Hike With Me - Cougar Mountain Regional Wilderness

Cougar Mountain Regional Wilderness

Issaquah, Washington

Trail Hiked: Cave Hole, Coal Creek Falls, Quarry, and Fred's Railroad Loop

Distance Hiked: 3.35 miles

Elevation Gain:413 ft.

Duration: 1h 2m

This was barely a notable hike in terms of statistics or time spent on the trail. The fact that I filmed it at all would be bordering on egregious if not for what it meant to me. But also, to be fair, had I stayed on that trail any longer, darkness would've taken over, and I'd rather not have met the creatures who were more emboldened by the lack of visibility. It wasn't about that. 

I've hiked this mountain before, both by accident and on purpose, both of which I've written about. I've done it from harder positions by starting out at the bottom, I've done it for longer by trying to get as many verified complete badges as possible, and I've done it when it's swarming with other hikers on a dewy Saturday morning after my trip to revisit the Melmont ghost town failed due to closed trails. It wasn't about that either. 

It wasn't even the first location I visited that day. Based purely on distance, it shouldn't have been that difficult to get in multiple hikes at sentimental locations, but this is Northwestern Washington, so a reasonable half hour drive in most places becomes several hours of navigating back roads versus doing an impression of a used car shop run by Joey Jeremiah and his fantastic fedora. Hey, alliteration! 

Earlier in the day, I headed up to Sedro-Woolley for the Northern State Rec Area, and along the way, picked up some Adventure Labs in Bellingham and Burlington, because this day just had a fetish for alliterative commonalities or something. That had the unfortunate effect of making the return trip to the metro near impossible though, as timing worked out in just the perfect way to be substantially horrendous. Not just normal "hey, it's Seattle and you spent an hour trying to get to the hotel five minutes away from SeaTac and there were two accidents and having streets that make sense would be too convenient" horrendous because, well... that was the previous night. Rather, for the time spent inside the car, states or time zones should've changed because, "It's beginning to look a lot like Fuck This, everywhere you look..." Then also, "hey, why should spots on AllTrails be listed with, you know, actual parking spots. That's just silly. Why not the middle of a neighborhood near people who look like they'd join an HOA for the clout?" 

By the time I arrived, the sun was already setting, as the season waned more than I expected after spending a majority of the summer on the trail. Challenge accepted. An hour before nautical twilight, a 3-mile trail? Les dew eet. 

I nearly jogged on the trail to get it done in time (by accident, ironically enough, those who intentionally run on trails with jutting rocks and ledges, you the real ones.) But just to leave bootprints on this specific mountain felt redeeming in a way I can't quite articulate, despite this flawed yet hopefully charming attempt. 

No regrets.

Epic Hikes of Washington State - Zach's Lookout

 

Zach's Lookout

Date Hiked: August 16th, 2025

Trail Hiked: Zach's Lookout, U1100 and Dickerson Falls Loop

Distance Hiked: 9.70 miles

Elevation Gain: 1191 ft. 

Duration: 3h 1m

It's a good thing Zach made a lookout, because otherwise this would be a mildly difficult hill in the Kitsap area without much of a payoff. I mean, other than the stats and gains, but usually the reward of a good climb is the view from the top, so say "yo Zach, what's up, thanks for the lookout" or whatever the kids say these days, because it's the only one you're going to get on this hike. 

The visibility was grand this day, the exact opposite of when I reached the top of Mount Walker and was lucky I could even see my own hand holding the camera when I was taking photographs. This was another one of the days where I wanted a good hike, a decent climb, and a pleasant distraction from the soul-sucking void deep within the Sickness that permeated the essence of my being at the time, but I also didn't feel like traveling very far. Fortunately, in Washington state, only driving five minutes can result in a gorgeous view for "only" an 1200 ft. climb on a Friday with perfect weather. In the Twin Cities, five minutes away for a hike usually means Greenways, traffic noise, and wondering if the scowling dude walking toward you just disappeared your neighbor with impunity. Oh, 2026, what the hell even are you? 

The most notable thing to happen on this particular hike wasn't even the trek itself though. This trail climbs up a hillside before it does a little loop atop the Zach-flavored lookout point. While on that hilltop loop, I found a set of keys with a Seahawks emblem on the chain. Oh good, that would only narrow down the owner of the missing go-go sticks by absolutely nobody, how fortunate for me. 

Luckily, the next two lovely ladies I encountered were the winners of the Showcase Keysdown, so Zach must've been looking out for them too, since the eponymous view was where we briefly met. They didn't have to call a locksmith to a parking lot, I got a momentary reprieve from the maelstrom of self-loathing and regret that wouldn't lift until the Sickness went away a short time later. Everybody got a little shot of dopamine unexpectedly that day is what I'm saying. 

