The morning was brisk, in the low fifties
with the promise of a full days sun after the morning fog had burned
off. So as it was when I stepped forward onto the Squak Mountain Trails
of the Issaquah Alps. This area of the Western Cascade foothills,
forested with thick ferns, moss covered trees and a forest canopy is
every bit reminiscent of a Northwest Rainforest, with out it actually
being one. The Squak Mountain trails are an all year hiking
adventure. But during the dog days of summer, Squak Mountain offers
cool relief from the valley heat below. I scouted out the trek with the
desire of completing as much of all the parameter trails the mountain
had to offer. And as a result, I was rewarded with the experiences of a
variety of forested terrain and trail conditions with easy to moderate
degrees of difficulty. While progressing through this trek you start to sense that you are deep with in the forest for the majority of your adventure. But, from time to time you are rewarded with such sights as the ‘Block House’, which I suppose was used for radio communications. Further up the trail there is a small trail cut off which is unmarked and leads South through more forested cover until you come out onto a small clearing, and then, you will be rewarded with views of the May Valley’s and High Valley’s below. Just when you eyes are soaking in this nice vista, you’ll turn your head and there will be Mount Rainer with Mount Adams in the background, popping up through the fog. Wow! What a nice sight it is. This is also a nice spot for a lunch.
After returning to the trail, trek on up to Bullitt Fireplace. Another nice place for lunce. Then continue your hike on up to Central Peak where there are a number of radio towers in place. This was the highest elevation of my parameter trek. But, other then the radio towers, there is a clearing through the trees in which you can get a good view of downtown Seattle, with the Space Needle dwarfed against the skyscraper skyline of the city. From Central Peak it is pretty much down hill for the remainder of your hike, and after you have returned from your hike, you very well may feel, “Wow! That was a nice trek.”