January Group Hikes with Issaquahalps.org

Upcoming hikes :

These are with issaquahalps.org visitors are welcome but check out the website for further details and what you need to bring. A call is also welcome.

Sunday, January 27, 11 a.m. Cougar Mt.: loop hike from Sky Country TH to Anti Aircraft Peak with stop at grate-covered mine shaft [slow pace] 2B*, 4 miles, 550' gain Fred Zeitler, 425-882-3435

Saturday, February 2, 9 a.m. Cougar Mt.: double loop around Wilderness Peak and on to Longview Peak 3C*, 7 miles, 1,900' gain Scott Prueter, 425-369-6016

Sunday, February 3, 11 a.m. Grand Ridge Exploratory: trails may be poor, muddy 2C*, 6-8 miles, 1,300' gain Dave Kappler, 425-392-3571

2007 Washington Hiking Trails recap

Last year our trails suffered some major damage from storms. Mount Rainier was hit hard but with a lot of volunteer help. Many of the trails were reopened after quick repair work and some major road reconstruction. This winter so far we have escaped any major damage. Other than the usual trees downed by wind and snow. It is looking good but remember we still have damage from 3 years ago to get fixed.

I am so glad they reopened the Mountain Loop Highway road until the snow closed it. Really looking forward to hiking out there in the spring. Some great hikes are located between Darrington and Granite Falls. Just driving through the Barlow Pass area is a blast. The bridge to some of the trails east of Darrington in Glacier Peak is still down or blocked off and the Big Four Ice Caves trail bridge is down.

Still some good trails around Granite Falls and Darrington.

Email your congress members and ask for more money for trail maintenance. It can't hurt.

And check out some of the great volunteer ops for summer trail work crews. It's fun and good exercise.

Take a look at wta.org

Welcome

I am going to start a weekly blog here for Washington State hikers.

All the latest trail news from around the state. Be sure and visit the website for nearly 300 pages of Washington State Hiking Trail info.