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
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