This hike is perfectly fine, by Washington state standards anyway. In most other places, it'd be flooded every weekend with Zach fans and their fancy eyeglasses peering over the single spot where one could see beyond the treeline. There'd still be the straight couple who held up the line by taking 38 indistinguishable selfies (there's always one), but otherwise it'd get a solid 4.5/5 most likely. But, since it is in Washington state, I'd mostly recommend it only if you're near Bremerton, you don't want or need to travel longer than an episode of Zack Morris is Trash, and you want a hike that's good for the moment but you'll forget about it before you get back to the car.

Epic Hikes of Washington State/Hike With Me - Northern State Recreation Area

 

Northern State Recreation Area

Sedro-Woolley, Washington

Dates Hiked: August 6th, 2024; July 6th, 2025; August 28th, 2026

Trail Hiked: Northern State Recreation Area Loop, etc.

Distance Hiked: 3.98 miles; 13.45 miles; 4.41 miles

Elevation Gain: 177 ft.; 699 ft.; 180 ft.

Duration: 2h 1m; 4h 5m; 1h 28m

Hiking has never been the primary reason for making this trek to northern Washington, although it certainly doesn't hurt either. 

Three hikes are listed above, and there were at least two more before I started keeping track with AllTrails. With my penchant for always wanting to go to new places rather than revisit older ones, that should convey just how unique and interesting I find this location. Not only is it symbolic and special in a personal way, not only is it a goldmine for those who enjoy photography of the abandoned variety, but its preservation is chilling and essential for not repeating the mistakes of history and how those with mental illness are treated by society. 

Harbor no illusions here, this is the site of a former asylum, and there's something distinctly uncomfortable about the fact that it's now a disc golf course. I love exploring abandoned buildings, and the time I took the video camera doesn't even begin to cover all the places to find there, but knowing what happened there before contrasts the aesthetic with an unyielding, haunting aura. 

The size of these essays does not even begin to tell the truth behind the crumbling structures, so may I suggest Under the Red Roof: One Hundred Years at Northern State Hospital by Mary J. McGoffin for much more than I can describe in 500 words. There's a cemetery that had to be rediscovered and plotted out by those who cared for folx who died there, so please read more about its history at your discretion. 

Conversely, it's also a very special and sentimental place for me, as my consistent returns have indicated. The unobstructed views of the Cascades are daunting and beautiful, while the hollowed shells of buildings that once were feel trapped in time despite the modern lingo in the endless graffiti. On one of the previous visits with Redacted, all four seasons collided within one trek, as it went from pleasant and sunny to hail onslaught in a mere few hours. Another time I visited was at the height of the Sickness, where I hiked the entire loop twice while spending more time than previous trips capturing as many photographs as possible. 

But, as several more Hike With Me's about Washington will complement, my mileage and time were kept short intentionally during my 2026 trip, as this wasn't even my only stop that day. This was my first solo wander to Washington without any plans, itineraries, or meetings with loved ones. Finding my own validation and wandering for no other reason than I wanted to, Northern State was oddly soothing and liberating despite the scars of the past as visible as ever; my own and the location's alike. 

I love the town of Sedro-Woolley. I set a story there once upon a time too. Northern State Recreation Area though, it's amazing for a good hike, urbex photography, and/or Geocaching, and I assume the disc golf is great too. 

But for me, it was peace.

Hike With Me - Beaver Island Trail

 

Beaver Island Trail

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Trail Hiked: 

Distance Hiked: 12.11 miles

Elevation Gain: 358 ft.

Duration: 3h 58m

Look, not every hike is necessarily about maximizing elevation gain or finding spectacular vistas at the perfect time of day. Sometimes, it’s just “I want to get good distance without nuch in the way of resistance to get the numbers up.” This was one of those times. 

But also, having an Adventure Lab to do along the way certainly helps in terms of motivation and focus.

St. Cloud probably doesn’t crack my top 100 in terms of places I’m excited to go in Minnesota. I always feel like it’s a junction point on my way to more interesting places, and that’s no disrespect to anyone who lives there… Well, maybe some. CityNerd referred to a certain mindset as “self-identified rurality,” and when a city has 70 thousand people, no amount of Truck With Attitude, I’m an Outlaw Despite Having the Exact Same One as the Next Four Behind Me makes it rural.

