Anyone ever hike Mt. Sii?

[Smossy]

If so, I wanna hear about it/see some pictures!

Me and my hiking partners are planning to hike Mt. Sii next weekend so Im kinda curious as to what I'm in for. Is it rough? Got great views?
Kind of a small preparation for summiting St. Helens this spring!
I'm intrigued at whats ahead!
 

[Special T]

Its a good hike and has a great view on top. I actually spent more time rock climbing on Little Si than hiking...

[vandeman17]

I grew up in the valley and my folks actually bought a house very close to little Si trailhead when I graduated high school. Both hikes are good and there are many other great hikes close. The only thing I didn't like is that the trails can get very busy from all the city slickers coming out to "the country" on a nice Saturday. 

[Smossy]

Its a good hike and has a great view on top. I actually spent more time rock climbing on Little Si than hiking...

How high is the peak? Seems like If its exhausting at all your average "city slicker" wouldnt attempt it. I want something somewhat tiring.

[jackelope]

It is a good hike for excersize. It's 2800' elevation gain in 4 miles one way.  The only view is from the top, which is slightly more than 2800'. You're in the woods among horde of people the whole time. It will take you 2 hours+ to reach the top. Don't do it for the solitude or the peacefulness of nature. There will likely be 300 other people there with you. Do throw some extra weight in your pack and use it as an excersize tool. You're doing ok if you can break 2 hours to the top. Shouldn't be too difficult depending on what's on your back. It's not a rough trail but you are on an almost constant uphill. If you really want a workout hit Mailbox Peak.

[Smossy]

It is a good hike for excersize. It's 2800' elevation gain in 4 miles one way.  The only view is from the top, which is slightly more than 2800'. You're in the woods among horde of people the whole time. It will take you 2 hours+ to reach the top. Don't do it for the solitude or the peacefulness of nature. There will likely be 300 other people there with you. Do throw some extra weight in your pack and use it as an excersize tool.

Thats the plan. I usually carry my hunting pack fully loaded with all my gear + extra and 2 liters of water. Kinda want to be somewhat in shape for next years hunting season, As its going to be my first. I just want to be ready as I can.

Hard though. Soo much stuff to go through, learn, do.
That sounds like it will be one of our toughest hikes yet. Our biggest was wallace falls 2 weeks ago. 1300 foot gain I think with constant up and down hills and switchbacks.
Thanks for the advice, Ill gladly take it any time! Its what Im on here for. and to debate, EVERYTHING

[Smossy]

It is a good hike for excersize. It's 2800' elevation gain in 4 miles one way.  The only view is from the top, which is slightly more than 2800'. You're in the woods among horde of people the whole time. It will take you 2 hours+ to reach the top. Don't do it for the solitude or the peacefulness of nature. There will likely be 300 other people there with you. Do throw some extra weight in your pack and use it as an excersize tool. You're doing ok if you can break 2 hours to the top. Shouldn't be too difficult depending on what's on your back. It's not a rough trail but you are on an almost constant uphill. If you really want a workout hit Mailbox Peak.

Plus, Just getting out of the god forsaken house Is all that matters to me, Being in the wild period in any form puts me at ease. Its my new addiction now that I retired the green stuff. Gotta grow up ya know.

[Northway]

On the new trail, I believe the elevation gain is about 3200 feet.

You can access the old Si Trail from Little Si, which is much less frequented.

I hiked the new Si the other day and hit snow about 500 feet from the haystack. Depending on the conditions, you're going to want to either pack snowshoes or those whatever you call thems that strap to your boots with the criss-crossing metal coils for added traction.

If you're not already in good shape I'd take it easy and work up to the 50lb pack sub 2 hour grunt. There's actually people that jog up that mountain.......

[wildmanoutdoors]

There are allot of in shape city slickers up there. If you want hard try Mailbox! Lol

[Cascade_fisher]

I trail run Mt. Si and Rattlesnake Ridge among others.  Si is a workout spot, as others mentioned it is not solitude.  As a prep for Mt. Rainier you should be able to get to the top with a full pack in about 1:45.

[Knocker of rocks]

Recent crowds of City Slickers on the final summit pyramid of Mount Si, known as the Haystack.

Is one of these you Smossy?

[Knocker of rocks]

City slickers and their unleashed pets on the Mt. Si trail

[netcoyote]

Ohhhhhh......bad juju to step on climbing rope while wearing crampons! 

[pope]

Knocker, those photos are priceless!

[Knocker of rocks]

Just a google search away!

[Fishstiq]

Si and Wallace Falls are both nice day hikes, I saw a guy a couple summers ago coming down from Mt. Si wearing flip-flops!


FWIW, I had a bad run in with a tweeker on the way up Wallace Falls and I've heard similar occurances on Mt. Si, might not be a bad idea to be prepared for those kind of things.

[Smossy]

Si and Wallace Falls are both nice day hikes, I saw a guy a couple summers ago coming down from Mt. Si wearing flip-flops!


FWIW, I had a bad run in with a tweeker on the way up Wallace Falls and I've heard similar occurances on Mt. Si, might not be a bad idea to be prepared for those kind of things.

We did Wallace falls on the 3rd. Was gorgeous. Great exercise to! My hiking buddy Is trying to pull me into the super intense hikes -Atleast for me- 4000+ Elevation gains..
Ahh gonna be interesting. Im just getting into it the last few months so I feel every bit of it. Then were doing St. Helens this spring once the days get longer. But Im hearing from some people that ones cake. Im having a hard time believing that one.

[Knocker of rocks]

Re: Mount St. Helens

It can be pretty snowy up to June.  Back when I had fully functional knees, we used to ski down about May 10th.  You'll need to check when they require permits.

Be very careful at the edge, it is a perfect location for  cornices, which somebody did break thru a number of years ago and were fatally injured.

Later in summer it becomes a pumice slog

[Smossy]

Re: Mount St. Helens

It can be pretty snowy up to June.  Back when I had fully functional knees, we used to ski down about May 10th.  You'll need to check when they require permits.

Be very careful at the edge, it is a perfect location for  cornices, which somebody did break thru a number of years ago and were fatally injured.

Later in summer it becomes a pumice slog

Yeah thanks for the advice Knocker. The permits only allow 100 people a day or something and they go FAST, almost as fast as hunter education classes fill up, being as mine isnt even untill May 20th. That much longer I got to wait.... Grr

[Knocker of rocks]

Bring a ton of suncream, two tons if you are doing a snow climb. 

[Cascade_fisher]

There is the Mother's Day Parade (or used to be) on the slope of Mt St Helen's.  It is a ski down day basically the weekend before permits are required. Good time.