Heading into town from Eastern Washington on I-90 (the longest Interstate Highway in the US, ending in Seattle), there is a mountain that looms over North Bend. It is Mount Si. Standing at 3,900ft, it is hard to miss rising over the evergreens, and passersby will recognize it by the giant anthill on top. Actually, this is called the Haystack, which is laden with charcoal-colored, flat-edged, miniature boulders, and it can be climbed for the best view of Seattle’s Eastside.
My friend was in town from Chicago back in the fall of 2010, and he was eager for outdoor activity. His brother works for an airline, so he was gallivanting in the Pacific Northwest (raw oysters at the waterfront and all), and I decided that Mount Si would be a good place for us to check out.
The total hike length of this mountain is 8 miles. Its switchbacks are fairly gradual and on a sunny day, the forest canopy lights up like stars. On this particular day, we passed many hikers, including youth; during the hike I even remembered an acquaintance of mine in grade school boasting of this accomplishment. It is estimated that the hike draws between 30,000 and 50,000 hikers per year, which is the most in the state.
Upon reaching the summit basin, my friend and I opted to hike the Haystack. It is a fairly tricky climb, as there is no real path and you are dealing mostly with loose rock that can fall, making it especially dangerous if you are climbing behind someone. But it turned out to be invigorating, and we were even joined by a group of young boys, testing out their skills, and challenging their fears.
At the top of the Haystack the views of the Eastside are incredible, encompassing lakes, cities, and a formidable stretch of the Olympic Mountain range. I’d recommend this hike to any visitor to the Seattle area!
Ashley Crane is on Twitter. Follow her at @WildAshC
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