Mount Si via Mount Teneriffe Trail, Talus Loop — Friday, Jun. 27, 2025

A friend and I did Mt. Si via the Teneriffe trailhead today under foggy skies and spitting rain. Round trip for the 10+ miles was just under 5 hours. Today must have been a Portapotty Servicing day if the checklist was any indication, though someone left a bunch of toilet paper scraps on the floor of the latrine mere hours after they were cleaned. Seriously, people?? Zero poop bags toted out, though I did see someone left an orange and a peel on the trail about 2 miles up. Sigh.

I was first in the parking lot at 7 sharp and the gate was already open. My friend and I started up at 7:25 and returned around 12:25. We didn't see anyone on the Teneriffe trail until we came down and were returning to the cars; most of the foot traffic was on the Si new trail (no surprises) including 6-8 dogs and people training in heavy packs and boots for, also no surprise, Mt. Rainier.

If you're looking for a great conditioner WITHOUT tons of people mid-week mornings, consider parking at Teneriffe and adding 2 miles to your trip up to the backside of Si. You won't be disappointed. The Talus trail (as you go up past Teneriffe Falls trail it's the first little bypass that says .1 miles) is stunning with all its ferns and mosses and a huge tree we stopped at for a photo opp. I'd never been on that particular trail, so it stood out for me as a new exploration area. I also took some photos of all the spider webs standing out in stark relief from the dew/rain. The trail is muddy in spots but that means YAY, WE AREN'T GOING TO FACE FIRES IN OUR FORESTS ANYTIME SOON. I always get nervous around July Fourth...

The other highlight of the morning for me was seeing a mama Sooty Grouse startle as we passed and two baby chicks about the size of chicken eggs, oh my goodness how completely adorable. On the morning we had 19 species including all four thrushes (robin, varied, hermit and Swainson's) and a few flycatchers. No real views as we were up in the fog, but my hiking partner had never done that particular way up Si before and I think she enjoyed it.