My first time up Mt. Si the back way. Looking for a certain mileage and elevation, I looped Si from the Teneriffe Trailhead, descended via the regular Si trail, and then cut over on the upper Talus Loop back to Teneriffe. This totaled about 10 miles with 3250 gain.

Once you pass the turnoff for the falls, the Teneriffe trail becomes a joy of easy terrain with several beautiful creek crossings and two waterfalls. Once past the Roaring Creek Trail turnoff, it begins to climb. Past the Talus Loop turnoff, the climb increases more. It seems to get steeper and steeper until .5 miles before the turnoff for Si.

There’s a lovely viewpoint/rest spot about 3.5 miles from the start, and I started to notice snow shortly before this spot. The break spot was nice and sunny, so I enjoyed a leisurely snack (and cleaned up someone else’s recently left behind eggshells from their hard boiled egg…Leave No Trace). After this point, the snow became increasingly thick. I put microspikes on at the turnoff for Si. They helped…some. The snow was fairly slushy but deepening at this point, and it was slick at times. I was glad to have the spikes but could tell from footprints that others didn’t use them.By the top, the snow was nearing 3-4 feet deep in places. 

However, the snow disappeared quickly once the haystack was in sight. I followed the path around the haystack to the lunch spot and there was just hints of occasional slush. Temperature was warm and comfortable at the top. I imagine with warming temps, the snow conditions will change rapidly. Basically no snow on the descent on the regular Si trail.

The Talus Loop trail (top) was new to me, but a lovely jaunt, half of which is on an old, overgrown, repurposed logging road. I was glad to take it. The flies were starting to buzz in the last 1.5 miles of the Teneriffe Trail. 

Parking: Lot was maybe 20% full on Wednesday at 11 am, and much less in late afternoon when I returned.

Toilets: Vault toilet closed. Two ports parties. The non-accessible one was in fine shape but lacking hand sanitizer. This lot gets full sun - plan your post-trail snacks accordingly.

Enough snow to recommend trekking poles and spikes today. Did not completely finish at the summit because I did not have these. Otherwise great day. 

Little Si’s Vault Toilet: Currently the cleanest and most toilet paper stocked I’ve ever seen at this location.

Trail Conditions: Less snow on Old Si Trail as compared to the Mount Si Trail. Dustings of snow starts in the mid 3000’, with it becoming more consistent snow where both trails intersect. Water from snow melt as you head towards the top. In my opinion, both the scramble for the back door of Little Si and the Haystack are not sticky enough to summit. Several of us took a look at it and said no thanks. Though the trails were manageable with my trail shoes and nothing else, I recommend the additional gear for comfort.

Suggested Additional Gear: Trekking poles for the snow. Gloves for playing in the cold/wet/snowish boulder field on top. Waterproof shoes/extra socks for the wet/snowy ground.

It was a nice day-- for a rainy hike. We got to the Mt. Teneriffe trailhead parking around 8:30am and there was plenty of space. Our goal was to take the "back way" up to Mt. Si via the Mt. Teneriffe trail and use the connector trail. I like this way because far fewer people take that route. We saw a handful of people on our way up versus dozens on our way back down the new Mt. Si trail. 

The trail was in good condition. There were a few small snow patches to cross near the top on the connector trail, but they were not challenging. We went over to the haystack to take a look and maybe climb it, but eventually stopped. The weather by that point was a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and rain. We didn't feel like we had the traction to make it safely, mostly on the downclimb. We've been up there plenty, so didn't feel the need to endanger ourselves just to say we did it. 

We walked from the haystack area over to the Mt. Si lunch spot. It looked like no one was up there because the weather was really cold and there was the sleet/rain situation ongoing. We did end up seeing one couple that was sheltering under a little overhang. Smart! We discovered the other hikers of Mt. Si that day in the treeline below the lunch spot, staying out of the precipitation. The trail down was in great shape. We took the Talus Loop trail just below Snag Flats to move us back over towards the Mt. Teneriffe trail and the trailhead where we parked. 

A great day out on the trail, if a bit wet and cold! It was really nice to experience some late season snow in such a beautiful environment. 

Hike is well maintenance as always. Friendly folks about.