Charlene and I started up the High Point Trail, the original northern terminus on the TMT. The trail starts up an old road, crosses under a powerline and climbs into cool second-growth forest. We took a left at Dwight's Way and traversed across the north end of Tiger to the intersection with the original Preston Trail. This area of West Tiger is barely used, quiet and peaceful. Trilliums and violets were waking from their winter's sleep and birds were singing. We turned towards the West Tiger 1 Trail, crossing the North Tiger RR Grade. There was a couple of intersections in this area that were a bit vague, obviously less traveled. Portions of the trail were overhung with fern fronds, although the tread was relatively easy to follow. After the RR Grade, we climbed up the heavily forested slopes of WT1 crunching through a thin layer of ice pellets until towards the top, we were hiking through about 4 to 5 inches of snow. West Tiger 1, at 2948 feet, is the second highest peak of the Tiger complex, but is covered by communication towers and outbuildings. A bypass trail brings the hiker up to the west side of the towers, to a metal hikers hut and view point. A convenient bench served as a nice lunch spot. From our vantage point we could see a few paragliders testing the thermals near Poo Poo Point. Although our view of The Mountain was blocked by low clouds, we could see practically the entire Puget Sound Basin before us. From WT1, we descended the maintenance road and came to WT2. We completed the loop by dropping down the bypass trail on WT2 to the TMT and out to High Point Trail. Portions of the West Tiger RR Grade and TMT near Fred's Corner were very muddy from recent hard rains. We admired the newish log bridge over one of the small creeks. Trees and bushes were budding out. This was definitely a lesser used side of West Tiger. All day we only saw 8 people and 6 of them were on top of WT1 and WT2. Driving back later on the Issaquah-Hobart Road, I briefly admired the sight of about 16 to 20 paragliders hovering above the valley near Poo Poo Point. They had attracted quite a crowd below of spectators and even a sheriff's car. Stats: 7.2 miles, 2600' gain.

I joined a group of midweek hikers on a winter hike to West Tiger 2 and 3. Brooding clouds hung over the mountains, but only lightly sprinkled and the air was mild for early January. We climbed the TMT crossing some beautiful new bridges over the various forks of Highpoint Creek and climbing to the intersection with West Tiger RR Grade. The TMT leaves the Railroad Grade and climbs steeply up the northwestern face of WT2 to Tom's Crossing. There we took the spur trail which breaks out behind the tower compound. Views over the Puget Sound were extensive and the air was still so we lingered there awhile during our lunch break. After lunch, we dropped down to the saddle between the peaklets and took the WT3 Trail out. Stats: 8.5 miles, 2200' gain. Traffic was light on the mountain; we met almost everyone on top during lunch. It was a refreshing change from the overpopulated weekend travel. I-5 going home to Tacoma was another story... Some plants are getting fooled by the mild weather. I saw an elderberry bush with huge swelling buds. It's not spring yet.

We had a pleasant after work hike up the Highpoint and TMT trails to W. Tiger 2 and continued on the road to W. Tiger 1. We returned via the Preston Trail and Dwight's Way. Though muddy in spots, all the trails were in good shape. We saw a number of trillium in bloom at lower elevations, especially along Dwight's Way. The sign announcing Fred's Corner was missing, but we did see both the Ruth's Cove and Tom's Crossing signs. Along the TMT was a huge trail bridge that seemed a little out of character. A short ways before this bridge we caught a glimpse of Mt. Baker through the trees. From Tiger 2 to 1 we had a great view of Mt. Rainier. On the way up we noticed an old mountain bike track on the Highpoint Trail which was signed hikers only. Later on Dwight's Way we encountered two mountain bikers. Of course they said they didn't see any hiker only signs. But we did. Where the Highpoint Trail leaves the powerline corridor was a hiker only sign which was partly obscured by a fern (which we trimmed back). The hiker only sign at the trailhead has been vandalized but one could still make out the message.

