Tibbett's Marsh, Mine Shaft Trail, East Fork, Fred's Railroad, Klondike Swamp, Cougar Pass, Harvey Manning Trail & Lost Beagle — Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025

Rime ice yesterday on Tiger Mt and hair ice today on Cougar. Clearly we had a cold weekend! If you’re new to the Issaquah Alps area, I apologize for this long list of trails. I essentially made one long loop from the Harvey Manning trailhead to as far south as the East Fork Trail. Besides hair ice that I was fortunate to notice while looking for the source of a pleasant smell, my photos include a view over the clay pit of peaks NE of the Issy Alps, thin ice that lingered on top of Jerry’s Duckpond, and a section of the Cougar Pass Trail that recently (well, for me…but I can’t remember the last time I was there) had some impressive work done. I do remember how notoriously muddy this section would get as I had always referred to it as a mini mud mile on my runs or hikes. The rocks couldn’t have been easy to get out there but appeared to be working as there was plenty of mud today on the mountain. This hike was just over 4 miles and just under 600 ft elevation gain, but your hike will easily vary out there with so many trail options. Definitely carry or download a map.