There were only 4 other cars in the Harvey Manning trailhead parking lot, the trail was in good shape (all the drainage channels had been recently redone), all but two, very dead red alder trees had been cleared from the trail. Those two obstacles were simple step-overs. There was a surprising amount of water in Coyote Creek and yet the trail was not too mud. The dirt road from the area gate to the trailhead was in excellent shape. Great signage and maps at the trailhead. Remember the last almost mile of the paved road has speed bumps (and exceptional views). There are porta-potties, not in the parking area per se, but a little further and to the right next to the play fields. This is an area rich in trails.
Today was a day to celebrate. The weather was certainly one reason. My wife and I successfully did this loop; a favorite as noted before (https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2021-12-31-9970995804) when our aging husky mix had reached 15 plus years of age. My wife has an autoimmune condition that affects joints, has progressed, and now affects her back. She received a temporary, but very successful reprieve of her pain and, for the first time in well over 200 days, was able to complete this hike and complete it without a break. This is the person who left me on the side of Mt. Rainier and made the summit 25 years before I did; she has been the top of some 144 different summits including peaks such as Mt. Blanc and Teewinot. Today was a successful return and completion of a hike that we have come to enjoy.
Although a minor accomplishment in the scheme of things, the completion of the hike, the reconnection with my hiking companion, the wonders of being in a great forest seemingly distant from traffic, sidewalks, and buildings, and then the premature and optimistic sense that spring was just around the corner made this a day to celebrate. The beauty of the incoming clouds on the way back to Seattle provided a perfect end to the day.
Try this nearby gem.
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