Mt. Si is "the most popular hike" in the Seattle area. We don't get it. Although it's nice Northwest forest, it's mostly just hiking in the woods until you get to the top and you get some good views. There was snow and ice starting around mile 3 (about 3400 ft?) and by 3.5 miles the trail was so slippery we decided against a probable slide off the mountain in favor of going back. Crampons and/or poles would have allowed us to do the rest. The pictures are mostly just the 5 minutes we spent at the one clearing that afforded us a view, a 10 foot wide spot that had a break in the trees right where the trail became impossible.
Although frustrating not to have gone that last half mile to the summit, Mt. Si was tough. It's a steeeeeep elevation gain in not a lot of miles. My legs have been screaming most of the week. The climb is 4,167 feet and 4 miles from the parking lot to the summit plateau. Vertical elevation change is about 3700 feet and starts at about 700 feet. Yowch.
It's a good hike to start out the season. We hope to backpack A LOT this year.
