Issy Alps
Any chance you remember those quirky personality tests from the early 2000s?
bridge on Squak Mountain
Such quizzes became especially popular in teen magazines but also online in the wake of chain emails. Remember now? Good because I’ve got a fun one for you that I created circa 2012 to honor the mountains I played in at the time. You seem to have me on a kick of nostalgia lately. Here’s a toast to my original playground: the Issaquah Alps!
Issaquah is (was? it’s expanded, unaffordable, and overrun by Seattle’s top execs so it’s lost most of its charm unfortunately) a town that sits at the gateway to the Cascades along I-90 in Washington State. Three hillsides stretch across the skyline view from downtown streets creating a mountain town vibe despite their evergreen cover and mere 2,000-3,000 ft. heights. These peaks received the moniker “Issaquah Alps” by Harvey Manning in 1976 to much laughter; yet, the name somehow stuck.
Read more about the history by the Issaquah Alps Trails Club on their site. Once you’ve got that baseline down, let’s review what the Issy Alps consist of before we get into the quiz. Cougar Mountain tops out at 1,614 feet, is the most western of the Issaquah Alps, and can be viewed from the Space Needle in Seattle. Squak Mountain reaches a mere 2,028 feet and sits between Cougar and Tiger Mountains. Tiger Mountain, the most eastern of the Issaquah Alps, is the tallest at 3,004 feet tall.
All of them are lush, green and vibrant. All of them, mined at one time, carry their own history. All of them consist of a complex trail system that also connects to each other. However, each mountain is distinct with its own personality. Therefore, they deserve to be celebrated for their individuality. ;-) Each holds secrets that draw you in. Now it’s time to find out which one suits you best.
Sprite in action
Which Issy Alp are you?
It’s Friday night and you find yourself…
a. in a large crowd at the Sunset Alehouse telling a tall tale
b. drinking wine or tea curled up on the couch reading quietly in candlelight
c. taking a sunset
When you splurge on a latte, your go-to choice includes…
a. a perfect blend of vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel
b. a rich and decadent perfect blend of white chocolate and dark chocolate
c. a heavenly brew infused with the perfect blend of chocolate and caramel
You’re Saturday adventure looks like…
a. meandering the Farmer’s market with a group of your besties
b. bagging a peak solo or maybe two if your hardcore hiking buddy is available
c. mountain biking FAST! ANYWHERE! NOW!
You approach projects like…
a. a crowd sourcing fiend—better with friends, right?
b. attack—there is no other way
c. a procrastinator—adventure awaits!
Your fave craft beer is…
a. something light and summery; could be a cider, could be local pilsner
b. if nothing seasonal is on tap, you’ll settle for a flavorful porter
c. keep the local lagers comin’!
Stay Tuned…
Holly makes everything better
I hope you kept track of your answers. I’ll leave you here to ponder which Issy Alp you would enjoy exploring the most. Next week, I’ll divulge more details of each and offer the results of the quiz I created oh so long ago. Any guesses which is which? Until then, I hope you go on an adventure of your own!
Oh, and no cheating. ;-) Here’s a picture of Holly to make you feel better. Enjoy!