Tiger Mountain Trail, Poo Poo Point - Chirico Trail & One-View Trail — Friday, Jul. 29, 2011

Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain

This was an official Mountaineer’s trip with a party of 5. Our trip started at the Chirico TH on the Issaquah-Hobart Rd. The Chirico Trail has been vastly and continually improved with lots of steps. Took a short break at Poo Poo Pt. and then continued on the Poo Poo Pt. Trail (heavy overgrowth) to One View to TMT to the Hidden Forest Trail. This trail climbs steeply up to the Main Tiger Mtn Rd where it is renamed Poo Top. It remains very steep as it ascends a scenic ridge to the Tiger 1 summit. The trail was in nice condition and shows little use. We walked through the antennae farm to the bench just west of the “Hikers Hut”. Grand views here and lots of wildflowers blooming. Continued on the West Tiger No. 1 Trail to the Bootleg Trail. Very scenic in open forest and cool in the shade. Continued to the Preston Trail to Paw Print Rest Stop which was completely overgrown. We could barely see the picnic tables. Then found the RR Grade Trail which was so overgrown there was only the barest hint of a path through high vegetation. Turned west on the TMT. Again overgrown, but we can see the tread. Found a massive new bridge with steel beams over a creek with a history of washouts. By mistake I headed down the Hidden Forest Trail, but soon realized my mistake and we regained the TMT. Then continued our return down the One View Trail and back to Poo Poo Pt. Poo Poo Pt. was now busy with Para gliders, one hang glider and lots of spectators. With a cool breeze, in sunny conditions and a rainbow of flyers in the sky it was hard to leave. On the return we met Mike who has been building the steps on the trail for years and years. Stats for this very nice trip were 11.1 miles, 3,900’ (includes getting off-route) and 9 hours 20’ with 3 very long view/eat/rest stops. Heavy overgrowth along the trails was about the highest and heaviest I had ever seen. We did not see one other person between leaving and returning to Poo Poo Pt.