Beaver Island Trail is… perfectly adequate. It’s not completely bereft of interesting scenery, like perhaps the Dairyland Trail, but it’s not one I’d revisit to take it in again specifically. Going under the bridge, the path goes through a neighborhood before turning into the university, and meeting one of the many dams along the Mississippi River. From there, it’s a great path for tree canopies, local parks, and plenty of road noise nearby. I’m glad it exists, but being serviceable is not much motivation to travel 90 minutes without the lure of Adventure Lab finds and adding another Verified Complete trail to my list. I’d be much happier with something like this if I stepped out of my apartment and jumped right on it, but if I’m already traveling this far, urban trails that weave through neighborhood sidewalks aren’t what I’d seek.

Conveniently, the trail was suitable for the practice of further learning how to use my GoPro on the fly. Regardless of how much of a technical fuddyduddy as it likely makes me seem, figuring out the little tricks of using that thing is far more suited for flat and relatively banal mileage than the slopes of Mt. Si (spoiler alert). Mostly what I learned from my GoPro 5 is that the 12 I decided to buy when the replacement batteries for the 5 didn’t work was infinitely better, so it wasn’t entirely a waste. 

I have no intention of making St. Cloud seem like a featureless wasteland, despite my mostly playful ribbing earlier. Not to worry, no one in St. Cloud has ever said an unkind word about the Twin Cities or anyone who lives there, so I apologize for this uncharacteristic diversion of my usual completely objective travelogue. It’s not like I dared to be annoyed by horseshit on the Fort Ridgely Hiking Club trail during a Polar Vortex and the deepest pit of the Sickness or anything. That would just be silly.

I got 12 miles out of it. There are worse ways to spend a Sunday. I’m from Northeast Ohio, I would know.

Hike With Me - Frontenac State Park

Frontenac State Park

Frontenac, Minnesota

Trail Hiked: Waconia Cliffs Trail, Sandstone Trail, Upper Bluffs Loop, 

Distance Hiked: 7.57 miles

Elevation Gain: 883 ft.

Duration: 2h 50m

Frontenac State Park is one of those places that I end up more often than intended. Not in a negative way necessarily, just that it's closer than the North Shore, less crowded than Barn Bluff, and good to get some elevation gain when I can't get out to a place with mountains; which, given that I live in Minnesota, is most of the time.

One particular thing I enjoy about (some of) these state parks is when I find a trail that I didn't know about, even after a dozen visits like Frontenac, and what a lovely time to discover them as when I'm coming back because "well, I've been there plenty of times, but never with my camera, so that's a new way to give these trails replay value." Doesn't always work (see future episode or previous entries for Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park), but this was a pleasant instance.

Typical traffic flow (if you can call it traffic most days) heads up the Hiking Club trail toward the bluffs. That is, unless they parked at the top and skipped the initial incline, but that's their prerogative. Most people I've seen are headed that way and end up on the bluffs trails, upper and lower. On other visits, I've taken the prairie loop on the front side, and there's also the oddly separate Rattlesnake area that's lovely... if you can find it on that road so remote it makes Lake Bronson State Park in the winter seem metropolitan. 

On this hike, I was headed the opposite way, intending to take the initial elevation gain up toward the campground, mostly to mix it up a little given the aforementioned frequent visits. But, at the point where I would've turned right to head up the grassy rise, I saw a small brown sign indicating a Waconia Cliffs trail. Not on AllTrails, and since that junction was usually where I turned toward the parking lot, I never noticed it before.

A wonderful world of hills and wildflowers awaited, followed by views of the same quality as the Hiking Club trail and other blufftop hotspots. At the vista point over the lakes below, another brown sign for the Sandstone Trail indicates another access point to these views, so I looped back to the initial junction and took that route. While easily the least maintained of the contiguous park trail, the name isn't false advertising. Journeying up the sandstone cliffs over which the vista peers, they aren't quite as towering as the climbing hotspots back in the other areas, but still rather nice all the same. I don't think I saw another person on either trail the entire time.

With those two completed (and submitted to AllTrails afterward as new routes, so expect to see them never,) I did a final loop around the more common areas. Still gotta get those miles and elevation gains up, after all. Those trails were predictably crowded on a beautiful August day, but at least I enjoyed solitude first.

Minnesota State Parks Revisited/Hike With Me - Beaver Creek Valley State Park

 

Beaver Creek Valley State Park

Caledonia, Minnesota

Trail Hiked: Beaver Creek Valley, Hole-in-Rock, West Rim, Short Loop, Campground

Distance Hiked: 7.09 miles

Elevation Gain: 814 ft.

