West Tiger 3, West Tiger 2, West Tiger Railroad Grade & Tiger Mountain Trail — Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001

Issaquah Alps > Tiger Mountain

I joined a group of midweek hikers on a winter hike to West Tiger 2 and 3. Brooding clouds hung over the mountains, but only lightly sprinkled and the air was mild for early January. We climbed the TMT crossing some beautiful new bridges over the various forks of Highpoint Creek and climbing to the intersection with West Tiger RR Grade. The TMT leaves the Railroad Grade and climbs steeply up the northwestern face of WT2 to Tom's Crossing. There we took the spur trail which breaks out behind the tower compound. Views over the Puget Sound were extensive and the air was still so we lingered there awhile during our lunch break. After lunch, we dropped down to the saddle between the peaklets and took the WT3 Trail out. Stats: 8.5 miles, 2200' gain. Traffic was light on the mountain; we met almost everyone on top during lunch. It was a refreshing change from the overpopulated weekend travel. I-5 going home to Tacoma was another story... Some plants are getting fooled by the mild weather. I saw an elderberry bush with huge swelling buds. It's not spring yet.