Began my lollipop loop hike off of Mountainside Drive in Issaquah. I started on the Bullitt Fireplace Trail, then turned up the Chybinski Loop Trail. At the first junction I went left and entered Squak Mtn. State Park to get to the East Side Trail (EST). When I got to the first bridge on the EST I spotted a metal plaque along the trail. I had not seen it on other hikes since it was covered in leaves. The plaque was for the Boy Scout Troop 625 from Issaquah for an Eagle Scout project to build the bridge back in 1992. They probably built the other two bridges further up the trail. Those Scouts would be around age 45 now. After passing the junction with the Old Griz Trail I continued on the EST to get to the unsigned junction with the Phil's Creek Connector Trail (PCCT). Along the way I could see NE to several peaks like Pilchuck, 3-Fingers and Whitehorse, plus Mt. Baker. At the junction the EST makes a sharp turn to the left at a switchback going NW downhill while the PCCT heads south up the hillside through a conifer forest.

When I had hiked the PCCT 2 years ago, there were several blown down trees to climb over or get around. When I went through today those had been cut out. There are a few you need to step over. Since the Sword Ferns had grown back over the trail, I decided to brush them out as I hiked the trail. Used my folding saw as it makes a good cutting tool for the ferns. Before getting to Crystal Creek, I passed a glacial erratic. Where the trail crosses over the creek is Crystal Creek Falls coming down a rock face. Then the trail goes up two switchbacks and come to a more open area with Red Alders and Maple trees. I then got to the boulder area where you need to climb over one of them. The trail continues along the hillside, passes two other glacier erratics and levels out before getting to the unsigned junction with the East Ridge Trail. I turned west and then headed north on to the Phil's Creek Trail.

After going by the junction for the Summit Trail I found a good fallen Alder tree for my lunch time bench. After lunch I hiked the Phil's Creek Trail crossing over Crystal Creek where I could see up stream to the old Longwell cabin built back in the 1970's. When I arrived at the Old Griz Trail junction, I headed down it to get back to the East Side Trail. I could see Issaquah High School, the football field and track around it. About halfway down the trail was one fallen conifer tree to climb over. Once on the East Side Trail I went back the way I had come in the morning.

I did not see any wildlife but did meet two young women hikers and their friendly dog on the East Ridge Trail, the only hikers I saw all day.

Note: The latest edition of the Green Trails map for Squak Mtn. does show the Phil's Creek Connector Trail I hiked, but on the back side of the map where it lists the trail, it has it in the wrong area. A good book to read about the trails on Squak Mtn. is, "Squak Mountain, An Island in the Sky, A History and Trails Guide" by Douglas G Simpson and David Langrock.

So, if you would like to hike a trail off the beaten path check out the Phil's Creek Connection Trail for some new territory to see and a nice waterfall to view. George

It's that time of year again to find loops around the Issaquah Alps. Today we linked 8 trails to make a pleasant little 5.7 mile/1400 foot loop in Squak Mountain. Parked off Mountainside Drive (Squak Mountain Loop) which got us above the morning fog. Still chilly and I hiked in light gloves most of the way.

All trails in good condition with few or no obstacles. Started on Bulitt Fireplace Trail (wide, gravelly), turned left onto East Side Trail (pleasant level traverse), right onto Old Griz (steep but pretty well graded), after the 1/2 mile switchbacked ascent on that bore left onto Phil's Creek Trail (perfectly nice as it traverses a very steep east facing forest mountainside), took a right onto the Summit Trail (steep! 900 ft/mile gradient), brief right onto the South Access Road to the big fenced in towers of Central Peak. From there we used an unmarked but apparently maintained trail (blowdowns were cut and cleared, etc) that is a slight shortcut to the Bullit Fireplace picnic table where we had lunch. Then down the Bullit Fireplace trail to the West Peak Trail (rooty, quite steep up, then steep down then steep up then down again, all in a 1/2 mile), to the wide intersection where Margaret's Way/Debbie's view/Chybinksi Loop trail converge. We decided not to go out to Debbie's View as we were enjoying the solitude so far and we saw several dogs heading that way so figured we would not add another dog to the scene there. From this intersection we looped back to the car on the "lower" (further west) portion of the Chybinksi Loop - this is an amazingly lovely trail and one of my favorites in the Issaquah Alps, beautiful forest, smooth tread, a couple little bridges, and I always hear ravens along it. 

Margaret's Way, Debbie's View, West Peak trail, Bullitt Fireplace, Central Peak, C1 Central Peak trail, East Side trail, West Access trail, new Chybinksi trail

Being Friday there were few on the trail, though I did see one at Debbie's View, plus the individual who started around the same time I did.

Weird weather yesterday and this morning, but there were very few puddles, mostly around the Margaret's Way boardwalk, and one toward Central Peak. Small stream crossings were easy to hop. The most treacherous parts were areas covered with large leaves, that will freeze overnight. Wind and gusting was fairly high, but less rain than forecast, so no jacket was needed as the trees offered enough protection.

A couple dozen passed on the descent, but there was still space in the parking lot.

10.25mi 1020m

Did the May Valley Loop on a nice cool, cloudy day. Arrived at the May Valley TH at 7:45. Allready a few cars there. We went counter-clockwise, heading east from the lower intersection. We took the boundary loop for a little extra mileage. It's a narrow brushy trail marked with orange flagging. There two turns back to the May Valley Loop. We passed the obvious turn. Following the flagging the trail got brushier and mor narrow. There was a tree with Christmas ornaments! Shortly after that the trail petered out. We back tracked and found the turn we missed. Back on the May Valley Loop we took Phil's Creek to the Eastside trail and tried to find East Peak. Another narro brushy trail. We made the first knob. Lost interest in finding the secoond knob. We didn't find a place for a break or views. So we went back to the Summit Trail and took the road to Central Peak. Then we took the Central Peak Trail to Bullit Fireplace, Bullet Gorge and the May Valley Loop back to the trailhead. Most of the trails were in great shape. Just occasional mud, not bad. The wild flowers were nice! Trillium, Oregon grape, yellow violets, miner's lettuce and others all in bloom. Recorded 8.3 miles x 1930 gain. The trail was quiet until after lunch. TH was totally parked up when we got back at 1:30.

Snuck in a short hike after work before meeting my partner in Snoqualmie for dinner.

Squak was quiet and gorgeous at sunset, and for the most part, I had all the trails to myself. Not much to report, except Chybinski is in great shape still and excellent for trail running!

East side trail is a bit overgrown but not terrible, Summit trail is steep (blech) and Phils has some lovely little creeks running. So, so so glad I got out on this gorgeous day!