Wilderness Peak Loop, Long View Peak, Deceiver & Shy Bear — Friday, Jan. 26, 2007

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain

Climbed up beside a lively and chattering Wildeness Creek -- saw just enough snow to make one sno-cone. Blue skies! Sunshine! Pileated woodpecker! Machine noise from the gravel pit across the highway -- yuck. Turned left at Long View Peak trail and continued on for lunch at Doughty Falls -- the best part of the hike-- pretty, quiet, peaceful. Crews have been busy here -- dozens of blowdowns all neatly sliced away, but the layer of twigs left on the trail is thick enough to make the footing slippery in places. Çontined west on Deceiver and then circled back east on Shy Bear trail. Encountered no serious blow-downs until starting up the Wilderness Peak Trail. They could all be scrambled over, under, or around with moderate effort. An angelic-looking Mt. Ranier was just visible through the trees coming down Wilderness Cliffs trail. Returned to the Wilderness Creek trailhead around 3 pm-- found cars lined up, waiting for a parking space. Gorgeous day. AS#1 Girl Scouts