2021 Hike 8: West Tiger Mountain summit via Cable line

We are back in the Pacific Northwest! This hike I did solo, as Brook’s ankle was still recovering at the time. This is the first hike I have done (other than Copper Mountain in my 20s), that is rated as “Hard” in AllTrails. It surely lived up to its rating.

The Cable Line trail, is not a maintained trail per se…this path was originally intended as a maintenance access route for the utility workers to service the electrical line that powers the radio tower on top of the mountain.

When I looked this trail up, I was a bit confused as to the rating; it was only a couple miles in, and had about 1800 feet elevation; I had done trails like this recently, so I wondered why the “Hard” rating applied. I found out why for several reasons:

There is very little maintenance done on the trail as the sign states. Sometimes there is a trail, but other times it is simply a collection of boulders and tree roots that are vaguely more level than the surrounding boulders and tree roots.
There are no switchbacks, there is only up. Usually when I see switchbacks I’m like “Oh God, here we go.” Turns out they’re actually there to make it easier.
There are literal power cables underground that are occasionally above ground on the trail. I am reasonably sure they are safe. Reasonably.

For context, the below picture was not taken looking down at the trail…it is taken at a level stance, parallel to the ground.

When I summitted West Tiger, I was awarded with this amazing view! Seems to be a running theme with our hikes this year so far:

The clouds and fog heard I was hiking, and wanted to stop by and say hi

I did see this pretty cool mountain bird though. I love it when I am able to hike far enough up that I can watch the fauna change. Not quite sure what this is…it was about the size of a small pigeon, but wild, much more lean, and at high elevation.

Since the view didn’t pan out, I wanted to prove that I actually got here.

In summary, that was a crazy hike that would make an excellent training hike for alpine climbing…when I am about 60 lbs lighter.