Duration: 2h 45m

Beaver Creek Valley State Park (no matter how many times I accidentally write Beaver Valley Creek State Park)  is one of those places I've been intending to revisit so long that it was among the first I intended to write about when I started the Revisited series over a year ago. Somehow I always ended up going to Whitewater or Frontenac instead. 

I cannot emphasize how far out of the way this park is, especially coming from the metro. But whereas a place like Whitewater feels remote despite being 8 miles from St. Charles (not exactly a thriving metropolis but not desolate either), Beaver Creek Valley is so remote that signal disappears entirely before even entering the place. What's the nearest town of note? Houston? It's a three hour sojourn to the middle of the middle of nowhere, and I'd always lose my resolve before I made it. It's not like the North Shore where I've intended to continue on the SHT but end up revisiting sites closer to Duluth instead. Beaver Creek Valley is much more all or nothing, and despite how highly I ranked it, it took nearly two years before I finally did it again. 

Hey, this time the bridge is open so I didn't have to go down and back up! And I'm pretty sure the Hiking Club password wasn't in that spot the first time (maybe I missed it, or maybe it was in the closed section? I don't know, it was cold that day.) But holy hell, what a contrasting experience between the Hiking Club speedrun January traverse and this one in late summer.

The wildflowers are unbelievably plentiful in thr flat half of the trail, to the point that I wonder if they're more prevalent there than almost any orher park I've revisited in the months where people can breathe outdoors. But, so are the bugs. Goodness gracious, the bugs. It was only the third time since obtaining a head net that they bullied me into wearing one. The rainy, overcast conditions probably didn't help. Much like the winter hike though, I barely saw anyone there (those with camping spots notwithstanding) so that remained consistent,

The bluff portion of the hike was not nearly the difficult trek it was the first time, as I've hiked a lot more steep and challenging inclines since then. The lush greens made the views less vast and scenic, but were beautiful still in their own right. And that last little portion still felt like the Bridge of Khazad-Dum, but this time I remembered to download it in advance, because as ere stated, the signal at this park is mostly non-existent.

I don't think this park has much replay value for me, given the distance to get there, but also, there isn't much to hike beyond the Hiking Club trail, and if I'm going to do something I've already done, I'll stick to closer trails of comparable difficulty. But it is absolutely worth the trip at least once.

Hike With Me - Superior Hiking Trail (Brewer Park)

 

Superior Hiking Trail

Duluth, Minnesota

Trail Hiked: Brewer Park Loop, Superior Hiking Trail and Stovetop Upper Burner Loop

Distance Hiked: 5.85 miles

Elevation Gain: 738 ft.

Duration: 2h 30m

I've spent a lot of energy on the Superior Hiking Trail this year without technically making much progress on the undone portions. A snow hike from the Rose Garden to Hartley most notably, and as I got stuck on Hundred Percenting shorter long distance trails this winter, the distance and remoteness needed to get the unfinished sections didn't feel worth it. Then, during the summer, wildfire smoke, an encounter with a family of bears (Isanti), and three-plus weeks on the Great Wander all contributed to my lack of progress. The one new section I did (Split Rock to Beaver Bay) was so overgrown and thick with bugs and ticks made me put it off even longer until fall. The terrifying encounter with an entire family of bears admittedly had me leery of going anywhere too remote, as with the common thread of consolation always being "they're not a problem unless the cubs are around" had me even more paranoid than usual.

All that to say, when I got to Duluth with my new camera and mission for the first time, I opted for the shorter Drive and picking up a verified complete badge from section 1 that I hadn't gotten along the way on 2025's completion.

Having traversed the side closest to the lake previously, once I went under the tunnel, I turned right to explore the side I hadn't seen before the loop met the junction at the familiar trek. 

The word "park" in the title has certain implications, even in Duluth. Even aside from the state parks, much of section 1 goes through considerably developed park areas, like Enger most notably. Brewer Park is pretty much indistinguishable from other remote sections of the SHT. The views on the main were still lovely, of course, and they looked different than in the early spring, which was to be expected. It's fine, it isn't a complaint at all, it just didn't seem like what I was expecting for a park specifically, given the complete lack of anything I saw other than the trail. It feels weird to say it, but alas. Maybe I've watched too many Dustin Poynter videos and I feel like I'm saying "am I the red flag for thinking that a park was more than a trail in the wilderness?" Which is a very odd thing to ask, but feels like it would be better than some of the other "absolutely not totally staged" skits online people do, or "am I the asshole for lighting my ex's house on fire and singing the Star Spangled Banner at the top of my lungs while she attempted to put out the fire on the irreplaceable photos of her great-grandparents who were the last two residents of the Isle of Fuchsia?" 

