Mount Si

With Marcie in St Louis I was forced to entertain myself for the weekend. Yesterday's adventure took me to Mount Si for a hike with Jim and Katie. Mount Si is a located in the Snoqualmie Valley of the lower Cascade Mountains and has a summit of 4,167 ft. The trail runs from the base (670 ft) to the top in 4.3 miles, rewarding the tired travelers with a breathtaking view of lower Washington State. At the top of the mountain is a small outcropping of rock, affectionately known as the haystack, which represents the final 200 ft ascent to the summit. Look closely at the picture and you'll see the haystack, just left of what seems like the top of the mountain.
Every hiker in Seattle (and there is quite a lot out here) has summited this popular destination. In fact, Mount Si is said to be the most climbed peak in the United States! It's commonly used to train for Mount Rainier and it is under an hour from the center of the city. Despite rain in the forecast, we were just three of about 50 people that could be seen on the trail during the 5 hours we spent there. With 800 feet of elevation gain per mile, the going was pretty rough on the way up with many breaks in between (we're out of shape). Once on the top we rested for a while and ate lunch before I decided to ascend the final 200 foot haystack. The path to the top is considered a "scramble" which falls somewhere between a hike and a roped climb. With no climbing experience I was a little shaky, but once on top it was all worth it. The 360 degree panoramic view, of what seemed like half the state, is something I will never forget!
*Click here for pictures*
*Map - you'll have to zoom out*