No rain predicted so we headed out. Got almost the last parking spot at 9:45. Hiked the Chirico Trail to Poo Poo Pt. Greeted by a large group of VERY LOUD 20 Somethings. Trail was in excellent condition with almost no mud and shows lots of extensive upgrading. Thank you, trail volunteers. Continued on the Poo Poo Pt Trail to One View Trail and then east on the TMT to Paw Print Rest Stop, meeting only one other hiker and a couple who had been doing trail maintenance Ate lunch in the sun. The toliet here needs TP and a good cleaning. Stopped going and coming at Poo Poo Pt. to watch dozens of gliders enjoying the good wind and weather. All trails were in excellent condition with minimal mud. We saw no snow, although a hiker reported to us finding snow patches on the top of Tiger 1. Stats for this excellent hike are 10 miles and 3,180' gross elev. If more ambitious than we were this day, various loops could be made on the return, including over Tiger 1.

It has been 5 years since I last was to the summit of West Tiger 3. Since this time a new section of trail has been added (west of the Cable Line Trail) which has a much better grade than the old trail. The weather was interesting and I managed to take wrong turn, adding about 1.5 miles to the hike (I took the West Tiger RR Grade Trail by mistake and did not realize it until I got to the steep section of the TMT going up the West Tiger 2 ridge. Despite my poor navigation, it took less than 4 hours to complete this loop. It was snowing from about 1900 feet up, with a slightly icy traverse from Tom's Crossing to the West Tiger 2/West Tiger 3 connector trail. The snow ice was not a problem except on roots which were slick. I did get to explore a bit and use the KTM 3 trail (I think this is correct) which is steep (not that steep in my opinion) but not a problem. Clouds and snow limited to views but it was fun seeing all of the West Tiger summits, Squak, Lake Sammamish, and I avoided the crowds by taking the unexpected detour. Snow on the summit, trees, ferns etc was quite cool. No problems getting back down as the West Tiger 3 trail was all snow free and easy walking. The trail does go through neat second growth forest, and I thought of the lines, The Woods Are Lovely Dark and Deep, But I Have Promises To Keep, And Miles To Go Before I Sleep. A great day in the Issaquah Alps.

It was the shortest day of the year, and appropriately chilly and gray on Tiger Mountain. Snow dusted the mountain down to 1000 feet. To celebrate the winter solstice, I did a long loop hike starting at the Tradition Lake trailhead, using parts of the Tiger Mountain Trail, K3, West Tiger RR Grade, Preston Trail, Poo Top, Hidden Forest, One View, and Poo Poo Point trails. There was little accumulation of snow even at the top of West Tiger I. In general, trail conditions were good and the hiking problem-free everywhere on Tiger. Here are more details on the trail conditions that I found... TMT from Tradition Lake to K3 junction. Highlights: beautiful maturing 2nd growth forest, small waterfalls and creeks, steep canyons and fern-draped rocks at head of High Point Creek. Condition: good, mud holes near beginning of trail, some sections of narrow slumped tread on the steep climb beyond Cable Line, a section of slumped tread past the big bridges. K3 Trail: Highlights: beautiful maturing 2nd growth forest. Condition: good, though steep and narrow. W Tiger RR Grade from K3 to Preston Tr: Highlights: historic logging RR grade and campsite , the landslide, some limited views, cascading creeks. Condition: good. path across landslide needs work. Preston Trail to summit of W Tiger I: Highlights: beautiful old 2nd growth forest. Condition: good, a bit of snow on trail, drain dips need work. Oversteep stretch near Bootleg junction could use reroute with switchbacks. Poo Top Trail: Highlights: Silver firs, limited views, a fun hike along a ridge crest. Condition: good, steep narrow tread in places, needs switchbacks added in a few spots. Bike tracks on trail. Hidden Forest Trail from top to TMT: Condition: good, steep, needs reroute with switchbacks. One View Trail: Highlights: beautiful maturing 2nd growth forest. Condition: good, trail from the TMT to the top of the next hill is narrow, steep, and rooty, needs work. Poo Poo Point Trail: Highlights: beautiful forest with huge old growth trees (rare on Tiger) above Many Creeks Valley, The big creek and bridge. Condition: good. Oversteep sections above Many Creeks Valley needs reroute with switchbacks. Drainage (dips and waterbars) on the lower portion of the trail urgently needs repair. One bad blowdown blocks trail.

Headed out early for a trail run on this 30th day without rain. I used the High School Trail to access Tiger Mtn. from downtown Issaquah. Right behind Issaquah High School the trail has been rerouted due to some contstruction. It goes around behind the baseball fields now. Easy to follow since there is a chain link fence on one side, and fresh bark tread. I climbed Poo Poo Point trail, which is in great shape. All the mud is even dry now, but the foliage was damp from the low clouds. The salmon berries are starting to encroach on the trail in places. I saw a glacier lilly along the way. From the summit intersection I took One View Trail across to the intersection with the Tiger Mountain Trail, which is always one of my favorites. The condition of the TMT varies, in sections it is very narrow and the edges are crumbling away, while in areas where work has recently been done (primarily the swutchbacks before the TMT #2 trail crossing) are in perfection condition. There were a couple buckets there, so I assume work is still going on. I particularly like the TMT for it's gradual ups and downs, and the fact that I never see another soul on it! I opted not to summit #2 due to the low clouds but continued to follow the TMT around the north side, and past the RR grade crossing. I haven't been out this way for awhile, as I usually sneak down the K3 shortcut which connects back up with the TMT cutting off a mile or two. I was in for a surprise, as the TMT dropped off sharply into a big mudslide area, I assume a result of the floods earlier this season. I think this is High Point Creek. Pay attention so you don't miss the trail reroute like I did. I ended up hiking up around the slide area and it was sketchy! Back on the trail, we dropped down, past Fred's Corner and then the TMT turns back towards the creek. Where the trail crosses the wash out again, the bridge was closed. It has sustained some damage to the structure, but the entire thing has also been moved from its original location. The forces of nature always amaze me. I was too far in to turn around now, so worked my way across the creek carefully and continued on. I was already soaked from the wet brush so a little extra water didn't matter at this point. From there the TMT descent back to the Tradition Plateau was normal, and I even flushed a couple deer. I opted for the Bus Trail to head back to town, and was surprised to see several hundred slugs on just this short section of moist gravel tread. I have never seen such a thing in my life...every few steps there were groupings of slugs...6, 10, sometimes more. I don't know what the special occasion was. I even saw a couple land snails the size of golf balls! I was happy to get back to the car after this 11 mile adventure, where once again, I saw not a single person.

I hiked the Tiger Mountain Trail (TMT) for a little over a mile with Charlie, my chihuahua. The TMT can be found 50 feet past the beginning of the West Tiger #3 trailhead. After the TMT crossed the Cable Line Trail, it began to switchback up. Maybe 5 minutes in I began to see snow patches in open areas away from the cover of the forest canopy. Then another 10 minutes up the trail, snow accumulation on the trail was making it a sloppy, muddy mess. The whole trail from start to where I turned around was a big muddy ordeal! Charlie got doused, which was pretty funny, but he didn’t seem to mind (surprisingly). I don’t recommend this trail for winter hiking, snow or no snow. I’d say I turned around at the beginning of Anschell’s Allee. I did get some good out of the hike, though. I bought new hiking shoes (North Face Ultra 104 Gore-Tex) and I put them to the test. They stayed completely dry, even when I stepped in mud puddles up to the lower gussets. Arch support was a bit of a problem, but the heel is snug and my toes aren’t cramped. Well, maybe I will try this trail again in the summertime.