Cougar Mountain / Coal Creek Falls - #SaturdaySnapshots

I've explored Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park three times with the Auburn Senior Activity Center group, and each experience has been different. We always hike for a couple of hours and then stop at Coal Creek Falls for lunch in beautiful surroundings, but we take different trails and the hikes are never the same.

For example, here are the falls in April, 2016. We'd had a dry winter and there was a lower-than-normal snowpack in the Cascade Mountains. The result: the danger of wildfires increased and water available for crop irrigation declined. 

Here are the falls during my April 20, 2018, hike. Much more dramatic!

This year, quite a few trails were closed. Our recent rainfall had turned some paths into streams--slippery and unsafe for hikers. We slogged through a few muddy patches and skirted mud puddles, but the trails we explored were fine. That day I logged eight miles on my Fitbit. (That included walking the grand-dog around our neighborhood.) A good workout. 

My previous posts about Cougar Mountain (located in the "Issaquah Alps") are HERE (2016)  and HERE (2017) . 

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. 

To participate: 

Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.

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Cougar Mountain #Hike - Sunny #SaturdaySnapshots

Although the people who plan our hikes and walks often come up with new places to explore, they also revisit ones we've already tackled. So yesterday we went on a walk at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, a place we explored last April. After days of rain, the sun came out and the clouds stayed away. Such a great time to be out in nature!

Since I've already posted photos of some of these trails last year HERE, I'm posting a few different pictures today, showing the obstacles we face and my hiking gear. [As always, you can click on photos to enlarge them.]

Obstacles

Tree roots, rocks, and mud puddles often keep hikers focused on the trail directly in front of their feet. This group stops occasionally for water breaks and to give us a chance to look around and enjoy the forest surrounding us. 

The people who maintain the trails have several ways of dealing with fallen trees. Chopping a notch out of this log enabled hikers to walk over it easily.

We were glad to have this sturdy bridge with handrail to help us navigate Coal Creek.

Gear

Waterproof hiking shoes, adjustable trekking poles, and day pack. The pack has an insulated compartment to hold my lunch (today: blueberry yogurt, a granola bar, and apple slices) as well as water, a plastic garbage bag (for draping over a damp log before sitting down), and other just-in-case items. My little camera is always in my pocket. Even though we had a sunny day, the trails held lots of mud puddles to navigate around (or through).

While shopping for a waterproof cover for my day pack, I came across this water delivery system. It works very well. I only fill it halfway because water is heavy, and that's been plenty for my hikes so far. It fits nicely into my pack, too. Of course, I always wear my trusty FitBit.

Views

Since we had a gorgeous day, we added a side trail to our hike so we could enjoy a view we weren't able to see last time because of clouds and rain. Lake Sammamish is in the foreground, and that's snow-covered Mount Baker on the horizon. Worth the extra steps.

Also, although we stopped at this same place (Coal Creek Falls) for lunch last year, the waterfall's flow was much stronger this year because of all the rain we've had. The sound of falling water created a soothing ambiance for our meal.

PS: Check out last year's post for more info on the park's history, along with a map of the trails: HERE.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below.  

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

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Cougar Mountain #Hike - #SaturdaySnapshots

Another hike - this one in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park near Newcastle, Washington. My FitBit says I walked 8.36 miles during that 24-hour period (which also includes walking the dog around our neighborhood), and my legs believe it! On this hike, the trail was lined with blooms - bleeding heart, trillium, and fern just starting to unfurl.
[Click on photos to enlarge.]

Western trillium (trillium ovatum)

Bleeding heart (Dicenta formosa)

Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum)

New spring leaves created a bright green canopy overhead. 

They really were that green! Trails are well-marked and 
maintained by volunteers.

Though most of the trails took us through forest, this one overlooked an open area that was once a clay pit.

We crossed this narrow plank over a creek in single file. 

Thank heavens for the sturdy railing!

Lunch break at Coal Creek Falls.

Here's our route.

Here's a little history of the park and a reminder of the Cold War years:

In the 1950s and early 60s, two active Nike missile sites were located within the park’s current boundaries, in order to protect the Puget Sound region from potential air attacks. Eventually, these sites were decommissioned, and in the late 1960s, King County took over ownership of the land that would later become Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park.

More info about this park (a colorful brochure) HERE

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below.  

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you.