Fred's Railroad, Old Man's Trail, Shy Bear, Whittaker Wilderness Peak & Gombu Wilderness Cliffs — Monday, Mar. 7, 2022

My entire hiking group met for the first time since covid started to check out the new Wilderness Peak trail reroute on Cougar Mtn.  Twenty hikers showed up so we split up into 2 smaller groups. We started from the Sky Country TH where there was ample parking space at 9:30.  It was 40 degrees with overcast skies. Our out and back lollipop loop hike followed the Old Man’s trail, Fred’s Railroad, Shy Bear, the New Wilderness Peak Trail, Gombu and Wilderness / Whittaker trails then back to Shy Bear where we retraced our steps back to Sky Country for a 7 mile outing.  The entire trail was well drained and it was evident in many sections where recent trail work groups worked to improve the drainage and water run off.  Thank you to all the WTA Trail work volunteers your work is much appreciated. One of the days highlights was a flock of 50 our more chickadees, flittering in the deciduous canopy near Wilderness Peak.  At first our group was trying to decide what the noise was and where it was coming from.  Personally, I have never seen that many birds anywhere on Cougar Mtn.  After stopping for a lunch /rest break on the Gombu trail we got back to the TH just before 2:30.  Another fantastic day to be out in nature with friends.