West Tiger Mountain Family Hike May 29, 2011

We rallied the troops for a "Memorial Day Weekend" hike. The quotes are intended to indicate that this doesn't quite seem like Memorial Day over here in Seattle this year. No disrespect to our soldiers, past and present, but where I'm from, (Atlanta) Memorial Day Weekend is a also a celebration with BBQ and other outdoor activities. It's basically the unofficial start to summer. This year in Seattle, it's the official continuation of the worst spring/summer imaginable. Yet we managed to take everyone out for our first hike of these season. Hopefully the next hikes will involve sunshine.

The West Tiger Mountain Trial (Trail #3, I think) makes for a great family hike. First, it's probably the closest hike to Seattle (excluding some great trials at Discover Park and a few other places). So, if you've got two crying kids, the 20 minute drive from Seattle is a big plus. The distance and elevation gain also make for a great family hike. You won't feel broken after the relatively short 5 mile round trip hike. The only bad part is the hike is extremely popular. This hike is not exactly where I'd go for solitude. But with lower elevation nature trails and some mildly interesting views from the top, it can at least keep us interested for an afternoon in the Cascade Foothills. And another positive of the crowds is that you can find a nice gentleman (who appeared to be carrying about 5-10 gallons of water) to take a nice family portrait.