I shouldn't write on my lunch walk at work.

I feel like I'm getting better at the camera thing. I'm hoping to have it down a little more before hitting some mountains in Washington. Really wanna get those views.

Hike With Me - Interstate State Park

Interstate State Park

Taylor's Falls, Minnesota/St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

Trail Hiked: Interstate State Park Loop, Walter F. Mondale River Trail and Railroad Trail Loop, Lake of the Dalles Trail, Silverbrook Trail, Eagle Peak Trail

Distance Hiked: 9.94 miles

Elevation Gain: 906 ft. 

Duration: 3h 30m

Minnesota State Parks now have these tank-like chairs that allow folx with disabilities to traverse the often-rough terrain of their trails. I was fortunate to be joined by a very dear friend of mine for this exact purpose, and the delight it brought me to be able to hike with them is beyond description. Though the kindly gentleman up front seemed rather confused by the request, it ended up being a success. 

I'm not going to stop writing about hikes, goodness where would I be without that motivation to compose 500 words about each step of a wander? But, as hiking YouTube veers away from what I liked about it (like so many things I've enjoyed over the years), I'm taking the advice a creator once gave me about an entirely different media: "Find whatever it is you wish you were seeing and aren't, then make that." 

Now, does that mean channels doing what I am don't exist? Of course not, I'm not that naive. However, channels I used to binge, ones that talked about hikers, hiking culture, and adventures, or even hiking-related mysteries, they seem to have become over-produced, clickbaity, edited in a way that annoys me (and possibly only me, I'm willing to accept that), or they're entirely focused on gear. The latter of which, I'm not even saying is invalid or not necessary, I just can't find the energy to give even half of a shit to listen to someone talking about how cutting a toothbrush in half saves contributing weight. 

And, perhaps most importantly, I refuse to pretend I don't notice the voice inflection changing right before they start trying to sell me whichever possibly relevant product they're hawking this week. For the record, I do not begrudge the creators for doing this. I respect the game, but it sure does break my immersion into the story, location, or adventure. 

I'm new to a GoPro, figuring it out as I use it. The editing is minimalist, not because I can't edit video, but because I don't want it to be flashy or fancy or (again, may only be me that's annoyed by it) over-produced, speeding up with royalty-free music and missing the experience itself. 

That's what I'm going for. I want to share my experience as it happened, as much as time, space, and battery power allow. My unfamiliarity with GoPro was prevalent in this particular hike, as I'd unscrewed the camera from the frame to retrieve the SD card the previous evening, but when I put it back in the frame, I forgot to re-fasten it appropriately. I also had no idea the battery would drain so fast, so on my first attempt filming, it crapped out about halfway through a relatively short excursion. I'm quite proud of how this came out, especially with my camera only staying on my shoulder strap by sheer balance of will and hope. 

And, hey! A new excuse to return to places I've already hiked without getting bored! Bonus! 

Epic Hikes of Washington State - Green Mountain

Green Mountain

Date Hiked: August 9th, 2025

Trail Hiked: Green Mountain via Gold Creek and Wildcat Trails, Green Mountain Lookout via Gold Creek Trail, Green mountain via Davis and Gold Creek Trail, 

Distance Hiked: 9.87 miles

Elevation Gain: 1414 ft. 

Duration: 3h 26m

Green Mountain is one of those hikes that would be the highlight of an entire region in most states.

But in Washington, it's more of a "hey, it's close!" 

That is not to disparage the hike whatsoever, it was a lot of fun. The gains were intense but not exhausting, the mix of terrain and sights were pretty decent, and coming out to the overlook was pretty sweet once the forest cleared way. But, again, it's Washington, so the best views are of mountain hikes that would probably be significantly more awesome and intense, so it's an odd mix of feeling accomplished and... I don't know... like settling for a somewhat moderate hike when a quest would've been attainable? 

It doesn't make sense, but even in the thumbnail above, I crave the gains and views that would've been better than this one. 

Then I also have to remind myself that hikes like this are necessary to get to hikes like the ones in the distance, and I have to say "shut up with your facts and logic, Brain. I want to do the bigger mountains!" Easier to say a year later with strong mental health and another year's worth of experience, strength, conditioning, and progress, but alas.

The summer of 2025 in Washington had been the exact opposite of the stereotypical expectations. When one pictures Washington state, there's normally a lot of misty rain, fog, and other conditions that implore folx to find those Vitamin D supplements and have them at the ready. Instead, it was unexpectedly dry, sunny, and clear, leading to skylines and horizons such as this one, with infinitely better visibility than, say, my Mt. Walker hike where the view was non-existent. 

