Started up Little Si around 2 PM. Some shallow mud on the trail at several locations. I wouldn't break out your gaiters for these, but low top hikers or trail running shoes might leave you moist. Definetly layer up if you plan to hang out on the summit for more than 5 min. Even though the sun was out, it was much colder than in the wooded areas. Wind was mild, but had a bite to it. Some trees are down but there are already decent makeshift trails navigating around the big obstacles. Younger or older hikers may need some help here and there. Saw my first WA elk about 1/4 mile down from the summit. This trail was in great shape for Jan, but a few days of rain/snow and it would be a different story. This is especially true for the rocky areas around the summit. There were about a dozen hikers, and four dogs on the trail between 2 and 4:30 PM.

The trail is in good shape. Just a little mud.

Hey, Dan - I have your weekly report done for the first four weeks: snow - snow - snow - snow - snow - snow. Tried to put up the Alpine Lakes Wilderness permit boxes and only two trailheads are open - Mason and Pratt Lakes. The landslide across the Mason Lake Road has been cleared. Talapus Lake road has one to two feet of snow at MP2.9 with new snow falling. Gold Creek has three feet of snow right off the pavement. And Snow Lake or PCT-North, hah! So as not to make the day a complete loss, I headed up Little Si. There are many windfalls, especially through the log maze and much mud due to the recent snow melt. Salmonberries and trilliums are trying to come out, but they look really weak. A Steller's jay was flitting about the trees.

The trail was in decent shape, with a few logs across this trail but nothing that couldn't be easily crossed. The highlight of this late afternoon hike was about on the return leg, when two barred owls appeared in plain view about halfway down, just as the trail left the thick forest behind the peak. One or both may have been intently viewing our little Pomerianian as if to ask ""Could that be prey'""

elevation gain: 1,250 ft r.t. distance: 5 miles We had a nice day to make this small ascent. It was cloudy but dry. It's pretty easy to get there if you know how to get to its big brother Mt Si. Directions: exit 31 off of I-90. Turn left from exit ramp and go 3/4 mile, passing a traffic light or two. Turn right at a traffic light onto North Bend Way. Go through the town. Further up, you pass the North Bend ranger station on the left. This is a nice place to ask for directions or trail conditions, get a hiking book, or pick up a trail park pass. After 1 1/4 mile since the last turn, you turn left onto Mt Si Road. Go 1/2 mile, and immediately after you cross a bridge, turn left, and then immediately left again into a small parking area beside the river. Park here and walk down the street several houses past barkingdogs and a couple of llamas. The trailhead is on the right. It was not possible to sign in because the sheets were gone. The trail starts gaining elevation at a good pace right away. Then it flattens out and goes through a rainforesty area. Lots of moss and ferns around. The trial goes between Little Si and Si. You pass a couple of technical climbing areas with signs pointed to them. I spotted what looked like a cave in the rocky face of Little Si. We climbed up and John looked into it, using his laser pointer to reflect off the walls. As expected, it was not really deep at all. It's not worth a look. We passed the memorial bench to Doug Hansen who ""disappeared"" on the famously ill-fated 1996 Everest expedition. This was a nice section of the trail. There were a few blow downs, but nothing really hindering you. The trail goes around to the North of Little Si and then switchbacks up to the rocky summit. The summit geodetic markers said ""Small Si"". There were many nice viewpoints from the top and lots of room to spread out scramble around on the rocks. Especially nice views of Mt Si, a good part of the Snoqualmie River Valley, Rattlesnake Ridge, Cedar Butte, and Mt Washington. This was a real nice short hike. Photos and other reports at: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Gorge/4424/hikes.html