Squak Mountain
| Squak Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Squak Mountain as seen from Poo Poo Point (east) |
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| Elevation | 2,028 ft (618 m) [1] |
| Prominence | 1,680 ft (512 m) [2] |
| Location | |
| Location | King County, Washington, USA |
| Range | Issaquah Alps |
| Coordinates | 47°29′47″N 122°02′18″W / 47.49639°N 122.03833°W[1] |
Squak Mountain is the second most westerly mountain of the Issaquah Alps mountain chain in Washington state. It is situated between Cougar Mountain to the west and Tiger Mountain to the east. Interstate 90 parallels the base of the north side of the mountain. Much of the Squak Mountain watershed drains in to Lake Sammamish. Most of the mountain is protected by Squak Mountain State Park and Cougar/Squak and Squak/Tiger Corridors of King County. The name "Squak" comes from the Southern Lushootseed placename /sqʷásxʷ/, which is also the source of the name Issaquah Creek and the city of Issaquah.[3][4]
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[edit] The Park
The well-signed trail system consists mostly of abandoned roads that are narrowing to single-track trails, more so each year. One such road-trail leads to a foundation and fireplace that is the remnant of the Bullitts' summer home. Distant views are infrequent because of the forest. The major attraction of Squak Mountain is its urban wilderness.
Residential development in Issaquah extends to the park boundary to and elevation of about 1,100 feet (340 m). The park is accessed from a trailhead (elevation 740 feet / 230 m) at the hairpin turn of Mountainside Drive in the north, and the signed state park entrance on May Valley Road in the south (elevation 350 feet / 110 m). A lesser trailhead is found on the Renton-Issaquah Road on the west (elevation 400 feet / 120 m). Other trailheads may be reached via Sycamore Drive SE and Sunrise Place SE.
[edit] History
While generally a quiet and safe park, Squak Mountain State Park has seen mayhem over the years.
- On January 15, 1953 during a heavy storm, a DC-4 from Boeing field to Burbank, California was blown off course, clipped trees near the summit and came down near a farm in a fiery crash that killed all on board. [5]
- On May 4, 1991, Donna Barensten who suffered from dementia disappeared while hiking with her husband Ron in Squak Mountain State Park. Her body was found nearly one year later. [6]
- In April 25, 2004, the body of Alena Stathopoulos, 29 was found on the Squak Mountain trail not far from SE May Valley Road by two hikers. Her roommate Esther Rose Havekost was convicted in December 2004 for murdering her in their shared apartment and for paying a man $10,000 to dump the body. She was sentenced to 27 months in prison. [7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Byron". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=SY3571.
- ^ "Squak Mountain". Peakbagger.com. http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=2207.
- ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 187, 459. ISBN 9780806135984. http://books.google.com/books?id=5XfxzCm1qa4C&pg=PA459. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 78. ISBN 9780918664006. http://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ.
- ^ Pfarr, Tim (February 15, 2011). "Uncover the dark side of Issaquah". Issaquah Press. http://www.issaquahpress.com/2011/02/15/discover-the-dark-side-of-issaquah/. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Body Found On Squak Mountain". Seattle Times. April 27, 1992. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920427&slug=1488661. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ Skolnik, Sam (December 1, 2004). "Woman who ran escort agency charged in roommate's death". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Woman-who-ran-escort-agency-charged-in-roommate-s-1161007.php. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- Simpson, Douglas G. Squak Mountain: An Island in the Sky A history and trails guide to Squak Mountain, Issaquah Alps Trail Club.
- Manning, Harvey & Penny. Walks & Hikes in the Foothills & Lowlands Around Puget Sound, The Mountaineers, Seattle, 1995.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Squak Mountain |
- "Squak Mountain State Park". Washington State Parks. http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Squak%20Mountain.
- "Squak Mtn King County Rad Mast". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=SY3572.
- Sykes, Karen (March 29, 2001). Time to take a closer look at nearby Squak Mountain. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/getaways/16372_hike29.shtml.
- McQuaide, Mike (November 4, 2004). "Issaquah's Squak Mountain is climbing in popularity". Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20041104&slug=nwwsquak04. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- Sykes, Karen (December 26, 2007). "Hike Of The Week: It's easy to get away in the Issaquah Alps". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Hike-Of-The-Week-It-s-easy-to-get-away-in-the-1259532.php#ixzz1WTCWONQg. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- Mapes, Lynda V. (December 25, 2009). "Squak Mountain trail is a winter delight". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010598182_wintertrails26m.html. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- "Squak Mountain". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1512686.
- "Squak Mountain". SummitPost.org.
- "Squak Mountain". Peakbagger.com.
- "Squak Mountain-West Peak". Peakbagger.com.
- "Squak Mountain-Southeast Peak". Peakbagger.com.
- Green Trails Maps Map of Cougar and Squak Mountains.
- Washington State Parks Map of Squak Mountain State Park.
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