Since Christmas, I have been working on summiting 16 different high points in the Issaquah Alps from my front door. Each summit was an out-and-back from where I live to a summit. I had achieved nine summits up until NYE, when I decided to change plans a bit for the last day of the year. For this day, I would attempt to summit 13 different highpoints in the Issaquah Alps in one big loop from my front door.
I have attempted to list all the trails on this but have also included my GPS track below.
Leaving just before day break, I made my way to Cougar Mountain and enjoyed the rolling trails of this area to summit Anti-aircraft Peak, Bellevue High Point, Radio Peak, Clay Pit Peak, Newcastle Hill, Long View Peak and Wilderness Peak. Trails were in great shape, with just some muddy sections and blowdowns to step over. Clay Peak required a wet bushwhack to the summit that I do not look forward to having to do again to complete my “Every Single Summit” project! Sunlight filtering through the branches made for some ethereal moments and the miles melted by.
After Cougar, it was up Squak via Margaret’s Way. Again, trails are in great shape with muddy spots and some blowdowns. I summited, West Squak, Central Squak and SE Squak. SE Squak does have a path to the summit, though it is a bit overgrown in spots.
Finally it was time to tackle the west Tigers. Wanting to get up the mountain a bit more quickly, I opted at mile 29 to tackle Section Line and that was a bit of a grunt! But smooth sailing afterwards along the ridge that leads to West Tiger II and finally West Tiger I, the last summit of the day and highest point of the day. From there it was mostly downhill as meandered my way back home.
39 miles, nearly 11k of gain and a memorable way to finish the year!
Comments
stever on Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall, Big Tree Ridge, Surprise Creek, Shangri La, Coyote Creek, Radio Peak, Cougar Pass, Clay Pit Road, East Fork, Fred's Railroad, Quarry, Marshall's Hill, Shy Bear, Deceiver, Margaret's Way, West Peak, Central Peak, East Ridge Trail, High School Trail, Section Line Trail, West Tiger 2, Preston Trail, Tiger Mountain Trail, West Tiger Railroad Grade, Swamp Trail, Big Tree Trail
Wow. Damn impressive. Congrats! Steve R.
Posted by:
stever on Jan 02, 2019 05:26 PM
Stuke Sowle on Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall, Big Tree Ridge, Surprise Creek, Shangri La, Coyote Creek, Radio Peak, Cougar Pass, Clay Pit Road, East Fork, Fred's Railroad, Quarry, Marshall's Hill, Shy Bear, Deceiver, Margaret's Way, West Peak, Central Peak, East Ridge Trail, High School Trail, Section Line Trail, West Tiger 2, Preston Trail, Tiger Mountain Trail, West Tiger Railroad Grade, Swamp Trail, Big Tree Trail
Thank you Steve! A great day to be out!
Posted by:
Stuke Sowle on Jan 04, 2019 05:46 AM
HikesLikeJagger on Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall, Big Tree Ridge, Surprise Creek, Shangri La, Coyote Creek, Radio Peak, Cougar Pass, Clay Pit Road, East Fork, Fred's Railroad, Quarry, Marshall's Hill, Shy Bear, Deceiver, Margaret's Way, West Peak, Central Peak, East Ridge Trail, High School Trail, Section Line Trail, West Tiger 2, Preston Trail, Tiger Mountain Trail, West Tiger Railroad Grade, Swamp Trail, Big Tree Trail
Wow great trip/report. Impressive mileage and beautiful pics. Good job Stuke!
Posted by:
HikesLikeJagger on Jan 03, 2019 08:15 PM
Stuke Sowle on Wildside Trail-De Leo Wall, Big Tree Ridge, Surprise Creek, Shangri La, Coyote Creek, Radio Peak, Cougar Pass, Clay Pit Road, East Fork, Fred's Railroad, Quarry, Marshall's Hill, Shy Bear, Deceiver, Margaret's Way, West Peak, Central Peak, East Ridge Trail, High School Trail, Section Line Trail, West Tiger 2, Preston Trail, Tiger Mountain Trail, West Tiger Railroad Grade, Swamp Trail, Big Tree Trail
Thank you! I probably should have put a bit more text in the report but with 26 plus named trails it was getting a bit unwieldy. Pictures probably tell the best story anyway.
Posted by:
Stuke Sowle on Jan 04, 2019 05:47 AM