West Tiger Mountain via Bootleg Trail takes one to the highest point in the state forest. It’s the second-tallest peak on the massif after the main summit. Moreover, it’s the most visited place on the crest by outdoor fans.
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West Tiger Mountain via Bootleg Trail at a Glance
Access: Preston Powerline Trail (area info)
Round Trip: 7.9 miles
Elevation Range: 540′-2948′
Gear: microspikes, snowshoes
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
December Snow 2022
Our last visit was in February 2021, soon after the snowstorms. The overnight snow brought in sizable powder in the Pacific Northwest. Unable to dig the car out of the driveway, we resorted to Tiger Mountain in the backyard.
Like before, we went through the neighborhood in the dark. The Preston Powerline Trail then took us to the rest of the trails. After Preston Trail, we worked through Bootleg Trail in the Natural Resource Conservation Area.
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Through Heavy Snow on West Tiger Mountain via Bootleg Trail
Higher up, the snow deepened, so I put on snowshoes at the fork with the Railroad Grade. Meanwhile, we tried staying on track as we moved into areas of heavy powder. We even went through a trench created by snow berms on both sides.
The path took us to the clearing at 2800′, where we soon joined Tiger Mountain Road. Right away, we felt the onset of the strong breeze. It worsened as we inched toward the summit towers half a mile away in the gusts.
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Viewing by the Summit Radio Tower
It was our first time here since the logging took place, so the summit looked unrecognizable. In turn, views once held by the Hikers Hut were now all around. West Tiger #2 and Lake Sammamish were also visible, with Puget Sound in the back.
A runner and their dog appeared as we took shelter behind the utility shed. As it turned out, they and I live on opposite ends of the same street. The dogs and I basked in the gorgeous weather before descending through the trees.
See more trip photos here.