Trip Details:

Narrative:

Well my first try believe it or not up the old Si trail. Starting from the Little Si parking lot which wasn't full but close. Getting out of the car it felt like being in a sauna. I had no idea North Bend got up to 88 degrees and the humidity was high. This was even worse than going up Mailbox in hotter temperatures over last weekend.

The first little bit is the Little Si trail as you switchback up through the rocks to get above the parking lot. After gaining about 300 feet it levels out a bit and you get the last views you will see for a while.

Soon is a log blocked right fork which is actually one end of the Boulder Garden loop. Continuing on you reach another fork. Go straight (right) for the old Big Si trail. There is a sign pointing left to continue up Little Si. There is no sign/indication that the right fork is the old Big Si trail but it is. After a bit of rambling you meet up with the other end of the Boulder Garden Loop (which I took on the return).

Now you start some steeper climbing. The trail is in good shape but not the freeway of the main Si trail. There are also a few root/rock steeper sections. Fortunately in these sections there are ample roots/rocks to use so it is not an issue (other that just being steep). This lower section was very hot and humid. I was sweating like a stuck hog.

On the way you pass various remnants of what looks like old trails branching off. How far they go I don't know. Finally at 3260 feet the trail comes to within about 15 feet of the new Si trail. It is hard to miss, especially if the usual traffic. By now it was cooling off and starting to sprinkle and the thunder was getting loud. I ambled up a little further then decided to just bag it. Fatigue, and the weather both played roles. Had it just been on or the other I would have continued. Although getting out in the open with potential lightning with two lightning rods in my hands didn't seem to make a lot of sense.

I turned around and headed back down. The trip down was uneventful. Actually ran into a few people ascending while I was descending. Back at the Boulder Garden junction, I took that path back which is somewhat longer. It basically switchbacks/descends through trees and large moss covered boulders.

A couple of parting shots as it got seemingly even more humid and the rain/thundershowers threatened.

Finally back at the car the weather seemed to be brewing with more thunder and sprinkles. I headed out and by Issaquah it was obvious there had been a pretty good rainstorm. I just caught the lingering sprinkles. In talking to someone in Issaquah they said I had just missed a good downpout.

Oh well another piece of unfinished business, to be returned to complete for another day. Some days the body just doesn't want to go and the heat/humidity/lightning didn't help the cause. It wasn't like Si was a new destination anyway although getting there via the old trail would have been a new route for me.    

www.flickr.com bikejr's Si/Old aborted 07-02-2008 photoset