Mount Si — Monday, Dec. 31, 2001

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

As the report said previously, the trail is ice and compact snow from mile 3 on, with patches of dirt here and there. Thought that the old Si trail might have been better so we took that until it met up with the new trail and slipped just as much as others. Poles are required for this hike if you don't want to fall on the ol fanny. VERY WINDY up there. We got up to the top in my record time as I pushed harder then ever to get ready for a Mt Hood climb this weekend, and have been training hard for awhile since the list of peaks is growing for this winter/summer. AtT the base of the Haystack I put on my crampons and got out my ice axe to ascend the ice/snow/rock gulley to the top of the haystack. It was perfect snow for doing this, as I ascended straight up on the left side, but once at the top of the saddle just a few feet from the summit the wind was blowing harder than i can ever remember - my lips were actually flapping in the wind! We decided that we did not want to get blown off so we descended. Not a problem with crampons and an ice axe - might not be fun w/o these tools. Went slow down the upper trail as my wife did not bring crampons. No rain, so it was a nice day :-) scott@nwog.org