Mount Si — Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

You know you have problems when you begin slipping on the ice in the Mt Si parking lot. Actually, the trail conditions improved where there was less sky exposure and less snow on the ground. Nonetheless, I turned somewhere below Snag Flats where the narrower trail and steeper sidehill made avoiding a nice thin but very slippery layer of compact snow (more like water ice) made conditions very uncomfortable. Others had already turned around. I'm sure some made it but I decided not to risk it. Heading down, drizzle began adding a bit of moisture to the ice. Instep crampons are recommended till conditions improve and then near the top, they can be very helpful. Seattle was blue sky and biking riding ended the day! ICE on trail LOW DOWN.