Other
Leave Scout Hall at 7 am on Sunday.
· Pack a sack lunch.
· Bring minimum of 2 Liters of water
· Be prepared for cold/wet weather
· 10 essentials
We will not be climbing Haystack rock for obvious safety reasons.
Overview
With an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 visitors each year, Mount Si is arguably the most heavily climbed trail in the entire state of Washington. Mount Si is used by a wide variety of people- hikers, climbers, trad climbers, trail runners, people training to climb Rainier, and even mixed climbers in winter. It is not uncommon to see paragliders who have used Mount Si as a launching pad, either.
The trail begins at an altitude of approximately 700 feet, in a conifer forest which still shows traces of the last forest fire to sweep through in 1910. After 900 feet of elevation gain over the first mile, you’ll reach a rocky area with views of the valley to the south. At the two mile mark, you’ll arrive at “Snag Flats”, altitude 2,100 feet- the only flat section of the entire trail. There is a short interpretive boardwalk at this point that describes the natural history of the area.
From Snag Flats, ascend an additional 1,800 feet to Haystack Basin, elevation 3,900 feet. With sweeping views to the south, the Olympics to the west and a good view of Seattle on a clear day, the basin is where most people call it a day. If you’re feeling adventurous, continue up the trail just a few more minutes to the Haystack.
The Haystack has a few rock routes on its southern and eastern flanks, and on the north side, there is a route to the top that can be scrambled. The summit scramble is not for everyone. This can’t be stressed enough. A fall off of the Haystack is going to be an uncontrolled fall. People have been seriously injured, and in some cases people have died scrambling to the top. Use extreme caution when making the scramble, and if it’s foggy or raining, seriously consider coming back another day. Different sources give the height of the Haystack at between 300 and 500 feet.
Mount Si is the most obvious peak on a ridge that also contains Little Si, Peak 4560, Mount Teneriffe, and Green Mountain. There is a very faint climbers trail near the Haystack that trends northeast along this ridge. For more info, pick up the “Mount Si” USGS map, or Green Trails map No. 206S.
Roundtrip, you’ll hike eight miles if you stop at Haystack Basin, eight and a half if you continue to the summit. Average roundtrip time is about five to seven hours.
Two interesting pieces of side information: Mount Si is named for Josiah “Uncle Si” Merrit, a farmer who settled at the base of the mountain and built a cabin in 1862. Regional Native Americans called the mountain “Kelbts”.
GPS Route Details
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Total distance: 0.00 Miles
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