Tibbett's Marsh, Coyote Creek, Lost Beagle, Shangri La, East Fork, Old Man's Trail & Fred's Railroad — Monday, Dec. 2, 2024

We had a great winter hike today at Cougar Mtn Regional Park.  We met at the Sky Country TH at 9:30.  It was 32 degrees with mostly sunny skies.  The Porta Potties in the lot had TP.  We made a 5.6 mile loop  on hard packed and frost heaved trail surface. King County Parks and trail crews have done an amazing job clear trails since the bomb cyclone weather event 2 weeks ago.  EVERY trail we hiked was cleared of down trees and major limb debris.  Our route  followed - Old Man’s Tr, L on Cave Hole Tr, R on Coyote Creek, R on Klondike Swamp Trail, L on Lost Beagle down to Harvey Manning Th. We went to check out the Million $ View Pagoda but a thick fog layer hung over Lake Sammamish and blocked the view.  Continuing on we went down the Shangri La Tr, R on Tibbett’s Marsh Tr to the Clay Pit.  The sun was out and we found a pile of rocks to sit down and take a rest break down the old Clay Pit road.  Views were not limited here and all the Tiger Mtn Peaks and their Radio Towers were blazing in the sun.  We took the road up to SW from the clay pit and took a R on the start of the East Fork Trail, that did have a large downed tree jumble to climb through.  After that the trail Mine Shaft Tr around Jerry’s Duck pond to the west was completely clear.  To finish our hike took a R on Fred’s Railroad, L on the By Pass Tr down to Cave Hole and back to Old Man’s Tr back to Sky Country TH.   Despite the sunny skies we only passed a few hikers the entire day.  Another fantastic day out in nature with friends.