trails in the Tradition Plateau area of Tiger Mtn. I hiked down the Swamp Trail where the few fallen trees from the Cyclone windstorm were logged out. Different story when I got to the Brink Trail. I got about halfway on this trail before I could go no further due to all the blown over conifer trees. Part of this trail has been cut out from both ends, just the middle section still needs a chainsaw. So, I turned around and headed for the Big Tree Trail which I could hike through since it has been logged out with a few trees to step over. The good news is the "Big Tree", an old growth Doug Fir about 400 years old is still standing. It was a small tree when Capt. Vancouver first sailed into Puget Sound back in 1779. I then got back on the Brink Trail and came out on the Puget Power Trail. After passing by the bench with a view of Issaquah and Lake Sammamish I took the Park Point Connector Trail.

The Park Point Connector Trail did have some blown down trees. One large Doug Fir had a dirt ramp built to get over this large fallen tree. Other smaller trees had been cut out, while another large Doug Fir had two cut rounds to use as steppes to get over it. I then got down to the High School Trail with only a couple of cut trees. Before getting to the junction the Adventure Trail I found a fallen old log for a lunch time bench. While eating four young guys came by heading up the trail, one caring a bicycle, which seemed odd since you cannot ride a bike on this part of Tiger Mtn. After lunch I hiked up to the Bonneville Trail (old powerline road) which was pretty wet with road size puddles to get by. I then took the Bus Trail back to the parking lot. This trail was very wet too.

It rained off and on during my hike. Only saw a few other people out on this wet day. The Brink, Big Tree and Park Point Trails are maintained by the City of Issaquah Parks Dept. and they have been doing a lot of fallen tree cutting from the windstorm. Once the middle section of the Brink Trail is logged out, we can hike through on this trail again.

When I was almost back to the High point parking lot, I saw something I could not believe. Someone had spray painted with black paint their initials on the two kiosks that show maps of the trails on Tiger Mtn. and history photos of the area. Both the photos, maps and stones of the kiosks are covered in back paint. One was the newer Mountains to Sound Greenway kiosk. George

BEAR AND CUBS IN THE TRAIL. please be careful as bear is hanging out with cub in swamp / big tree trail

Did a very easy 3 mile flat loop with beautiful wildflowers blooming. Chose to do this counterclockwise starting with swamp trail but either way works. All trails except wetlands trail was open and clear. Wetlands was a little overgrown and had at least one fallen tree to go over. Mosquitoes will keep you company if you stop moving. Great hike option to do with little ones.