Tolt Pipeline Trail, Redmond Watershed Preserve — Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

What a fine day for a hike! Walked Tolt pipeline service road from Avondale eastbound to 232nd. There's big hunk of construction equipment (bulldozer? I'm no construction equipment expert) parked on the trail by 232nd. The trail was otherwise in fine shape. Next, dropped south on 232nd (there's a nice wide paved area on the east side) for a couple blocks, followed an unmarked trail west for about 1/3rd of a mile over the river and through the woods and decided it wasn't taking me to the watershed or Grandmother's house, so I went back to 232nd, headed south, then left on Trilogy st and went a block or two to a trail marked ""Redmond Ridge"" whereupon I embarked west through a greenbelt where houses are visible on both sides for some of the trip, the obvious trail crosses another street and jogs 1/2 block southward along the west side of that street then proceeds west again and eventually into the watershed. The watershed was quite pleasant compared to the greenbelt. I entered from the northeast along the collin creek trail, then headed south on Siler's mill trail, which headed south then bent around finished bearing westward. From there, went north a tad on pipeline regional trail, then hit the connector west to trillium trail, and went back north then east to the pipeline trail, came south thereupon and headed east 0.4 miles back to Siler's mill trail, then back north and out collin creek trail. Whew. The trails were in great shape. No blowdown, no bugs. There were a couple patches of light mud, but my boots came home clean. Siler's Mill is hiker-only, and was a pleasant walk amongst ferns and moss, cottonwood, cedar, and various other trees and shrubs. At one point there is a small pond to the east of the trail. Take a moment to stop and appreciate the tranquility of the water here. That is, unless it's mosquito season. At the far south of my loop and the far north, I could hear the disquieting sound of the modern engine as it relentlessly impressed its will on the ears, expunging any quiet solitude. Fortunately, the inner trails of the watershed do not suffer this blight. Throughout the watershed are many gargantuan stumps, telling a tale of a day when this was old growth, a day in the past. Nevertheless, there are several small to mid-sized trees sprinkled throughout, and they are a pleasure to behold. When I was munching away on lunch, a group of 4-5 horses and a cicylist passed. There were also numerous hikers and joggers out having fun in the sunshine. Alas, if I could only have spent more time there enjoying the peaceful forest. But time was not stopped and my few miles to return bade me hearken and exit, whereupon I encountered the ""Redmond Ridge"" sign and more adventure beckoned. Curious where the trail eastbound went, and trusting signs in the watershed that it eventually led to the ""tolt trail"", I decided to follow it instead of turning north on Trilogy. The trail meandered and varied between wooded areas and greenbelts and stormwater retention ponds. Eventually, I reached a sign from Quadrant Homes stating the trail was closed due to construction of a housing development. There was no date on the sign, which had the familiar green hue of a sign not maintained, so I proceeded anyway and emerged in the middle of a new suburb under construction with a fancy wooden sign posted ""Trilogy"" by the trail. I was trying to get back to the Tolt pipeline, so I wandered through the neighborhood sidewalks for a couple blocks in the general northwestward direction and someone drove by and helped (for which I'm grateful). Then it was back on the Tolt trail superhighway to that rather smelly Avondale...