Mount Si — Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

I promised myself I'd never go on this trail. It was the closest thing I could think of at 10 am on a sunny wednesday morning. I met two gals working for the WCC with the DNR maintaining the trail. I became suspicious of a trail so civilized that I was passed by mature women with muffs and leopard print hats. The forest is nondescript, with snow starting just above Snag Flats. At the 2 1/2 mile marker, the well packed trail gets very icy. The snow on top is wind scoured and firm. Unbelievable views of areas that used to have trees spread out before me. Climbing the backside of the haystack up steep snow was scary, and not really worth it. I am renaming this Mt. Sigh. The icy sections on the way down were brutal, with several slips, twists, and one full out sprawl. Sore calves the next day reminded me it's the off-season. Eight miles R/T, 3500' gain, and five hours away from the car.