Mount Si — Friday, Mar. 19, 1999

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

Wow! If you weren't out hiking on Saturday you lost out big time. Anywhere would have been great, my choice was Mount Si. A great hike close in to the Seattle Area and (i hoped) not much snow. I was mostly right. Si is snow free and well maintained to about the 3 mile mark. After this it gets a bit tricky. Snow has compacted on the trail, creating a slippery dangerous surface. The folks with the crampons and ice axes smiled and kept going. Those with sturdy boots and gaiters (me) grinned, slipped a few times, and kept going. Those with $20 hiking boots fell on their butts. And the weenies with the sneakers had to turn around, 'xept for a few crazies. Great comraderie at the top (+ awsome views). Top of Si is snow covered, but with plenty of exposed rocks to sit on for lunch. The most difficult part of the trail was the finding a parking spot at noon on that 70 deg. day! Trail crowded at first, traffic thins at 1.5 mile mark, and crowds again in snowy areas. Traffic in the snow area precluded stepping off the narrow trail into the snow to let others pass, if you don't take gaiters - you'll be wet. (you only need them for the last mile to top). See you on the trail. EJS.