I'm really not sure what this trail is called. All I know is that it is the main one that goes up Tiger Mountain and is traveled by tens of thousands of people every year. Well this was a school day for me and I really did not enjoy sitting through six hours of high school while the first real day of Spring weather was passing me by. So as soon as my dad got home with a car, I decided to go hiking. Of course it was about 4:30 by that time and I had to negotiate the horrendous Bellevue traffic to get to Tiger Mountain, the closest respectable hike to my area. Of course someone was also doing road work on the short road to the trailhead. So I didn't actually get to the upper trailhead until about 5:45 or so. Of course the sun sets at 6:30. Should I go home and wait for another day' Hell no! I have a flashlight and I've done this trail at least ten times in the last year alone. So I decided to walk up the trail just about as fast as I could to catch the sunset on the top and run down in the dusk. And that's what I did. I still hurt 24 hours after the hike. I parked at the lower trailhead because the gate supposedly would close at dusk (I'm glad I did because the gate was closed when I got down). I walked the road to the upper trailhead quickly and started grinding out elevation. It wasn't too bad at first although I really didn't feel at top form (especially because I did Mt. Si last weekend). I felt out of breath when I didn't feel like I usually would. I eventually contributed this to the fact that I had drank no water before I left the house which I usually do (that's a very good suggestion to everyone else). About half way up I really started to feel pain. Of course this is where the trail gets especially steep. I began to feel I would miss the sunset. Once I got to the flat section about three fourths of the way up, I began to regain my stride. Of course I slowed down again when I hit the steep half mile up to the top. As it turned out, I just barely missed the actual sunset but the sky was still glowing bright gold and pink due to the heavy haze to the west. And Mt. Rainier sported a faint pink glow reflected off it's still deep-snowcovered flanks. I stayed on the top all of five minutes tops, just long enough to gulp down some much needed water and let the incredible lighting and views thoroughly soak into my brain. I started down jogging at first but quickly discovered a pain in the ball of my foot. I jogged some more and it got worse. I was condemned to walk the rest of the way in the fading light in considerable pain from my foot. I was also starting to lose depth perception because of the low light and running could provoke a trip-tumble-thump-scream. Considering I was the last one down that day, I decided walking cautiously was the safest option. I got my flashlight out of my pack about half way down the trail. I used it for awhile and discovered that the batteries were appearing to fade. I turned it off and stuck it up my sleeve to try to keep it warm and coax all the energy I could out of it when I really needed it. Right about that time, I heard some rustling in the bushes below me. It sounded like a large creature of some sort. I just thought it was probably a human got lost on the way to the bathroom. Soon after I rounded a switchback, I heard about the same noise above me. Odd. In the rapidly fading light this was just a little creepy to say the least. It was made even worse when, after about a half a mile I heard it again. Something was following me. I never did discover what it was, if anything. I turned on my flashlight and it seemed to go away. Anyway, it was definitely really dark by the time I had gotten to my car and I had needed my flashlight for some time by then. I felt content that I was able to pull off a successful after school hike. I plan to do this more as the days get longer. I recommend to just about anyone who isn't afraid of the dark to do this hike and watch the sunset from the top. It really is a sight to behold. (the single blow down was over the trail but it was very easy to get under--just duck a little bit--and probably won't even be cleared. the water on trail was just a little mud in spots that is to be expected at this time of year)

After years of hiking up to Poo Poo Point on the High School trail, we decided to try the new trail from the hang-glider field on the Issaquah-Hobart road. The trail begins across the grassy field from the parking lot (which is on the east side of the road). It turned out to be quite a good trail, beautifully constructed. The trail goes up steeply with long switchbacks to the lower hanglider site in about two miles. We stopped for a snack there and enjoyed the panoramic view. It's too bad it was so cloudy, because if Mount Rainier had been visible, it would have been spectacular. We continued up the trail to the upper site (about a quarter of a mile further). Then we continued from Poo Poo Point up the trail, along the railroad grade to a junction (at 2000 feet) with the high school trail(left) and the One View trail (right). The One View trail goes one mile and intersects the Tiger Mountain Trail. We turned left on the TMT and continued about 1.2 miles to Manning's Reach, our destination, where we had lunch. Luckily, the sun came out just as we sat down and we had a pleasant rest with a fine view out to the Lakes and even the Olympics mistily in the distance. The TMT south of Manning's Reach certainly doesn't get much traffic. The trail is rough in spots (quite muddy in places too), and we had to climb over several trees. We only saw one person at Manning's Reach and later, one more on the One View trail. Aside from these, we had total isolation from Poo Poo Point onwards. And this on a Saturday!