Without the gaping void in my soul and the constant pit in my stomach, I think I would've appreciated this one a lot more than I did at the time. Hiking was an escape from a spirit-crushing depression (soon rectified by the correct medication and life alterations), and I don't think I appreciated a hike like this for much more than the squiggly circle on the app and the cumulative stats that followed the conclusion. It makes me want to go back for another chance to appreciate it more, but with the aforementioned experience and conditioning, I simultaneously want to pursue the harder ones I avoided at the time. It's admittedly a privileged position to be in, but those views call to me more than they did at the time, understandably. 

I sound like I'm trashing the hike, and I don't mean to. It's a decent hike with a lovely view, but I remember next to nothing about it, and that's on me, not the hike itself. I was just in such a bad place at the time that even something like "not doing a more difficult hike" felt like a personal failure for which I should've felt guilty. Such a weird thing to say. 

What a difference taking care of one's mental health makes! 

Epic Hikes of Washington State - Mt. Pleasant

Mount Pleasant

Date Hiked: August 10th, 2025

Trail Hiked: Mount Pleasant, Washington DNR Trail Systems

Distance Hiked: 8.1 miles

Elevation Gain: 1969 ft. 

Duration: 3h 22m

Mt. Sinai being the first mountain I truly ever hiked to the summit may have spoiled me in some ways.

Not that it was an easy haul to the top, it most certainly was not, even for someone in the shape for hiking such things as I was, but it's not readily apparent how much switchbacks and resting points make a difference in such a climb until one doesn't have them available. 

Mt. Sinai was a well-manicured and maintained trail that was easy to follow, meted out the elevation gain, and was clearly designed for hikers to traverse. 

Mt. Pleasant was a small mountain surrounded by the Olympics in their grandeur, it barely had a trail access point unless one specifically knew exactly where to look, and rather than a trail, it was more like a dirt road that happened to be on a mountain somewhere. 

In other words, it was designed for logging trucks to drive on, not so much for hikers to make an ascent, and good gods did it show. 

Up on the Olympic peninsula, it was easy to be intimidated by the rugged nature of the jagged peaks. While still confident from my Sinai hike that I was getting to the point that I could make these treks, I wanted to work myself up and keep trying to steadily improve, so when I saw Mt. Pleasant in the app being a solid 1900 feet rather than some that were in the 4 and 5k gains, I thought a steady climb with a good view at the end would be the kind of hike that might not be as impressive as others nearby, but a good stepping off point for future, more difficult journeys. 

Instead, I got a lesson on switchback efficacy, as ere stated.

Sometimes, solitude on the trail is a blessing for which I'm endlessly grateful, but others, it's an indicator of not doing enough research on my part. This was one of the latter examples, as looking into what others said about it would've given me enough information to reconsider. 

I still did it, but it was not as pleasant as the name would imply. 

The grade was intense, with nothing but my own switchback-ish abatement of the rise to lessen the impact on my knees. Even with much taller peaks surrounding me in several directions, this felt like getting my penance for making terrible decisions at a time in my life where my impulsivity was overriding my common sense and the pained soul in which I inhabited caused me to believe that opting out and trying something else was some indication of a character flaw and personal failure. 

I saw two other people the entire time, and they were on motorbikes. On a beautiful day like this, the lack of other hikers was not a coincidence or stroke of luck. This climbed sucked.

The view at the end was the only part that made this trek worth it. Otherwise, just pick another trail.

Epic Hikes of Washington State - Mt. Walker

 

Mt. Walker

Date Hiked: August 3rd, 2025

Trail Hiked: Mount Walker Loop

Distance Hiked: 8.1 miles

Elevation Gain: 2126 ft. 

Duration: 3h 14m

 

With the previous day's hike traversing a hidden gem in the Seattle Metro, this conversely took me to the Olympic National Forest in the other direction from base. Cougar was a return trip, Walker was a first-timer, not just for the mountain itself, but being the first time I'd ever hiked anywhere near there. Cougar was bright and sunny, this fog was "the owls are not what they seem." Cougar is now a graveyard of memories I wish I could Eternal Sunshine from my overactive brain, Walker is... a sign of the potential further hikes I could've done if my focus had been otherwise. Life is weird.

 

Mt. Walker is certainly not the hardest hike in the area. Even on a foggy day, I could see other mountains that were probably a tougher climb, but given that my first real mountain summit was a week prior, I felt it might be a good idea to start with ones in the two or three thousand foot range and maybe work up to the Rainiers and Bakers of the world? Weird thought, I don't know, maybe I'm onto something. 

