Anti Aircraft Peak - 175 trip reports for this trail
"Having arrived in Australia, the species has established in a challenging environment but one that provides all the basic requirements for population persistence and has identified a potential nesting opportunity that is both transient and mobile. In doing so, (the keyhole wasp) poses a significant risk to aviation safety."
Anti Aircraft Peak
Washington Trails Association 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104
Wasps Start Checking Out The Planes As Soon As They Get To The Gate
On a sunny Saturday morning, Eileen and I left home at 10:00am and headed east on local roadways. A mile of walking took us to the informal start of Newcastle Trail, which we followed for another 2 miles to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. Here, hikers are greeted with an extensive network of trails that blanket the mountain like a spider web. Our selected route on Wildside Trail and Quarry Trail led us steadily uphill through deep, mossy, deciduous forest.
Beyond the upper end of Quarry Trail, we began making a northward tack on Fred’s Railroad Trail and East Fork Trail. Along the way, we passed Jerry’s Duckpond, with its wintertime coat of green algae. Eileen routinely drinks a vegetable smoothie that looks just like this.
175 trip reports for this trail
As of Spring 2017, many guidebooks and maps - including the downloadable map - indicate that the clay pit area offers "No Public Access." Actually, the former clay pit has been gently re-contoured and planted with native vegetation. The former gate and No Access sign have been removed, and now nothing prevents hikers from exploring the area.
Driving Directions
Begin your hike at the Sky Country Trailhead. Leave the parking area, return to Clay Pit Road and hike up the road. The road is used only by occasional park vehicles, so traffic will be light to non-existent.
Across the parking lot to the east a short signed trail leads to the "Million Dollar View." It's worth checking out, particularly on a clear day when Mount Baker may be visible. A pergola and picnic tables are available at the viewpoint.
Pass the junction with the Coyote Creek Trail and continue on the road. As you cross the North Fork of Coal Creek, note the impressive beaver dam just upstream that backs water into the Klondike Marsh.
Pass the junction with the Coyote Creek Trail and continue on the road. As you cross the North Fork of Coal Creek, note the impressive beaver dam just upstream that backs water into the Klondike Marsh.
Keyhole Wasps Posing A Threat At Brisbane Airport
We passed through the vacant parking lot at Red Town Trailhead (it is currently gated off), crossed Newcastle GC Road, and proceeded down the fairly busy Coal Creek Trail for 2 miles. A quick stop at Starbucks in Newcastle Commons provided celebratory drinks for the home stretch of our 13-mile trek. We toasted to Lisa’s birthday and a fun day of hiking together apart!
Return to Clay Pit Road. You have the option of following the road all the way back to the trailhead, although there is a more scenic option that adds almost no additional distance: Refer to your map. Then go left at Fred's RR Trail. Almost immediately go right on the Bypass Trail. Go right again on the Cave Hole Trail, then left on the Old Man Trail and right on the concrete road. This will return you to the Sky Country Trailhead where you began your hike.
Anti-Aircraft Peak occupies the northernmost extension of Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, and it marked the high point of our hiking loop. From there, Eileen and I headed downhill on Lost Beagle, Coyote Creek, Sky Country, and Military Road Trails. The farther we descended, the more other hikers we encountered, but everyone was careful to keep a safe distance away.
In 2015, a Jetstar A320 flew from Brisbane to Newcastle (Williamtown). It was found to have a blocked total air temperature probe after landing. That plane, an A320, had only been on the ground in Brisbane for 30 minutes. All up, there were 26 recorded incidents of wasp-related issues in and around Brisbane Airport between 2013 and 2019.
Driving Directions
There has been a spate of incidents over the last decade at Brisbane Airport where pitot probes gave inconsistent readings. Going back nearly 15 years, an incident involving a Qantas A330 on 19 March 2006 led to dangerous brake heating and tire deflation when take-off was rejected. It was later found that the pitot probe on the captain’s side had wasp-related debris in it, including the head of a wasp.
As of Spring 2017, many guidebooks and maps - including the downloadable map - indicate that the clay pit area offers "No Public Access." Actually, the former clay pit has been gently re-contoured and planted with native vegetation. The former gate and No Access sign have been removed, and now nothing prevents hikers from exploring the area.
Hike a loop around Anti-Aircraft Peak in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. Hike past sites associated with coal and clay mining, and a former 1950s-era anti-aircraft missile installation. Enjoy good forest trails, some seasonal wildflowers, and a million-dollar view. Continue reading
From Cougar Pass, we followed Harvey Manning Trail and Lost Beagle Trail to the summit of Anti-Aircraft Peak, yet another of the many fascinating historical landmarks and artifacts on Cougar Mountain. During the long-running Cold War, this summit was the site of anti-aircraft guns and, later, a Nike Missile radar installation. Presently, there is only a WSDOT radio facility, along with a picnic table and some concrete relics.
