2-05-26
It
was time for another midweek headlamp hike. Gary and David were
available. It looked like we would have some warmth and sunshine. Gary
suggested a one way trip with a short drive between trailheads. We met
at HPE (High Point East) and David drove us to the Preston trailhead.
It was 61F at the start. We were on the trail at 2:23 pm. Sunset would
be at 5:17 pm so we had a little less than 3 hours until then. The
trail quickly reaches the powerline corridor and it has a lot of rocks.
This keeps maintenance trucks from getting stuck in mud but is not easy
to walk on. The road/trail heads back west towards HPE. The road was
seen recent work and where the Preston Trail heads left there is a new
short road spur. The trail is there but the old start is now a
clearing. Once on the trail again we made pretty good time. We took the
shortcut which is shorter but steeper. It seemed to go one way too long
before we reached the main Preston Trail once again. We took a short
break there. It was now 3:18 pm. We were soon moving again. It as warm
and a bit humid and I was sweating more than usual in early February. A
few minutes later we passed the Bootleg Trail junction. We stayed on
the Preston Trail. From here to the next junction with the route from
HPE I do not often hike. I have few landmarks. I kept waiting for the
next junction.
We reached the junction with the old railroad grade and kept heading higher. Most of our route was just up the slope with few switchbacks. It is a very direct route but a steep and slow one. We came out of the forest just below Tiger 1 to find some clouds but a lot of blue sky. The Preston Trail now switchbacks up to the ridge top just below the summit. We took the very short road to the top and another food and water break. To the south, Mt. Rainier was mostly in the clear. To the north we could see Mt. Baker but it was not lit up at all. Three Fingers Mountain was also hazy. Glacier Peak was dull but just to the right Mt. Index was lit up nicely. While we took our break, the sunlight changed and now Mt. Index was dull and Glacier Peak was really lit up. My photo looks over bright but it really did look like that.
After our break we dropped back tot he trail and followed it down the south side where we met the Poo Top Trail and our trail now takes that name. It took us around to the west side of Tiger 1 where we reached the Hikers Hut. It was too nice to go inside so we took some photos and began the road descent. Tiger 2 was our next objective. The summit was in sunshine and the road was part sun and part shade. We now had a look down to Seattle and Bellevue. The low sunshine really lit up the buildings in Bellevue. We left the Hikers Hut at 4:55 pm. The road starts with a very steep descent. A new trail has been under construction for over a year. It will allow a gentler grade than the road. Very little work was done last summer. Perhaps it will get back on the work schedule this year. The lighting was pretty good and I kept stopping for photos then speeding to catch up. My sore knee has been improving but steep downhills still hurt. We reached the bottom and then had steep road to climb up Tiger 2. I pulled ahead on this stretch and reached the top first. It would be all downhill from here so it was time for another layer. I reached the top at 5:15 pm, two minutes before sunset. We had a short break for some sunset photos then started down.
We soon reached the trees and it became darker. We made it down to the K-3 Trail junction before putting on headlamps. It was just about pitch black. We have done the TMT and High Point Trails many times in the dark and had no problems. With nothing to see I took one after dark hiking video and then put my camera away. Nearing the bottom it became much cooler. We made it back to the car at 7:19 pm. It was 2:02 after sunset and only 46F. I went from short sleeves to a jacket and gloves at the end. I drove David back to his car and headed home. This was an early February treat with sunshine and 61F on the way up. The views were a bit hazy but not bad overall. We even enjoyed some vitamin D. It is always nice to have a one way trip with no repeated sections. Once again we did another winter trip on Tiger with no snow. So far, this has been a nearly snowless season on Tiger Mountain even at over 2900'.
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Trips - 2026
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We reached the junction with the old railroad grade and kept heading higher. Most of our route was just up the slope with few switchbacks. It is a very direct route but a steep and slow one. We came out of the forest just below Tiger 1 to find some clouds but a lot of blue sky. The Preston Trail now switchbacks up to the ridge top just below the summit. We took the very short road to the top and another food and water break. To the south, Mt. Rainier was mostly in the clear. To the north we could see Mt. Baker but it was not lit up at all. Three Fingers Mountain was also hazy. Glacier Peak was dull but just to the right Mt. Index was lit up nicely. While we took our break, the sunlight changed and now Mt. Index was dull and Glacier Peak was really lit up. My photo looks over bright but it really did look like that.
After our break we dropped back tot he trail and followed it down the south side where we met the Poo Top Trail and our trail now takes that name. It took us around to the west side of Tiger 1 where we reached the Hikers Hut. It was too nice to go inside so we took some photos and began the road descent. Tiger 2 was our next objective. The summit was in sunshine and the road was part sun and part shade. We now had a look down to Seattle and Bellevue. The low sunshine really lit up the buildings in Bellevue. We left the Hikers Hut at 4:55 pm. The road starts with a very steep descent. A new trail has been under construction for over a year. It will allow a gentler grade than the road. Very little work was done last summer. Perhaps it will get back on the work schedule this year. The lighting was pretty good and I kept stopping for photos then speeding to catch up. My sore knee has been improving but steep downhills still hurt. We reached the bottom and then had steep road to climb up Tiger 2. I pulled ahead on this stretch and reached the top first. It would be all downhill from here so it was time for another layer. I reached the top at 5:15 pm, two minutes before sunset. We had a short break for some sunset photos then started down.
We soon reached the trees and it became darker. We made it down to the K-3 Trail junction before putting on headlamps. It was just about pitch black. We have done the TMT and High Point Trails many times in the dark and had no problems. With nothing to see I took one after dark hiking video and then put my camera away. Nearing the bottom it became much cooler. We made it back to the car at 7:19 pm. It was 2:02 after sunset and only 46F. I went from short sleeves to a jacket and gloves at the end. I drove David back to his car and headed home. This was an early February treat with sunshine and 61F on the way up. The views were a bit hazy but not bad overall. We even enjoyed some vitamin D. It is always nice to have a one way trip with no repeated sections. Once again we did another winter trip on Tiger with no snow. So far, this has been a nearly snowless season on Tiger Mountain even at over 2900'.
 Nearing Top Of Tiger 1 |
 Tiger 1 Summit |
 Tiger 2 |
 Tiger 2 Close Up |
 Bellevue Below |
 Mt. Rainier To The South |
 Summit Is Near |
 Glacier Pk & Mt. Index |
 Hazy Mt. Baker |
 Hazy Three Fingers Mt |
 Del Campo & Sloan Pks |
 Lit Up Glacier Peak |
 Mt. Rainier Close Up |
 Seattle Below |
 Heading For Tiger 2 |
 Lit Up Mt. Baker |
 Great Colors |
 Tiger 3 & Lk Sammamish |
 Dark In Issaquah |
 Seattle Near Sunset |
 Mts Teneriffe & Si |
 Nice Sunset Colors |
 Sun Is Almost Gone |
 Headlamp Hike Time |
Trips - 2026
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