Si via old trail trip report 07/23/2008

Updated 07/27/2008

Trip Details:

Arrive trailhead

 02:48PM

Start hiking

 02:55PM

Kiss new trail

 04:20PM

Si Basin

 04:07PM

Leave Basin

 05:03PM

Kiss new trail

 05:20PM

Boulder Garden junction

 06:07PM

Car via Boulder Garden

 06:37PM

Snow

None fell since was last up there July 2nd.

Bugs

Didn't notice anything significant.

Weather

Cool but pleasant hiking. Above ~ 3200 feet you were pretty much in the clouds. No views from summit basin.

Crowds Saw one lady with a hard to control dog coming down when I was about halfway up. A handful once joined regular trail. One guy by rocks. No one in basin. No one else on the old trail at all. A few on the down below Little Si portion of trail.
Scenic Value Well it's Mt. Si. Unfortunately no views from basin so a nada for pictures, except lower down a few.
Difficulty Trail steeper and a bit rougher than new Si trail, but not a problem. Didn't use poles up, used them on way down. Also wore new trail shoes which caused some minor heel blisters. 
   

Narrative:

Well my second attempt of old trail after being thwarted ~ 3300 feet last time due to thunder and lightning. It was cool and cloudy (in the 60's) at go time. Not to be thwarted this time.

Pretty much just slogged up. A couple of early views on Little Si early trail.

 Cedar Butte from ~ 300 feet up LIttle Si trail on way up. Rattlesnake Ledge from ~ 300 feet up Little Si trail on way up.

Lower Boulder Garden Loop turnoff, not taken on way up. I would return this way.

 Fork on LIttle Si trail with Boulder Garden loop. Boulder garden to the right, little si/big si stay straight (left in this picture).

Junction away from Little Si trail.

 Upper Boulder Garden trail loop (and fork to Big Si trail) on right, continue up to Little Si on the left.

Shortly after you fork off on Old Si trail from Boulder Garden Loop. Go left grasshoppah for Big Si.

  Mt Si old trail continues to the left, Boulder garden loop to the right.

 

A short roots and ladder section.

 A few roots,rocks and ladders section of Mt. Si old trail ~ 1700-1800 foot level.

 

After kissing the old trail you meet up maybe 1/4 mile from basin with the new trail. For years I had seen this "trail" coming in and never knew where/what it was. Now I know.

  Upper portion of old Mt. Si trail. Old trail arriving at new trail (bounded by the log seen in picture). Looking back down old trail arrival where it meets the new trail. Mt Si new trail continues up ridge where old trail leaves off.

Soon you hit the rocks and resume to the basin. Not much to photo in these clouds.

  Mt Si rocks in the clouds. Mt Si lack of views in the clouds from rock area. Mt Si basin arrival in the clouds. Haystack in clouds form Mt. Si basin. Views (if you can call them that) from bench on top of Mt. Si.

Spent a little time at the summit eating a snack and feeding the chipmunks/birds etc then headed down.

  Chipmunks eating breat scraps by Mt. Si benches.Chipmunks eating breat scraps by Mt. Si benches. Chipmunks eating breat scraps by Mt. Si benches. Bird looking for scraps at Mt. Si bench.

Took the boulder garden loop down for variety and to capture a few pictures.

 Boulders in the Boulder Garden, LIttle Si trail. Boulders in the Boulder Garden, LIttle Si trail. Boulders on Boulder Garden loop Little Si tail. Big cedar near lower Boulder Garden loop start, little Si trail.

A few parting shots at view point shortly up Little Si trail.

 Views on way down ~ 300 feet up Little Si trail. Views on way down ~ 300 feet up Little Si trail. Rattlesnake Ledges. Views on way down ~ 300 feet up Little Si trail. Mt. Washington in the clouds. Views on way down ~ 300 feet up Little Si trail.

No rain/trip otherwise uneventful as the parking lot was reached.

Little Si Parking lot after hike up Big Si old trail.  

 
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bikejr's Mt Si Old Trail 07-23-2008 photoset bikejr's Mt Si Old Trail 07-23-2008 photoset

All Trip Pictures (flickr)

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Last Updated 07/27/2008