Poo Poo Point via Chirico Trail - Tiger Mountain, WA

May 29, 2017

Poo Poo Point is one of popular hiking destinations in West Tiger Mountain located in Issaquah just east of Seattle. The Point is also used as a launching pad of paragliding.

The trail is short...about 2 miles one way....but climbs steeply with switchbacks gaining almost 1800'. It's a great workout hike through the forest and views from the Point are fantastic...Mt. Rainier, Issaquah and Lake Sammamish toward Bellevue's downtown. Squak and Cougar Mountains before you, Seattle's tallest buildings are seen in the distance. You may see paragliders launching into the sky, too.

 

Video by Lifeisamt

Mailbox Peak Via Old Trail and New Trail - Seattle, WA

May 21, 2017

Mailbox Peak hike is one of the most popular hikes in the Greater Seattle area. Since the new trail was built, it seems to have gained more popularity, perhaps, shoulder to shoulder with another popular local hike Mt. Si.

Mailbox Peak is a challenging hike, however. The trails are steep gaining 4,000' in 2.5 miles via Old Trail or 4,000' in 5 miles via New Trail. Either way, it's a tough hike; and yet, the reward you see from the top is worth the effort - sweeping views in all directions!...many notable peaks of N. Cascades and Olympic ranges, Puget Sound cities/lakes and beyond.

And yes, indeed, there is a mailbox on the top!....waiting for a mail delivery from you! ;)
For this trip report:
http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-rep...

 

  Video by Lifeisamt

Marmot Pass/Buckhorn Mountain - Olympic Peninsula, WA

Absolutely FANTASTIC hike! Spectacular views of mountains, bursting wildflowers and mountain goats. Although the hiking distance and elevation gain may kick your butt - 5.3 miles/3,500 ft gain for Marmot Pass or 6.3 miles/4,500 ft gain for Marmot Pass and Buckhorn Mountain, it is totally worth the effort....the reward is jaw-dropping 360 views of Olympic mountains, Cascade range, Puget Sound (yes, you can see Seattle!), San Juans and beyond. I hear people make a special overnight trip to Marmot Pass for July 4th to view Seattle's fireworks.

Marmot Pass
The trail is in good condition and smooth sailing. There are some wet and muddy spots, but not a big deal. Blowdowns are cleared thanks to WTA's work. The first mile or so into the journey is a gentle grade and soon the trail begins to ascend steadily through the forest. It's a pleasant hike along Big Quilcene River and the sound of the stream is really soothing. At 2.6 miles you reach Shelter Rock Camp which is adjacent to the creek and it's a good place for a short break. I saw some Rhododendron on the way, but they are mostly done for the season now.

The trail continues to climb and the view opens up soon after Shelter Rock Camp and sky-scraping mountain peaks come into sight. Wildflowers are abundant along the trail from this point on. Look up to the gullies of Buckhorn and Iron Mountains for stunning views of the towering boulders.

At 4.6 miles, you pass Camp Mystery. Camp Mystery seems a very cozy camp site and tucked in by a creek nearby and a meadow along the trail. Marmot Pass is less than a mile from here, so chin up and keep going. The trail travels through a small meadow before ascending switchbacks which take you up to a vast open meadow. From the meadow Marmot Pass is seen on top of the saddle across the meadow. Follow the last stretch of the trail up to Marmot Pass as Buckhorn Mountain and wildflowers greet you.

Take in the gorgeous views from Marmot Pass....Olympic mountains, Buckhorn Mountain, Puget Sound and open meadow down below. There are small patches of snow here and there on the pass, but it's easy to cross. Although views from Marmot Pass are beautiful, if you want to get even better and jaw-dropping views of the Olympic range and Puget Sound with Cascade peaks, hike up to Buckhorn Mountain.

Buckhorn Mountain
The trail climbs steeply from Marmot Pass. It's about a mile to the summit. There are two steep sections en route....at the beginning and at the end where you ascend the summit block. The middle section of the route is a gentle grade on Buckhorn's saddle. The steep switchbacks at the beginning and at the summit block are dirt and scree and a little slippery, so be careful. I found hiking poles were helpful. The views get better and better as you ascend....Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker show up in the skyline and the entire Puget Sound is visible. More peaks deep inside of the Olympic range show up, too. Wow!

There are two peaks on the summit block. Enjoy the jaw-dropping views sweeping all directions. Olympic mountains (I wish I knew all the names of the Olympic mountains!), Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, N. Cascades, Puget Sound, San Juans, and beyond. And, it was a special treat that I also saw a family of mountain goats. They were trekking along the trail on Buckhorn.

I am so glad that I did Marmot Pass/Buckhorn Mountain hike, and I do agree with other trip reports....put this hike on your must do hikes on the Olympic Peninsula! It's epically amazing. I highly recommend. Two thumbs up!!! :)

By the way, FR 27 (paved) has dips and bumpy spots here and there, and there are quite a few potholes on FR 2750 (unpaved). So, just pay attention as you proceed. Happy hiking!

Mount Townsend - Olympic Peninsula, WA

May 7, 2016

This is a fantastic hike with awesome views, WOW!!! I read this hike is one of the most popular hikes on the Olympic Peninsula through all seasons....and now I know why.

The trail climbs gradually and in steady pace gaining 3,200' in 4 miles. It's a bit long hike with a good elevation gain, but I saw quite a few family hikers with kids on trail. The tail is in good condition over all, except one section of the trail blocked with major blow downs....several trees as a cluster. But, you can trek over them or veer around them. Hopefully they will be cleared soon as the main hiking season is just starting and getting busier with more hikers. There are small patches of snow here and there on the trail at higher elevations, but nothing to worry about. Perhaps, they will all disappear pretty soon as this warm weather may likely persist. I had hiking poles with me just in case, but hardly used them after all.

