Trailhead (Mt Si) is still closed.

A 14-mile hike with two summit destinations joined in a loop trail. Snow coverage for Mt. Si and Mt. Teneriffe currently is everything above 3000’ elevation.

I took the regular Mt. Si trail up to the haystack. Needed to put on Katoolah spikes at about 3000 as the trail was hard pack snow and ice from there to the top. Very windy at the for the last mile up and at the top with gusts hitting 35 mph or more. One brave soul had climbed to the top of the haystack and reported when he came back that the wind was "extreme." I took his word for it.

After a short rest at the bench at the haystack, I took the ridge connector trail across towards Teneriffe Road. It was a few feet deep with snow, but there had been enough traffic to compress it so I didn’t need snowshoes. Once at the road junction, I turned left and followed the snow trail up the road that was broke in already and eventually got to the road-end where the ridge trail to the summit of Teneriffe starts. Following the ridge trail, it is a steep climb, but the snow was solid enough to use the previous tracks for steps. It was also ice crusted under the tree cover. Wind was again considerable as you headed farther up the ridge.

The last push to the top is even steeper and the wind was even fiercer. At 4700’ elevation I turned back due to sunset approaching and the wind was bitterly cold. I wasn’t prepared for the final open ice/snow scramble at the summit and decided I’d come back another time to sit on top. The one place I didn't want to be after dark was on the upper ridge trail on Teneriffe.

The trail back was quicker and easier, but the wind was still blowing and branches were occasionally falling. Once on the Teneriffe road I followed it all the way down, past the ridge connector trail with Si, to about 1700’. It was totally dark by now and navigation was by headlamp. Snow ended on the road at 2800’ leaving about 1100’ to descend on the “not-too-pleasant” rocky road surface. There were a few blowdowns across the road, but all could be passed around, under, or through.

At 1700’ I found the connector user trail across Roaring creek (just a step across stream currently) and then connected with the Talus loop trail. Took the Talus Loop lower half trail back to the regular Si trail with no trouble. All blowdowns were cut out and nothing blocking.

About 14 miles altogether with a few side trips here and there. Total hiking time was 8 hours 11 minutes. Total gross elevation with the ups and downs and snow cover came in at 5600’ if my Suunto altimeter was accurate.

Start early enough to get off the final Teneriffe ridge before darkness sets in. There is no real trail and the tree cover is heavy with sharp drop offs on both sides if you wander off route too far. Bring a headlamp as it is may be dark by time you get back even if you start at 8 or 9 am this time of year. Poles and traction needed. Snowshoes if we get more snow. Ice ax only needed for the final summit block.

Best part: you are likely to be the only person on the trail after you leave the Haystack at Mt. Si.
Most challenging part: distance and elevation gain.

Only about 10 - 12 vehicles @ the parking lot when I arrived around 10:15 on a Friday. Even though the weather forecast was iffy, I ended up hiking in sunshine most of the day. I decided to add the Talus Loop which is about 0.7 up the Mt Si trail. It adds about 1/3rd of a mile to the Mt Si hike. Nothing really different from the regular trail other than you cross a slope of talus rocks near the end. There is a view to the SE from the talus slope. When I got up to the basin I decided to do the Haystack. I ended up having it all to myself; I believe a first for me. Another young couple I had passed earlier on the trail came up after me but they stopped short of the actual summit. Views of Mt Rainier & other far-away peaks were clouded in but I could see Seattle & Bellevue skylines as well as local peaks and valleys. Only wildflowers I saw on entire hike were a few paintbrush in the haystack basin. I ended up hiking down w/ the couple as they hiked about my pace and the conversation was interesting. The guy had gone to WWU, go Viks! No bugs. Good to get in a hike in the sun before the weather changes. Is summer really over?

Great hiking today. Started out overcast, but figured that was a plus to keeping cool. Minimal cars in the lot as we started out, very few crowds. Made it to Snags Flat before losing oomph, but the trail was clear and manageable. The steepness and poor footwear was our downfall. We are outta shape and this was the first hike in over a month for us. Coming down we decided to take the Talus Loop Trail and really enjoyed that. Saw no one on that one the whole way down. Ran into two places on this loop that had logs across the trail, easily gotten over. Foliage on both trails was spectacular, loved the tall tall pines and berries almost ready for picking, someone else beat us to the ripe ones. Sun came out towards the end and made the return to the parking lot a good walk.