Poo Poo Point

Poo Poo Point is on a shoulder of Tiger Mountain accessible from the Issaquah-Hobart Road. This trail has at least three things going for it. First, the name is memorable and sounds a tad disgusting but it apparently named after the sound of a bird rather than what one might think.  Secondly, it is one of the easier trailheads to reach from the Seattle Metro area, which makes it a good choice if crimped for time or for an after work hike in the summer. Finally, and most notably, Poo Poo Point is used as a launching point by paragliders. On days when the wind is right, there may be a dozen or more folks in the air with that many more queued up to take off.  It is especially cool when there is an updraft and the gliders spiral 1,000 feet or more above the launch area.

Video of Paragliding from Poo Poo Point


The trail is well maintained, especially the lower section where trail workers have placed stones so closely together it looks like pavers in a garden.  The trail hugs the side of a steep slope and rises quickly in a series of long traverses broken by tight switchbacks.  There are a few old growth conifers in the first 3/4 mile or so and then there is a short break in the climb where the tree cover changes to alders.  There is little time to enjoy the flats before the route climbs again, first along an old cobble covered logging road and then a single track trail. About 1/2 mile from the top the trail turns left adjacent to a strip of cleared land that provides a short, steep scramble as an alternative.  Sticking with the more traditional path I reached the top about 4 switchbacks and 10 minutes later.  The launch zone was empty because of the early hour and lackadaisical winds.  Although the clouds were thick and low, the views over Lake Sammamish were decent so I hung out for a few minutes in the heavy, warm air before heading back to the car.

Commonwealth Basin

Sunday September 12th


I was listening to NPR while driving to Snoqualmie Pass as they debated whether to raise taxes for the highest income group.  The Ds say the rich folks are getting off too easy: millionaires and billionaires are paying at low rates while the Rs claim that many of those "rich" folks are small business owners, whose businesses would be harmed by higher taxes.  It occurs to me they are both right and both wrong.  I'm sure there are plenty of people that are very rich by most people's standards who are not small business owners.  Surely there is a way to tax them without taxing the small business owners who are creating jobs.  But enough fiscal policy, it is time to head to the hills.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) crosses Snoqualmie Pass at the summit.  The trailhead for the PCT northbound is right at the beginning of the Alpetal access road at an elevation of 3,000 feet.  The primary day hike destination is Kendall's Katwalk, a rocky ledge about 5.5 miles from the car with 2,700 feet of elevation gain.  It was a soggy morning about 9 a.m. when I booted up and hit the trail.  The first mile or so rises gently through mixed aged trees with a salal underbrush.  The trail leaves the forest to cross a flat area of rockfall, or should it be called boulder-fall?  There is one monster that may weigh up to 100 tons, surely a headache of massive proportions if another of those comes tumbling down.  The trail loses about 100 feet of elevation as it winds along the easiest  path through the rocks and crosses a couple of small streams cascading off high cliffs to the right. A short while later there is a sign indicating a trail dropping into Commonwealth Basin.  After walking along the PCT another few hundred yards the opportunity to try a new route proved too strong so I doubled back and hung a sharp right.

After an easy mile to a creek crossing the trail turned sharply upward along a ridge. Along this reach the roar of I-90 finally subsided and was replaced with a very similar sound, water burbling over rocks in a small stream.  I pondered that the main difference was the lack of the low frequency drone of trucks downshifting as the prepared for the grade in either direction down the pass.

The trail gains about 1,000 feet on short, steep switchbacks before it reaches a small basin with a shallow pond that forms the headwaters of the creek.  This was the end of my day since I had no idea how much further the trail continuted.  As it turns out the trail only went another 1/2 mile to a point between Red Mountain and Kendall Peak. I'll have to try it again when the weather is clear and I have a map in hand.

Source Lake in the clouds

Berries on a bush

Looking down on Source Lake in the fall.

Fall is settling in. After a bit of a grueling hike to Island Lake on Saturday, I needed something easy, so it was off to the Alpental parking lot for a quick trip to Source Lake.  Surprisingly, there were only about 30 cars in the lot at 10:30 on Labor Day. Maybe it was the 50 degree temperature and clouds looming over the head of the valley. I had originally planned on going to Snow Lake from the same trail head but my left knee needed a break, especially on the return trip.  The trail to the junction is quite a gentle grade but scattered angular rock fallen in years past from the cliffs looming high to the right make the footing tricky in spots.  The weather was dry but threatening at the start and soon the threat began reality as the trail met the clouds.  It was a bit mystical walking through the gloomy mist and before long I was dripping wet.  I stopped to photograph fall colors along the way and made it to the end of the trail after about 45 minutes.  The destination was a little disappointing, as Source Lake is less than 100 feet across and several hundred yards below the trail.  I continued a couple of hundred yards further where the trail petered out into a vague rocky path heading steeply, but indefinitely into the shrubs. Is this the climber's access trail to The Tooth? The answer will have to wait for another day.

Trial Run- Little Si

Alrighty then. I'm going to give this blogging thing a shot. I expect I will end up writing about the places I see and the things I do.  For example, last weekend I decided to go for a short hike off the I-90 corridor. For safety's sake, I let my wife know where I was headed- Rattlesnake Ridge, just outside of North Bend. As usual, I changed plans mid-stream and headed north instead of south, and ended up at Little Si.  I chatted with a couple at the parking lot who let me know that the old trail to Mt. Si used to start at this trailhead. 

With that bit of news I hit the trail, with an eye to my right, looking for traces of an ancient trail. Soon I forgot about the trail that might be and focused on the trail ahead. The first 1/2 mile is pretty boring mostly through 3rd growth on a converted logging road. Then after a gentle rise and a turn to the left, the track crosses a small rocky outcrop and hugs the back side of Little Si- a steep face that provides a convenient challenge for rock climbers. There are a few intrepid souls chattering on the face, partially obscured by tall Doug Firs. Not for me! Back to to the trail to track down a younger, fitter guy walking with a couple of small dogs.  I blasted past him on the steeper pitch and inherited his dogs who were more interested in holding the lead than attending to their master.

After about 45 minutes I reached the top, which felt surprisingly pleasant in spite of the unseasonably dismal late-August weather that had settled over Seattle. I was alone on the summit with a 360 degree view of Si, Rattlesnake Ledge(my faux destination) and west toward civilization.  Over the next 15 minutes a number of folks joined me at peak, including the dog owner.  He let me know that he limits his pace based on his heart rate, which is likely a good strategy.  In any case, we chatted for a few minutes about my work at Hanford and I ambled down the hill, satisfied with a short but vigorous visit to the foothills.

Thus ends my first post.

Details of the Little Si. hike are here: Little Si Trail Details