What a wonderful day for UP!!! The sun was out, the air was brisk, I was hiking with friends from Boy Scout Troop 594 and we were headed up to Boulder Garden, Little Si, and then Big Si via the old Si trail. This was my first time up Little Si and to Boulder Garden and I really enjoyed it. The lush forest and green cascading moss made for a picturesque landscape. The view from Little Si was spectacular as visibility was nearly unlimited. We rested for approximately 20 minutes, had a small snack and headed down to the Old Si trailhead. The trail is under dense cover and without much air exchange, one finds it to be cold and humid. Cold enough for gloves and hat despite the strenuous hiking conditions. The trail starts its climb with an immediate ascent and continues to get steeper and steeper (we estimated 30 – 40 degrees at one point) until it joins with the new Si trail just below the top. The trail was icy and narrow and with ample opportunities to take a tumble down steep banks, I put on my Microspikes. While we encountered only a small number of hikers on the old Si trail, the new Si trail was loaded with hikers. The base are around the haystack was fairly crowded and covered with just enough snow/ice to make climbing to the bench area challenging. Like Little Si, the view was spectacular. There was little wind and with the sun out it made for enjoyable resting/lunch break. The trip down was uneventful, less my missing the old Si cut off by 20 yards. By the time we made it down, my legs were spent. We hiked the other have of Boulder Garden to the trailhead. It was very nice to sit on my car seat and put the bum-warmer on for the drive home. I had my gps in track-mode and have charted out our hike for future reference. With the Sunday weather forecast set to be sunny again, I convinced my daughter and wife to hike with me I took them to Boulder Garden / Little Si. While I had just hiked this the day prior, I wanted my family to enjoy this special area and with them being new to day hiking this was the perfect venue. They both loved the Boulder Garden area and the hike up Little Si. Happy Trails!!!

Finally heard a good forecast for a sunny day so Ralph and I decided to go up the old trail on Mount Si. We departed the Little Si trailhead parking about nine and reached the haystack at noon. No snow at the lower elevation until arount 2000' and only about eight inches on the area below the haystack. Snowshoes or traction devices were not needed. Clouds did break up a little but the summit was mostly cloudy all day. The Gray Jay's were already looking well fed but persisted in wanting more of our lunches; especially potato chips. So we fed them while they posed for our cameras. After about an hour, we departed down and got to the trailhead in just under two hours. No trees or running water on the trail but a Seattle-sombrero would help fend off the falling ice and snow when the temperatures rise. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nabuckley/sets/72157625742850831/

Weather: Broken clouds and overcast; very windy toward the top; moderately cold. Visibility: Pretty good beneath the overcast. Snow level: About 2800'. Trail Conditions: Very icy from about 3000' to about 300' vertical from the Snoqualmie Valley overlook. Special Equipment: Traction devices for feet and trekking poles are very desirable to possess. We certainly used them. Snow conditions: No new snow; gaiters not necessary. Companion: Amy. Time (car to car): 4 hrs 50 mins.

The hike was extremely cloudy and wet on the top. There was absolutely no view at any point in the day. Still, it went pretty well. So trekking poles would be strongly recommended.Week day but still lot of people. I used old trail and loop across creak ( did not see anybody there) one hour and 45 minuts to Haystack point.

Rain, rain and more of Seattle's liquid sunshine. You can't let that deter you here or you'll never hike. I only had an afternoon and I thought the rain would keep people away from Mt. Si. But when I arrived at the trailhead, the parkinglot was full. So I opted for the old trail instead. I had never done the old trail to the top. My only experience with it was when I didn't know there was a new trail. But a serious snowstorm made me backtrack that time without reaching the top. That was 10 years ago and all my subsequent trips were on the new trail. It's much easier to find now than it was a decade ago. Just take the loop on the Little Si trail and follow the uphill unmarked trail that splits off. The trail is in a very good condition, considering it is not the official trail. There were a couple of wash-outs, but they had a newly beaten path around them. No blowdowns other than one that belongs to the trail. It is steep, very steep. And with all the rain, it was very muddy. But it is also very quiet and presents you with a more natural view of the mountain. The almost continuous rain kept me from contemplating the beauty for too long. I was thoroughly soaked when I got back down. A beautiful experience richer.