The old trail up Mt. Si, including the complete Boulder Garden loop, is only a half mile shorter round trip than the main trail but it is much steeper. Still, it is in remarkably good shape overall. It is completely dry and only 3 minor blowdowns. The old trail is much less used than the more popular main Si trail but even this morning I encountered 5 hikers coming up as I was coming down. The old trail up Mt. Si is unmarked. To get there, hike up from the Little Si trailhead to the Boulder Garden loop trail. I like starting at the first entrance to the loop but others like the other end. Eventually you arrive at the high point of the loop where a couple of rock steps start up the old Si trail. There is a sign there for the loop but no mention of the old Si trail. The first half mile is rocky and rooty and then makes a sudden verticle leap up to an abandoned section of road. From there on up to the summit the trail switchbacks steeply back and forth on good packed mineral soil. There are a few portions along the way that are sloughing and need repair. Where this trail comes close to the main trail some thoughtless hikers used it for a latrine. Hold your nose and keep going. The old trail joins the main one close to the summit. The goats were out on the Haystack today and Haystack basin was full of flowers.

Thank you for patching up all the potholes!

We started up the Little Si trail and at about 1/2 mile, took the second entrance to the Boulder Garden Loop Trail. Here is the deal; if you like going up steep inclines but don't like going down as much, like me, take the second entrance to the Boulder Garden Loop Trail, climb like a mountain goat for about 3/4 mile. You will reach the high point of the loop trail where you will see the Mt. Si. old trail going up on the left. Now go up Mt. Si. It is steep in places, but if you made it to the cutoff, you should be fine. There are no blowdowns and you won't lose the trail. When you come back down and get to the loop trail, head to the left. It is probably 1 1/2 miles back to the first entrance of the Loop Trail off the Little Si trail, but it is graded for a grandma and you can walk it out in no time. Plus the boulder garden will be on your left as you are coming down.

Ideal conditions on Mt Si right now. Set out on Little Si trail w/ Woody & his son Luke. Took the second Boulder Garden Loop fork to the right & after 3/4 mile or so the Old Si trail is to the left. Soon after I noticed a 35 pound weight wedged into the rock wall. Looks like somebody made quite the effort to put it in there. This trail is a little bit more direct & steeper than the main Si trail. Also far less crowded. We saw 2 others going up & just a few coming down. When the Old Si trail comes real close to the main trail (just after 3 miles or so) we opted to go over to the main trail & hike that trail the rest of the way up. No snow on the trail up to Haystack Basin. A little snow on trail near the base of the Haystack. We opted to ascend the Haystack since it was dry all the way up. Gorgeous views on this bluebird day. Mt Baker & Glacier Peak to the north. Mt Rainier to the south. Olympics to west w/ Seattle & Bellevue in foreground. And many other still snow-covered lower peaks to east along Snoqualmie corridor. Met a nice guy named Brandon going up to the Haystack. He was from Atlanta out here for work conference for a few days. His Seattle workmates recommended Mt Si to him. Good choice for this day. Cheers Brandon if you read this - hope you caught up w/ your workmates at the pubs in Seattle. We spent about 1/2 hour at the top. Only 4 of us for awhile until others showed up. As we were coming down the chute, quite a few people were coming up. With the traffic jam it was almost reminiscent of the Hillary Step on Everest! We descended the Old Si trail and went left at Boulder Garden Loop trail to complete the loop. A stop at Scott's Dairy Freeze in North Bend completed a great day.