The hike is really wonderful.....deep forest, creek crossings, water falls, and switchbacks with fantastic views. Wildflowers are just beginning, and I particularly enjoyed glacier lilies blooming.

Jaw-dropping panoramic views open up as you come out of the forest. Enjoy the views of the deep valley down below and Cascades range on the skyline.....and in between is Puget Sound. Continue to ascend the steep face going up above Camp Windy in switchbacks, and take as many stops (and pictures!) as you want because the views get even better as you ascend.....Glacier Peak, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Olympic range, the Sound and beyond.

Go right to Mount Townsend at the sign of "Silver Lake/Mount Townsend". Breathtaking vistas never stop following you as you continue to ascend from there, weather permitting, of course. Take in 360 panoramic views at the summit....all the majestic mountain views of Olympic range to west and Cascades to east....Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Glacier Peak, Mt. Baker. To north, San Juan Islands, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island are visible. Seattle and Puget Sound cities are seen tucked in between. I think Mount Townsend is the only place so far where I could see the entire region and mountain ranges with Puget Sound in one single hike. It's a long drive from Seattle to do this hike, but it is totally worth it. Two thumbs up! Snow is melting fast now, so I highly recommend to do this hike soon if you want to see snow-capped mountain ranges in the background. Very beautiful.

By the way, the forest road to trailhead is mostly paved, but there are lots of pot holes and dips! Most of them are well marked with bright red paint, but some are not....so, use caution as you drive on the forest road to trailhead. Also, the trailhead parking lot is not big enough to accommodate the popularity of this hike, it seems. I saw many cars parked on the forest road as a result of overflow. I was lucky, however, I could find a parking in the lot as I arrived in the late afternoon (after 3pm).

Chesiahud Lake Union Loop and Urban hike - Seattle, WA

No spectacular mountain views or moss covered rainforest accompanies you in this urban hike, but this 6 mile loop trail around Lake Union “Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop” is a fun hike that you can enjoy, rain or shine, in the heart of the city of Seattle. Try this hike so that you can make yourself feel like more "Seattleite." The trail was named in honor of a Duwamish chief Cheshiahud who led a village located on Lake Union.

Lake Union has a fascinating history. You can experience the history of Seattle via Cheshiahud Loop Trail....lumber mills, airplanes, boat-building, floating homes, museums, recreation and local foods. Within a few hours of the walk, you establish a special rapport to Seattle and its neighborhoods. It's a different experience from just going there to see July 4th fireworks.

I started a little late in the day and hiked the loop clockwise from Gasworks (convenient for parking). The trail is well marked connecting Gasworks park, Burke Gilman trail, lakefront parks and street ends/waterways linking quaint neighborhoods, downtown, and the UW. In the north Lake Union area (Wallingford), I hiked along the path(s) close to the water instead of trekking Burke Gilman so that I could get to see more activities along the lake shore. Don't miss the beautiful wooden bench made of wooden boat lumber at Waterway 15. It is fun to see unique and different characters of houseboats and floating homes, old and new, along the northeast and east shores of Lake Union.

Before crossing the University Bridge, I took a quick stroll into UW campus for the eye-catching modern building nearby because it reminded me of the architectural rendering of the Getty Center in LA. By the way, take a look under the bridge where you come to see "The Wall of Death". Anything significant? I have no idea, but, it's an interesting public art like Fremont Troll.

Across the bridge is Portage Bay, the northeast corner of Lake Union, where Cheshiahud and his people used to dwell and carve canoes for many years. Follow the trail down toward Eastlake (Fairview Ave)...beginning of the residential rows of floating homes. Hiking along Eastlake with those floating homes somehow made me recall "Sleepless in Seattle." In fact, the film was my very first encounter to this part of the Seattle community while I lived in CA. There is a community garden on Eastlake. The garden is a good sized p-patch, and I could picture local residents gardening and growing their food during summer - fall's abundance.

South Lake Union's newly developed waterfront and Lake Union Park are impressive. Adding Amazon's new business complex in not so distant future, it seems only a matter of time before South Lake Union sees more changes to come reshaping Seattle downtown. I took a quick look at Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), open till 8pm on Thursdays. MOHAI is another gateway to explore Seattle's past. Speaking of which, interestingly, MOHAI may hold a clue in its archives to solve the mystery of the unknown object obstructing the tunneling machine Bertha....know that?

Save your hunger and thirst until you reach Fremont during the journey in the course of the 6 mile loop hike. There are plenty of venues to choose from for food and drinks in the "Center of the Universe." 

Or, if you have enough time and energy to detour the route, I'd suggest a few more spots to explore not so far from South Lake Union....Space Needle, Pike Place Market and Great Wheel. You may also want to swing by at Fran's Chocolate and savor President Obama's favorite chocolate "Salted Caramel."

By the way, Cheshiahud's monument plaque is located at the east end of Shelby St. in Portage Bay, where the Duwamish chief and his people used to live and work. Cheshiahud rests next to his wife in Evergreen Washelli cemetery. His close friend Seattle founder David Denny's grave and his family memorial are also found there. Interesting anecdote is cemeteries in Seattle were strictly segregated at that time, but the influence of the Denny family earned the renowned Duwamish chief a place right next to the grave of Seattle Mayor Hiram Gill.

Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Trail description and maps: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/lakeunionloop/

Seattle Snowstorm 2012

                   

"Seattle - Jan. 19, 2012.  A little more snow flurry into the third day here in Seattle, but not so significant accumulation today.....just a touch.  The total snow precipitation in Seattle area for the last 3 days is about  a half foot or so....."

Go to Random and read more.