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Hiked Monday 4/22/19 saw over 50 people on the trail mostly all on descent, saw 2 people on the teneriffe/si connector trail on top and 3 people at the very top where it seems the technical climb is. Started at 5am. 9.5 miles in 7.07 hrs. Elevation gain 3459. Tried to park at teneriffe parking area, but the gates were closed there when we arrived at 5am so we parked at Mt. Si which was open. Bathrooms were really gross and on the other side of the trees torwards the trail. Only 3 other cars in the lot when we arrived. We Started on Mt Si trail, then took the first talus loop trail, then took teneriffe trail, then took the teneriffe/Mt. Si connector trail ( patchy snow at first, turns to deep slippery snow, microspikes were very helpful. Rocks in the creek crossings were also slippery.) Teneriffe was a long steady climb, Mt Si trail was more on the steep side. Teneriffe to Si connector had little to no views. Took Si on the way down. On Si trail there is a boulder field. Had a great time. After this trail we hiked Rattlesnake Ledge. Parking lot was full in the first couple areas on the way out. I think there are 4 or 5 big parking areas at Si. Picked up 4 bags of poo and trash at Si. This is a great trail, but be prepared for the climb.
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Si is good for a training hike (i.e. carrying lots of weight) but there are many hikes in the area that have less people, better views, and more interesting hiking in general. Trail is in fine shape. Almost all of the snow on trail is melted out minus a few sloppy sections near the top that won't last much longer with the warm temps and heavy foot traffic.
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Mt. Si is always a great option during the winter months, as it is low enough in elevation to not be under a lot of snow. This was my second time up Mt. Si this winter, and the trail was snow-free until the last quarter mile or less. If you want to skip the crowds of the new trail to get a conditioning hike in, the old trail is a great choice. It can be steep in places, so if it's wet you'll need to be extra careful not to slip on your hike down. For an optional loop, complete the Boulder Garden loop on your way down.
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Loop trial offers the best of all ascents that rivals the original Mailbox across the valley and a nice loop on the descent. Spikes needed above 4000'. Waterfall is running and the Kamikaze trial has several very rough spots that need stabilization otherwise trail conditions are more typical of late Fall/Spring.
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i love this hike. one day this summer, i did it twice in a row.
yesterday was getting into marginal winter conditions. snow at the 2mi mark to summit — would have *almost* brought an axe for the last hundred feet (was with a pal new to snow and ice, could have chopped some much better steps for her).
was as lovely as teneriffe gets. but a bit harder than usual.
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Mount Si, though I've hiked it a dozen times, always seems to go on and on! I don't like it as much as Little Si, which feels more meandering than the switchbacks of Mount Si. It's not necessarily a hard hike (unless you're not much of a hiker), but it definitely gets your heart rate up and is a great place to train and get stronger during the colder months. The views from the top are great, and I've enjoyed doing this hike after work hours on the weekdays, with headlamps, YakTracks and snowflakes. Beats going during the summer weekends when everyone else is there!
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A Seattle-area classic! Yes, it gets crazy crowded in nicer weather, but it's also a great hike to stretch your legs, take in a little of Mama Nature, without the commitment. I often use Little Si as my winter training grounds, even when it's dark, since it's so easy to navigate the trail. Just make sure to bring good footwear/crampons/Yak Tracks and poles and a headlight/backup light if you're hiking in the snow, as it gets super icy. 4-stars due to the parking congestion and crowds, not the trail itself, which is surprisingly lovely.
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