Trail News: A Tiger Mountain Trail Rebuild Update

If you have hiked trails near the summits of West Tiger Mountain, you’ve noticed the impacts from last year’s timber harvest.  You have probably also noticed the restoration operations underway – trees have been planted and rebuilding of the trails has begun.  In this article we will focus on the status of the Tiger Mountain Trail (TMT) as it crosses over the saddle between West Tiger #2 and #3. 

West Tiger Mountain rebuild of the TMT. Courtesy Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

At this point, the TMT south of the saddle has been rebuilt, and the new route is about 100 feet upslope from the old trail, so that it passes right by the glacial erratic now known as the “Dramatic Erratic.”  Readers of Bill Longwell’s “Guide to Trails of Tiger Mountain” will know this feature as “Rick’s Rock,” so dubbed by Longwell in honor of Rick Alspach, a Hazen High School student who toiled diligently on the initial construction of the trail in 1977.  It was easy to miss this feature on the old trail with the rock set back and amidst the trees.  It’s a nice touch to have it next to the trail, and there is even a stump to sit on while enjoying the ambiance of the rock.

Anne Newcomb enjoys an undramatic moment beside the Dramatic Erratic. Photo by Gaurav Sharma.

And to help you get your bearings, here is a view of West Tiger #2 showing the erratic and the TMT. The TMT traverse that goes along the flank of West Tiger #2 was dubbed “Manning’s Reach” by Longwell in honor of Harvey Manning, without who, Longwell claims, “the Issaquah Alps long ago would have eroded into Puget Sound.” An English teacher is allowed to use hyperbole now and then, I guess.

West Tiger Mountain #2 Summit Area and the TMT. Photo by Tom Anderson.

The stretch of the TMT on the NE side of the #2/#3 saddle is not yet ready for your feet.  The temporary route is to go to the summit of West Tiger #2 and descend the ridgeline trail NW towards West Tiger #3 until it intersects the branch roughly at the saddle.  A side benefit of this route is you can enjoy the beautiful new bench installed near the summit, courtesy of Weyerhaeuser who commissioned the work.  Here is a weary band of hikers taking a rest at the bench.  Well, not just any random group of hikers, but some IATC board members and Executive Director Paul Winterstein being led by Ben Mayberry, WA DNR Snoqualmie Recreation Operations Manager, on a tour of the West Tiger restoration work.  Thanks, Ben, for engaging the club on this exciting project.

Standing, L to R: Paul Winterstein, David Kappler, Gaurav Sharma and Ben Mayberry.
Seated, L to R: Tom Anderson, Anne Newcomb, and David Dunphy.
Photo by Gaurav Sharma

Want to help with the trail rebuilding?  The Washington Trails Association (WTA) is organizing numerous work parties on Tiger and Cougar Mountains over the coming months. Use this link to find a WTA work party within the Issaquah Alps.