The 1,483-foot "peak" is one of the high points in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. The name dates from the cold-war era of the 1950s, when a battery of Nike anti-aircraft missiles and its associated radar was installed here as a defense against manned bombers. Later, in the era of inter-continental ballistic missiles, the Nikes became obsolete and were removed, but the name of the peak stayed on.
Hike a loop around Anti-Aircraft Peak in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. Hike past sites associated with coal and clay mining, and a former 1950s-era anti-aircraft missile installation. Enjoy good forest trails, some seasonal wildflowers, and a million-dollar view.
Continuing on, we soon came to Clay Pit Road, which leads to—what else—a gigantic clay pit. For many decades, the Mutual Materials Company mined clay from this pit to use for their brick-making operation in Newcastle.
The research looked at the wasps’ probe choice, blockage rates, locations, and the relationship between nesting and the environment. The research ran for three and a half years, and 93 instances of fully blocked probes were recorded. It should be noted these recordings were mostly across artificial cavities/traps constructed by the researchers around the airport, not actual aircraft cavities.
A short walk on Mine Shaft Trail led us to a gaping hole covered with a large steel grate. This is actually an air vent for the abandoned Primrose Mine that underlies much of Cougar Mountain. Coal mining was a major activity in Newcastle for over a century.
Since June 2016, there have been some name changes in the park. The trail signs are current, and the downloadable map is up-to-date. But the complimentary map often available at the trailhead may not be. And, as of Spring 2017, even fairly recent maps and guide books may show the old names. The changes will be noted below to minimize confusion.
The research found wasp nesting activity is mostly confined to the summer months. Weirdly, if wasps nested in pitot probe style cavities, there was a skew towards baby boy wasps. The keyhole wasp (Pachodynerus nasidens) was found to be primarily responsible for making mud nests around the airport. The researchers also noted the first official incident involving wasps and pitot probes at the airport dated from 2006, earlier than the first recorded sighting of the invasive wasp.
Across the parking lot to the east a short signed trail leads to the "Million Dollar View." It's worth checking out, particularly on a clear day when Mount Baker may be visible. A pergola and picnic tables are available at the viewpoint.
Wasps have been observed inspecting aircraft noses within a few minutes of arrival at the gate. These wasps are extremely fast and efficient nest builders. The nest does not need to be complete to throw up anomalous airspeed readings. The first addition of mud for the rearmost cell wall or the first prey item's introduction is enough to cause problems.
Hike a loop around Anti-Aircraft Peak in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. Hike past sites associated with coal and clay mining, and a former 1950s-era anti-aircraft missile installation. Enjoy good forest trails, some seasonal wildflowers, and a million-dollar view.
In November 2013, after one aborted takeoff owing to airspeed discrepancies, an Etihad Airways A330 got into the air only for a second airspeed discrepancy to occur. The captain returned to the airport. Upon inspection, sand and mud consistent with a wasp's nest were found to be blocking the pitot probe.
From I-90, just west of Issaquah, take Exit 13 and head south (right) on Lakemont Blvd SE. In about 2.3 miles turn left onto SE Cougar Mountain Way. In 0.6 miles, turn right onto 166th Way SE. Follow this street (stay left at 166th Pl SE, a minor side street) and in about 0.8 miles come to the Sky Country Trailhead and its large parking lot. Along the way, the street will have changed names to Clay Pit Road which is gated here at the trailhead.Toilets are available at the trailhead.A complimentary copy of a trail map may be available for the taking at the trailhead, although it may be an older edition of the downloadable map, and some names may not be current.
Jim Brisbine has been climbing Washington peaks for over 45 years, while documenting hundreds of summits and thousands of trail miles in words and pictures. As the creator of "Major Peaks of the Cascades and Olympics --- Fraser/Nicola River to Columbia River," he is an avid outdoorsman and lifelong trailcat who only occasionally ventures beyond the Pacific Northwest.
At the next trail junction turn left onto the signed Klondike Swamp Trail and hike it though to a T-junction with the Coyote Creek Trail. (You will pass the Lost Beagle Trail on the way.) Turn right at the T-junction, and then turn right again when you reach the Shangri La Trail.
The trail continues on to the Harvey Manning Trailhead (Prior to June 2016, this was known as the Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead. The name was changed to honor Harvey Manning, whose efforts led to the creation of the park.)
Way Points: Newcastle Way / Coal Creek Parkway intersection & Newcastle Golf Club Road intersection & Newcastle Golf Course Trailhead (road walk); 155th Avenue SE crossing & Red Town Meadow & Jerry’s Duckpond & Primrose Mine Air Vent & Clay Pit Road junction & Cougar Pass & Anti-Aircraft Peak summit & Clay Pit Road junction & Sky Country Trailhead & Red Town Trailhead & Newcastle Golf Club Road / Lakemont Boulevard crossing & Coal Creek & Newcastle Commons (trail hike); Coal Creek Parkway crossing & Newport Hills (road walk)
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