Mount Si Haystack Basin, North Bend Washington

Mount Si is one of the most popular hikes in Washington State and at 4 miles each way and 3150 feet of elevation gain it's no nature walk. I have to assume that what draws nearly 80,000 visitors to Mount Si each year is its accessibility and spectacular views.

Given Mount Si's height you get the, dare I say, typical views of Mt Rainier and peaks to the west towards Snoqualmie Pass. What makes Mount Si stand out in my mind is the view to the west. Standing atop Mount Si one can see the entire basin that lies between Mount Si (The Cascade Mountain Range) and the Olympic Mountain Range. This basin holds the entire Seattle metropolitan area and Puget Sound. I was delighted to see the Seattle Space Needle from the top of Mount Si on this day.

The Mount Si trail is also used by trail runners. We asked on runner how long it takes him to get to the top and he responded 51 minutes.

(June 10, 2004; up-2:30, down-1:30)

It was clear before the sun came up that it was going to be a great day for a hike. This picture was taken just before sunrise	Mount Si as seen from the QFC parking lot in North Bend. Our hike will start off the right edge of this picture. Following switchback we will make our way up through the forest and arrive at the rocky gap between the edge of the trees and the Haystack.	This is what the trail is like up until the very top. A forrest fire in 1910 cleared almost all of the trees from Mount Si.
Just one break in the trees allows mountains views on the way to the top.	A fellow hiker offered to take a picture of Ron (right) and I.	The first and last view of Mount Rainier until we reach the top.
Suddenly the trees are gone. The last few minutes of the hike is up these rocks.	This pictures shows the Mt Si Hackstack in the background. Ron is also in this picture. He is standing on top of the rock at the left edge of the picture. He is waring a blue shirt and carrying a blue pack. You can also see people on top of the Haystack.	This picture shows the location of Rattle Snake Ledge to the left of Rattle Snake Lake and Cedar Butte to the right of Rattle Snake Lake. Cedar Butte is a very small tree covered hill. It is cone shaped.
Ron points out the spectacular view to the west.	Here is the view to the west. The haze obscures this view of the Olympic Mountains that are in the background of this picture.	One day I hope to learn how to bring out the details in pictures like list better. But, for now you have to deal with the affect the haze had on this picture. If you looks closely you can see the Seattle Skyline and the Space Needle.
Ron took this picture of me. Rattle Snake Lake is hidden by my left shoulder. Cedar Butte is level with and to the left of my shoulder.	Ron standing in front of the Hackstack.
North Bend Washington. Rattle Snake Ridge is in the background and extends off the left edge of the picture.	This bird is called a Camp Robber (Gray Jay) I guess that is why he and his friends were extremely friendly.
	Ron feeds one of the birds some seeds form his hand.
The obvious mountain in this picture is Mount Rainier. Moving to the left in the picture Mount Washington can be seen. Almost directly below the end of the con-trail is McClellan Butte. Across the valley from McClellan Butte I believe is Mail Box Peak.

Click on a thumbnail above to see a larger version of the picture.

The pictures in this gallery were taken with a Nikon D70 Digital SLR camera. Any use of these pictures without permission from the photographer is strictly prohibited. Email me to request permission to use any of these pictures or if you would like a higher resolution version.