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2 photos
Solo Steve
 
Since the weather was fairly nice, the parking lot was about a third full when our group arrived at 8:15. We started off from the Tradition Plateau trailhead and started up the Tiger Mountain Trail. There’s a connector trail -- unmarked where it intersects the TMT at the South end of Anschell’s Alley, and marked simply marked as ‘K-3’ at the junction with West Tiger RR Grade -- which shaves off a good portion of the TMT. It rejoins the TMT as a steep and narrow path to Tom’s Crossing and Tiger 2. From there we joined the hordes going to and from Tiger 3 summit. After a quick lunch and some pictures, we descended via the West Tiger 3 trail. It’s a shame what the hundreds of thousands of boots have done to this trail and the parallel utility trail -- it felt like more of a scree scramble in spots. We took a side trip through the Talus Rocks Loop, where some nice-looking railing has been installed to discourage folks from climbing into the boulders. We returned to the parking lot via the Nook Trail. These last two sections of trail were in very good shape, and make for a great forest walk.
Whitebark
Beware of: snow conditions
 
The arctic air mass invading the Puget Sound area has dropped a nice coat of snow on Tiger Mountain--not the usual slushy stuff, but fluffy, Utah-style powder. The snow is really pretty to look at and fun to walk around in, at least where tromping feet haven't packed it down into ice. Given the weather forecasts, the snow should last awhile. Here's a rundown of trail conditions: High Point Creek Trail: In good condition, a little mud and ice here and there. Tiger Mountain Trail, from High Point Creek to Tom's Crossing: In good condition, increasingly snowy as you climb. There's about 4 inches of snow at 2000'. Section on railroad grade is slumped in spots, needs tread work. Trail between W Tiger II and III: snowy, steep, eroded. Needs extensive drainage work or rerouting. W Tiger III Trail from summit to Tradition Lake trailhead: Packed snow and ice on trail, slippery, bring traction devices for your boots.
Whitebark

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To enjoy the fine weather on Thursday, I took a long ramble on Tiger Mountain. Here's a rundown on the condition of the trails: **TMT from tradition plateau to K-3 trail: The trail is in generally good shape. Around the cable line trail, the TMT gets muddy (clay soil?). Slumped tread near the two large bridges crossing a branch of High Point Creek (elev 1500'). Junction with K-3 trail is messy and ill defined. No sign. **K-3 trail: Near the TMT junction (elev. 1500') the trail is a bit of a mess and needs treadwork. The rest of the trail is well laid out and in good shape. **West Tiger RR grade from K-3 trail to Freds Junction: Pretty good condition. Areas of slumped tread need rework. **Connector Trail from Fred's Junction (elev 1800') to West Tiger I (Preston) Trail: O.K. Condition. This trail is brushy and has sections of slumped tread that need work. **West Tiger I trail from 2100' to Bootleg Trail junction: Good condition. Drainage work that I did last year is paying off. Some brushing needed. **Poo Top Trai: Lightly used trail is in good condtion. Some steep sections could use a reroute, but this work is hardly a priority. **Hidden Forest Trail from upper end to TMT: Good condition. Steep section needs to be rerouted to reduce the gradient. **One View Trail: I still don't know where the one view is. Good condition overall. **Poo Poo Point Trail. Great condition. A trail crew came through and worked on the drainage system (which I had already improved last fall). Now the drainage should be good for years. Bike exclusion fence at the upper end is still wrecked and needs rebuilding.
Beware of: snow, trail conditions
 

Just did a long ramble on Tiger Mountain to enjoy the February sunshine and to check out the condition of the storm damaged trails. The good news is that repairs have proceeded apace, and most trails are now useable. Here's a summary of the trails that I hiked: Tiger Mountain Trail (TMT) from Tradition Lake TH to Highpoint Creek The trail has been cleared out and is in good condition, with just a bit of mud in spots. Impressive storm damage area at ridge where Anschels Allee starts. TMT shortcut trail to West Tiger Railroad Grade This useful trail is not on the Green Trails Map. It begins shortly beyond the second bridge over the west branch of Highpoint Creek, near the spot where the TMT starts switchbacking downhill. Once you find it, you discover that's its a pretty decent path with real switchbacks, not just a fall-line rut like you'd expect. The trail has not been cleared, but is useable. One bad blowdown has wiped out a switchback, forcing an awkward detour. West Tiger RR grade from TMT shortcut to Preston Trail at 2100' junction. The first portion of the trail has not been cleared, but suffered little storm damage and can be walked easily. Upon reaching the TMT, the trail is fully cleared. Preston Trail, 2100' junction to W Tiger 1 summit Fully Cleared. There's an area of tremendous storm damage with logs piled on top of each other in a jackstraw jumble. Chainsawers must have had a grand time there. Snow begins at about 2500', only a few inches deep and no obstacle to travel. Poo Top Trail Not cleared, but suffered relatively little damage and easily hiked. Just a few fallen trees on the trail. The main problem is that the faint trail tread can be hard to spot under the branch debris littering the path. Hidden Forest Trail above TMT Not Cleared and hit pretty hard with storm damage. Toppled trees provide frequent obstacles. Can be hiked with a little patience. Luckily this section of trail is only 0.2 miles long. One View Trail Fully cleared and easy to hike. Some of the most awesome storm damage on Tiger Mtn occured here. I can't even imagine what the wind speed reached here during the storm, looks like a tornado hit. West Tiger RR grade from Poopoo point trail to Section Line Trail. Mostly Cleared and hikeable. Trail is damaged by mudslides and rootball craters in Many Creek Valley. Section Line Trail from TMT to Talus connector This super-steep trail is partially cleared and useable. Some large logs still on the ground have handy steps and grab handles cut into them. This trail is a prime candidate for regrading; it could use a few switchbacks. The current overly steep tread is getting too much use and is eroding. Nook Trail Cleared and in good shape.

Mr. Trailhead
 
On Sunday I led my favorite Tiger Mountain hike for The Mountaineers. It is a loop trip where we take the normal route up to Tiger 3, then over to Tiger 2, and return to the parking lot on the Tiger Mountain Trail. This route is an 8 mile loop that offers both views and beautiful forest in the lonesome Northeast corner of the mountain. We saw the evidence of the devastation from the November storm immediately upon leaving the parking lot. Both the shelter and the rest rooms have large trees laying on them. The trail to the top of Tiger 3 has been logged out, although there are a few difficult places where the trail is gone due to the damage from root balls of blown-down trees. The side trip to Tiger 2 was not logged out, but was not too bad. After Tiger 2 we dropped down to the TMT, and there the ordeal began. I can confirm that the devastation reported by John Deer, in his report last week on the southern stretch of the trail, is also applicable for about two miles past Tiger 2. At one spot, there was about a quarter acre of total devastation. Think of Mt. St. Helens. We lost the trail and had to drop down to the railroad grade. Finally, past Fred's corner the conditions improved until we got within about a mile of the Tradition Lake trailhead, where it got bad again. There will be a great need for trailwork this year. My New Year's Resolution for this year will be to double the hours of trailwork I do in 2004.