Trip Details:
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Leave Car |
15:30 |
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Start Tiger 3 via Bus/Section Line |
15:33 |
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Section Line meets RR Grade |
16:17 |
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West Tiger 3 summit |
16:33 |
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Leave hikers hut (timings messed up) |
17:07 |
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West Tiger 2 |
17:20 |
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West Tiger 3 |
17:28 |
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Trailhead |
18:19 |
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Snow? |
Now that's a stupid question. |
|
Bugs |
None. |
|
Weather |
60's, cloudy and cool, but rain held off until I was well on the road home. |
| Crowds | Not For Tiger mountain almost non existent. Saw 2 or 3 on lower Section Line (none on upper). A few at summit and on way down. Absolutely no one between West Tiger 3 and 1). |
| Scenic Value | Well it's Tiger mountain, been there done that. Basically the ole outdoor gym. |
| Difficulty | Section line trail a steep slog. Rest normal hiking trails and roads. I mean it is Tiger Mountain. |
Narrative:
This was an afterthought after work hike I decided to do at the last minute figuring tomorrow (my normal hiking day) the weather would be worse. Turns out it was a good decision.
After a 14 hour work day on Sunday the energy level wasn't quite all there, but I slogged up anyway. Initially was just going to go up West Tiger 3. At the car though I decided to do the trifecta weather permitting. Meaning if I got to West 3 summit and it was nasty I would head back down the normal trail.
The hike started on my now normal way up using the much less used Section Line trail. If you want solitude up this thing, try this route. At least up it isn't too bad but steep. Coming down especially if damp it can be slippery in spots (poles recommended for descending).
Nothing too eventful going up. Passed by a a few coming down on lower sections. At the major junctions, they want to keep warning you this trail is unmaintained. It is more maintained than some of the other trails on Tiger. What I suspect they mean is they haven't built any nice steps or anything on the steeper sections, and want to try and avoid lawsuits should you fall and break your keister.
After an hour the summit of West Tiger 3 was obtained. It was still not nasty and didn't look imminently bad, so a few quick pictures and on to #2 summit.
Two was reached about 10 minutes later. Still no rain yet so on to #1.
15 minutes or so later, West Tiger 1/hikers hut bench area. Still dry, but now a bit cool and breezy.
Considering I was expecting rain, this wasn't too bad. Actually got one of the better shots of downtown Seattle from here.
aMy shirt was sweat soaked and it was a bit cool so I took a little refuge in the hikers hut. For those that may have never ventured in here are some shots from inside.
It was now time to head back and make sure I beat the rain. Made decent time back to 2 and 3. A few parting shots.
Taking the freeway trail back. Really a nice way to come down. Saw less than a dozen ascending as I headed down. Most near the bottom. Passed a few on the way down.
Avoiding the rain in about a 50 minute descent from West Tiger 3 summit to Car. It started to sprinkle a little in Issaquah on the way home but I avoided the rain on the hike. Another for what it was successful workout up the West Tiger 3 family.
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Last Updated 08/20/2008