 

With the heavy layers of fog covering the canopy, the dew on the greens and ferns felt particularly flavored to the Pacific Northwest, which would be obvious had this summer I spent there not been overwhelmingly sunny and dry. The ascent is immediate but not ridiculous, and I only saw two or three other people the whole time, at least before I got to the top. It's probably not fair to Mt. Walker to judge it against the majesty of Mt. Si, but again, not much from which to draw at this point, in that Mt. Walker was a reasonably hard climb but not the more arduous sections of incline that Si challenged me with. 

 

I am certain that the views from Walker's top are considerable. When I reached it, not only did I see climbers and other tourists taking in the Pyramidhead-esque surroundings (benefits of there being a way to drive to the top), but there were also a lot of signs and placards explaining to me what all these gorgeous icons in the landscape were and how awesome it was to be there. Akin to my (first) trip to Great River Bluffs State Park bragging about the breathtaking views, I'm sure they're fantastic... if I could've actually seen them. 

 

One option to return back was to go the way I came, and the other was allegedly a loop, and I suppose technically it was. However, rather than a trail, AllTrails decided the road was the fun way to go down, and while it started slowly revealing more layers of the surrounding Olympic National Forest, I didn't enjoy  dodging those who took the motorized way to the top. Not that I have anything against trail tourists, but... okay maybe I do just a little bit, particularly against their vehicles being near me. 

 

It is what it is, and foggy Mt. Walker's good. 

Epic Hikes of Washington State - Cougar Mountain

 

Cougar Mountain

Date Hiked: August 2nd, 2025

Trail Hiked: Whitaker Peak and Shy Bear Loop Trail to Doughty Falls

Distance Hiked: 9.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 2162 ft. 

Duration: 3h 49m

This mountain is a graveyard of memories for me, and it has nothing to do with the trail itself. 

I didn't know when I was doing this hike that it would (likely) be the last time I ever set foot on these grounds. At the time I was traversing these heights, it was a return to conquer something upon which I'd given up at a time of much lesser endurance than I now possessed. It was a place of sentiment, the subject of many stories, and one where something (once) significant took place that helped shape several years of my life. 

Now, to reflect on it, it is one of morose, of buried emotions that lay dormant amongst the tombstones with names fading into the obscurity of the past. Writing about it is one last journey through moss and a canopy of trees upon which my eyes will never gaze again, and that is a shame because this is a beautiful place within decent proximity to the metro area. 

When my hiking prowess was much closer to the novice level, at a time where I didn't even think to bring a water bottle or proper footwear, I explored this place with Redacted without realizing just how far up we went. The screams of a barred owl only heightened the mystique of this place that created the illusion of isolation despite being mere minutes away from the main drag in Renton. Funny enough, this was my second choice of a location for adventure on this pristine Saturday August morning, after an attempt to revisit the Melmont Ghost Town trail was unsuccessful due to trail closure. Thus, going from Bremerton to Carbonado was a waste of time, and Cougar Mountain ended up being as close to a sentimental callback as the former was intended to be. I'll write about Melmont another time, once I can conjure its similarly dead place in my soul. 

Having completed the summit of Mt. Si a mere week earlier, the immediate slope upward didn't seem as difficult as it had four years prior. But, the trail gives no illusions of gentle ascent, for once one leaves their car in the tiny parking lot (assuming one even finds a spot), the upward climb begins immediately and doesn't let up for a while. Cougar Mountain is a mere third of the height of Si, but confronting that incline first thing into the hike definitely gets the output juices going within the first few minutes of arrival. 

The giant rocks with mossy coats give way to shadowy cavern-like crevices, making it appropriate to throw on some Howard Shore and imagine one is descending into the hidden paradise of Rivendell. How one can be so close to a main road and experience such calming silence is as Washingtonian as one can get in such endeavors, but after a few hundred feet of hanging out with corvids and waterfalls, it's easy to forget the surrounding activity. 

It's beautiful. I hate it now. 

Epic Hikes of Washington State - Mt. Sinai

 

Mt. Sinai

Date Hiked: July 26th, 2025

Trail Hiked: Mt. Si Trail

Distance Hiked: 8.13 miles

Elevation Gain: 3182 ft. 

Duration: 4h 9m

Saturday morning started with an awkward encounter that would be over by the time I descended the mountain. Somehow that was the strangest part of the hike to the Peak of the Twin variety.

Ascending through the fog on a brisk morning, it barely felt like a daytime excursion at all. The canopy of giant trees, of which I'm sure Special Agent Dale Cooper would love to know their names, coupled with the thick, Silent Hill-esque haze to create an eerie atmosphere of isolation. Dare I say, it was downright Lynchian. 

