Mount Margaret, Margaret Lake — Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

It’s amazing how much animal activity is on the trails, activity we’re oblivious to during the non-snow months, but laid out for everyone to see with fresh snow. My untrained eye picked up coyote, bobcat, deer, rabbits, snowshoe hares, squirrels and a bird (crow/raven?) that made it to the summit before me.

I wanted to climb the Mount Margaret summits (south, main and east) and try for Ugly Duckling, but not having the feet of a snowshoe hare, I dumped the plan for Ugly Duckling. The trail up Mount Margaret was discernible the entire way to where I left it at the south ridge. The wind, strong and steady over the ridge, didn’t invite lingering on the main summit. That and the snow depth being okay to that point led me on to the east ridge headed towards the east summit. Snow depth changed pretty quickly once on the ridge, varying from mid-calf to over the knee, making progress a bit more taxing. It was a beautiful traverse, though, the snow sparkling in the sun and fantastic view all around.

Snowshoes would’ve helped, but I doubted the snow would be deep enough to warrant them…it was. Looking at Ugly Duckling from the east summit, it was clearly not in the books. It was attainable, but getting back to the car was not, so my tracks led me back the way I’d come. A visit to Margaret Lake seemed a better way back to the ridge, not relishing the climb back up Mount Margaret. Unfortunately, I dropped down a bit low, having to skirt some cliffs and then climb back up to the lake.

The legs, and the rest of me, were quite tired from breaking trail all day once at the lake. I figured probably an hour to get back up to the ridge crest…that is until I came across a fresh set of tracks leading down to the lake. Very happy! “Thanks” scratched into the snow was meant to convey my great sense of gratitude on finding the tracks, hopefully if was noticed.

From the ridge top to Issaquah was two hours. All in all, a great day to be out in the mountains.

8.1 miles, 3500’ gain, 7.3 hours