I picked this hike primarily because I knew the trail head parking lot would be in full sun and I am so done with being cold! Arriving at 9:30 I was indeed met by glorious warm sunshine and had my pick of all the parking spaces. Porta-potties clean and stocked, bring your own sanitizer.
I fashioned a loop trying to stay on the sunny side of things. Up the Mount Ten road-trail then across Roaring Creek to the Mount Si main line, up to Snag Flats then back down and around the Talus loop, then back across Roaring Creek etc etc. Initially the trail was snow free, trail side snow showed up at the first junction up to the falls. The first three bridges of the Mount Ten road-trail had snow and ice but the actual trail was clear all the way over to the Mount Si main line. Snow showed up for real on the trail somewhere between the Doug Fir intersection and Snag Flats. It was compacted but my momentum was so slow I had to put my spikes on to make the steeper grade/steps. Snag Flats was gorgeous with full snow coverage. Backtracking I wasn't sure what I would find on the Talus loop. It's a rougher trail for sure so I kept my spikes on until I reached the rock overlook where the snow disappeared. I stopped here for a snack enjoying the view and more wonderful warm sun. Then without spikes I was fine traversing the on again off again snow patches of the descending loop. The trail was still easy to follow, although I was startled by a couple of bigger snow/ice bombs.
I really like hiking this loop as there are lots of creeks to cross (easy+bridges) and waterfalls on the Teneriffe side of things. Mileage was around 6 or so and elevation comes out about 1400 feet. Very quiet trails today. Three people on the Mount Si side and two couples on the Teneriffe, no one in the middle.
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