I'm a relative newcomer to the works of David Lynch, only discovering them when Redacted took me to Snoqualmie Falls and talked to me about Twin Peaks. Two years and an autistic need for dedicated research later, I was in North Bend when the news came that he'd left this plane of existence to transcend. The Double-R Diner was covered in a candlelight vigil, an image that will stay in my mind far longer than the circumstance. 

Originally intending to hike Mt. Storm King from a suggestion, I opted for Mt. Si instead because at no place in the reviews was there a mention of needing to use a rope or any areas that were not maintained. Heading up this mountainside early in the morning was a blessing, as both those going up and coming back down were the real hikers who knew the codes of the trails. The descent later would be filled with tourists who didn't, but fortunately that one was significantly quicker. 

Thank merciful Tehlu for switchbacks. Not all my Washington mountain hikes would be so fortunate, but this one would also be significantly more populated. Laura Palmer's theme played in my head as the relatively repetitive views of tall trees and misty mountain hops prevailed throughout the landscape. Trekking poles were also a practical blessing, as one slip could've meant a disastrous sledding hill with only the smothering comfort of ancient ferns as a stop-gap. 

One thing I found quite surprising, and perhaps that's due to the relative isolation of the winter Hiking Club speedrun only months before, was the encouragement from those on the descent. Appalachian Trail-esque, dare I say, were those who didn't have to drive two hours to make the climb, and therefore got an even earlier, pre-tourist adventure. They not only were appreciative of the code, but offered sincere support on the 3000 ft.-plus elevation gain. "Keep going, you're almost there!" is something one could take as condescension in many other circumstances, but somehow on this dreary July morning, it provided the extra verbal assistance necessary to continue. 

As the trail leveled out, a view above the clouds presented itself briefly before giant rocks replaced the dirt path I'd traversed to that point. Would I climb a few hundred more feet to sit on top of the world and enjoy a Luna lemonbar to celebrate my first true mountain summit? Just call me Will Ospreay, because baby, I was elevated! 

Epic Hikes of Washington State - Cushman Trail to Tacoma Narrows Bridge

 

Cushman Trail to Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Date Hiked: July 27th, 2025

Trail Hiked: Cushman Trail, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Borgen Loop, Grandview Forest Park

Distance Hiked: 25.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 1877 ft. 

Duration: 7h 13m

The day before this, I hiked Mt. Si to the top, which is another story for another edition of this series, but mentioning it now is to put this in context: The day prior I set my AllTrails record for elevation gain in a hike and highest point reached. For some reason, I decided that the day after doing that would be a great time to go for my longest distance and time duration spent hiking. 

Is it obvious I wasn't in my right mind this summer? 

I didn't set out on the hike to break any records. Mostly, I wanted to distract myself from the gaping void in my stomach, as well as the bizarre set of circumstances from the previous few days. Everything about my life seemed to be crashing in on itself, so why not jingle some keys toward my physical well-being and hike until my limbs rebelled against my entire system? It was easier than thinking about the mental pain for a while, if nothing else. 

I was the loneliest I've ever been, wandering as if I'd never again find the correct path to be following. The Cushman trail was a relatively boring, paved trail likely meant more for biking than hiking, but I didn't care. Along the way were some Geocaching Adventure Labs to knock out, and those small boosts of serotonin helped out a bit. The fact that it has a lot of road crossings and barely seems to fit the definition of a trail was annoying, but the point at which I was supposed to turn back was noticeably close to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which had not only an Adventure Lab but was, obviously, a bridge, and one that I learned that very day had a walking path next to the cavalcade of vehicle traffic. I love bridges, I am autistic, what a great combination. 

One more annoying road crossing later, the gentle but noticeable grade of the walking section of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge led me to some amazing views over the waterways, and possibly even my first sighting of an orca in the wild, but the bridge was too high to get a decent confirmation. It also added a solid four miles and a few hundred more feet to the elevation gain of the journey. If my consciousness couldn't be happy, might as well add measurable stats about which only I give a shit, right?

As the return trip on the Cushman Trail was coming to an end, I noticed that I was approaching my distance record, though the remaining time on the Cushman itself wouldn't end it. Taking a small diversion to the Borgen Loop was little more than an excuse for extra distance and time, just as the Grandview Forest Park was an excuse to complete an Adventure Lab, but it added up.

Pacing back and forth on the first hill of the Cushman after all that, I hit for time, then passed 22.4 for distance, and then thought "why not go for a 25er too?" Maybe not the best decision, but it certainly was a decision.