Mt. Si - October 22, 2011

For years I've heard about runners testing their metal with a run up Mt. Si, or hikers talking about doing Si on such and such a weekend, but somehow I had never made it up there.  With it's proximity to Seattle and it's majestic face towering over North Bend, it's a NW favorite for beginners and veterans alike.  It was therefore appropriate that we would begin our "peak a week" running up this 3,900 ft. peak.

Daniel, Michael and I started our Thursday morning run about 1 mile down Mt. Si Road (from the trailhead; parking lot was empty but we didn't have a Discoverpass yet) which was actually a blessing because it allowed our muscles to warm up on this chilly morning before the climbing began.  After a quick bathroom break at the trailhead, we started our ascent with giddy anticipation (speaking for myself); it was a beautiful morning, the sun was shining through the tall evergreens, and I was so happy to be trail running up a mountain again. 

Unfortunately, the euphoria quickly turning to reality:  this was going to be a beast of a run for me. 3,150 ft. elevation gain in 4 miles.  I didn't like those stats!  Remember my pathetic climb from Ballard to Crown Hill a few months back...the numbers weren't in my favor on this day.  Sure enough, less than a mile in, I'm cursing all the stairs built into the trail (legs not happy, lungs screaming at me), wondering if and when this trail will ease up.  Slowly but surely, Mikey and Daniel pull away from me.  I can hear them talking up ahead and I'm envious of there apparent ease at running up hill.  I decide to put my head down and concentrate at pumping my arms, with the goal of not stopping to walk (goal unfulfilled I walked a few steps).   After what seems like an eternity (51 min.), I come around the last corner and see my fellow peakers standing on a pile of rocks, waiting for me.  We have reached the top (nearly), and we scramble our way up to the amazing lookout.  It's frosty up top but amazingly beautiful in the sun, with views spanning in nearly every direction.  I look down at North Bend trying to find my best friend Brandon's house (I spot it!) while Michael and Daniel take in the views.  Michael took this nice pic of the valley floor below.

Running up Si and being rewarded with it's views from the top are definitely worth the pain it dishes out.  After five or ten minutes on top we start to get cold and decide to forgo scrambling up the extra 200 feet to Haystack (the true summit) and start our descent.  The run down was much nicer but somehow not much quicker (43 min.) than our way up.  It's pretty steep so there isn't much letting go of the leg muscles...mostly breaking on this downhill.  Our parking away from the tailhead works out as well coming back, since we get a little cool-down on a relatively flat stretch after working our quads, knees and ankles hard on the descent. 

If you have one hike to choose from in the Seattle area (about 30 min. east), make it Si!  There is a good reason why it is the most used trail in Washington State.  It's a tough climb but it's more than worth it, especially on a clear day.  I'm looking forward to doing it again on our "peak a week" anniversary, if not before hand.

For more info and directions, check out: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-si

Run Stats:  Total Distance: 9.4 miles   Time: 1:44:04   Elevation Gain: 3,150   Pace: 11:04/mile!