I've always enjoyed a nice hike in the rain (but in July?), and my Tiger Mountain trek this past Friday evening was no different. Arrived at the High Point trailhead at about 5pm, and while it was wet, it was not raining. I decided to complete one of my favorite loops that includes all or parts of several trails. Started up the main trail to West Tiger 3, my first visit since all of the maintenance and re-routing. I was quite impressed with how much work has been completed - and the trail has really changed (I think for the better). I wonder how this change has impacted the length of the hike to West Tiger 3.
It started to rain somewhere near the West Tiger Railroad Grade - I am sure it was somewhere near there as I don't think I actually ever saw the Railroad Grade intersection (I'll watch for it next time). As the trail approached the peak, the work ends and the previous trail is followed to the peak (and it all looked familiar again). The rain was now pretty much coming in sideways, and the peak was in the clouds, so I moved on over the peak on the trail to West Tiger 2. I connected with the Tiger Mountain Trail (TMT) and turned to the right in a driving rainstorm. I enjoy hiking in the rain, but the wind was pretty tough during this stretch, but soon abated as I hiked down from the saddle between West Tiger 2 and 3. Wind would not be an issue for the rest of the hike.
The TMT in this area does not seem to get a lot of use. The trail is almost overgrown in some of the marshy areas. At one point, I had to look pretty hard for the trail through all of the vegetation. There is a bit of trail maintenance underway in this area - that will help as the trail can get pretty thin, on the side of some pretty steep hills. It is good that I was dressed for the rain, as the vegetation was soaked, and it was trying to soak me. By the time I hit the One View trail, the rain was starting to lighten and the the trek through 15 mile pass and over the last climb up and down to the Poo Poo Point trail intersection was pretty uneventful - except for slippery areas and several huge puddles.
The trip down the Poo Poo Point trail was also pretty uneventful, except for lots of mud. Still lots of wet vegetation. Once I hit the road at the bottom it was only misting. I headed back to the trailhead via this road and the Bus Trail. While walking on the Bus Trail the rain hit hard one more time and it continued all the way back to the car (outside the gate).
A wonderful hike, close to the city, but it sure did not seem like it once I passed West Tiger 3. I saw no other hikers after the West Tiger 3 trail as well - it is good that my cell phone works in all of these areas. On this trail (and the road) a little over three hours, and it was a great way to end the week. Would like to hear more about intersting loop hikes on Tiger Mountain.