Day Hike - West Tiger Mountain No. 3

The total elevation gain for our ascent was 2,200 feet. We began near Cable Line, taking a small trail through the woods because the road beyond the gate was blocked by blowdown, which prevented car access to the parking lot. From there, we ascended the lower section of the West Tiger 3 trail, navigating through one area of blowdown, then turned onto the Talus Rocks trail. We continued on to Unmaintained Section Line trail to complete our ascent.

Unmaintained Section Line: This section of the trail, gaining 1,350 feet in elevation over just 0.9 miles, is steep and rooty, with some large step-ups—but the trail's beauty pulls you upward and keeps you coming back. With its varied terrain, it’s as interesting as it is challenging. The trail was in generally good condition, with only minimal blowdown—just a few fallen trees easily stepped over.  The trail had little mud, no washouts, and no significant obstacles to navigate. As we neared the summit, the trail became partially obscured beneath a carpet of green boughs, but after a few moments we picked it up again. The western-facing slope likely shielded the trail from the full brunt of the bomb cyclone’s southeast winds.

West Tiger 3: The descent via West Tiger 3 presented a stark contrast to the ascent, especially the upper half. This trail, which faces north, didn’t fare as well in the storm’s southeast winds. The blowdown was significant, with multiple large trees partially obstructing the trail at various points.