[williswall]

I've been using the local trails for an outdoors fix along with training. I can walk out my door and be on trail in less than a half mile. Going midweek on cloudy days really cuts down on the crowding; the foot traffic was light. When I got off the main areas around the Red Town trail head, I was alone transiting the De Leo wall and cross town trails, eventually making my way back to Cougar and hitting Wilderness peak before crossing SR900 to enter the Squak complex. I turned around at Central peak after a coffee and snack break and have timed these hikes to be back home at 8 PM. There are so many trails in these parks that the variety of chained hikes possible are numerous....like, I finally saw Coal Creek falls and many of the side trails.

Hanging moss

Excellent signage

Curves

Cross Town trail

Cougar:Squak out and back

Coffee break at Central Peak

Coal Creek trail falls

Coal Creek falls

Central Peak towers

Buttercups

Barn on Coal Creek trail

Yellow fire, beginning of Squak connector trail

Serene path

Remnants

Plankage

Peek-a-boo view on the Cross Town trail

Old growth stump

Old cedar

Not bad on a Tuesday

I am looking at another 3 day wonderland hike this year and a day like this (27 miles/5500') approximates a typical day on a 4 day hike, so it's getting there. I'm starting to feel it once I get beyond 20 miles but hopefully I can approximate the suffering steely automaton I was 20 years ago now that I have time to train.

[Damian]

Great stuff. I have a soft spot in my head for Cougar. Always have. Hiked there as a kid in the 70's. It was all posted No Trespassing and locals gave you the stink eye if you even drove by. Not getting caught was part of the journey. The park interior still has the same quiet but steady vibe.

[Malachai Constant]

I can also walk from home. It is getting crowded in the Covid era. Counted 25 cars at the Mountainside TH last weekend. They were Parked down 900 at Margaret’s way and Wilderness Peak TH. Yesterday went to Preston and WT1 and only saw two couples in 8+ mi.