Shangri La, Bear Ridge, West Tibbett's Creek Trail (#COUGAR-E10) , Mine Shaft Trail & Shy Bear — Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

After working on the Cougar Mountain Trails more than a dozen times, I found a day to go and hike the trails for fun. I started at the trailhead at the Anti-aircraft Peak parking lot and followed the Shangri-La Trail down to the Bear Ridge Trail. I hiked it searching for the Eratic Creek Trail descibed in the IATC guide to Cougar Mountain. This trail connects Bear Ridge to the West Tibbett's Creek Trail which I hiked to the clay pit. I walked through the clay pit and felt my boots get heavier with every step. Yes there is clay in the clay pit. From there I took the Mine Trail to look at the big hole in the ground (with a rebar grate over it) and then on to Wilderness Peak via the East Fork and Shy Bear trails. I returned to the parking lot by Fred's Railroad, Cougar Pass, AA ridge, Tibbett's Marsh and Shangri-la Trails. There are so many trails packed into Cougar Mountain it's like being in a maze. There are also many unmarked trails and a lot of historical artifacts that can make a visit to Cougar Mountain a real adventure.